Impacts of horse grazing on botanical composition and diversity in different types of heathland

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos López López ◽  
Rocío Rosa García ◽  
Luis M. M. Ferreira ◽  
Urcesino García ◽  
Koldo Osoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Point Quadrat ◽  
Excessive Accumulation

Plant dynamics under horse grazing was studied in a three-year field experiment in heather-gorse shrublands in NW Spain. The experimental design consisted of three vegetation types with four replicates (paddocks): (1) heather (Ericaceae)-dominated (H), (2) gorse (Ulex gallii Planch.)-dominated (G), and (3) co-dominated by gorse and heath-grasses (GG). Each paddock (1.2 ha) was grazed from May to October by two crossbred mature mares (310 ± 52 kg bodyweight), one dry and one lactating (plus foal). Two other paddocks (one in H and one in GG) were excluded from grazing. Plant cover and height were sampled three times a year (spring, summer, and autumn) with a point-quadrat method. Floristic composition and diversity were annually sampled at 10 25-m2 quadrats per paddock. Data were subjected to mixed models for repeated-measures and redundancy analyses. Horse grazing resulted in overall increases (P < 0.001) in heather and herbaceous cover (from 13% to 27%, and from 16% to 23%, respectively), and decreases (P < 0.001) in gorse cover and height (from 35% to 17%; from 30 to 25 cm), with scarce differences among vegetation types. Floristic diversity (species richness and Shannon index) increased more over time in grazed than in ungrazed paddocks. Redundancy analyses revealed that grazing effects on plant species assemblages depended on vegetation type, and that plant communities evolved differently between grazing treatments for both abundance and frequency data. Some herbaceous species characteristic of heathlands were favoured by horse grazing. Horse grazing reduced gorse dominance in G and GG vegetation, controlling excessive accumulation of combustible material and reducing fire risk, and promoted the presence of species of conservation interest, so it offers a promising management tool for the restoration of heathlands and their biodiversity.

scholarly journals What are the most important factors determining different vegetation types in the Chapada Diamantina, Brazil?

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. S. Neves ◽  
R. Funch ◽  
A. A. Conceição ◽  
L. A. P. Miranda ◽  
L. S. Funch
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Monthly Precipitation ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chapada Diamantina ◽  
Chi Square Test

Abstract A transect was used to examine the environmental and biological descriptors of a compact vegetation mosaic in the Chapada Diamantina in northeastern Brazil, including the floristic composition, spectrum of plant life forms, rainfall, and soil properties that defined areas of cerrado (Brazilian savanna), caatinga (seasonally dry tropical forest thorny, deciduous shrub/arboreal vegetation) and cerrado-caatinga transition vegetation. The floristic survey was made monthly from April/2009 to March/2012. A dendrogram of similarity was generated using the Jaccard Index based on a matrix of the species that occurred in at least two of the vegetation types examined. The proportions of life forms in each vegetation type were compared using the chi-square test. Composite soil samples were analyzed by simple variance (ANOVA) to examine relationships between soil parameters of each vegetation type and the transition area. The monthly precipitation levels in each vegetation type were measured and compared using the chi-square test. A total of 323 species of angiosperms were collected distributed in 193 genera and 54 families. The dendrogram demonstrated strong difference between the floristic compositions of the cerrado and caatinga, sharing 2% similarity. The chi-square test did not demonstrate any significant statistical differences between the monthly values of recorded rainfall. The organic matter and clay contents of the soilsin the caatinga increased while sand decreased, and the proportions of therophyte, hemicryptophyte, and chamaephyte life forms decreased and phanerophytes increased. We can therefore conclude that the floristic composition and the spectrum of life forms combined to define the cerrado and caatinga vegetation along the transect examined, with soil being the principal conditioning factor determining the different vegetation types, independent of precipitation levels.

Grasses of the Precambrian Shield region in eastern lowland Bolivia. I. Habitat preferences

1992 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Killeen ◽  
Paul N. Hinz
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Campo Rupestre ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Flooded Soils ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Granite Outcrops ◽  
Valley Side

ABSTRACTThe habitat distribution and relative abundance of 113 species of Gramineae were documented by releves in 82 stands near Conception, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A factor analysis was used to compare the floristic similarity of stands situated in semideciduous forest, cerradao, cerrado, campo rupestre, valley-side campo, pantanal complex or on granite outcrops. Individual grass species usually had a preferred habitat and occurred with decreasing abundance in stands judged to be transitional by physiognomic, edaphic, and floristic criteria. Stands situated in cerrado vegetation were most similar to one another in grass species composition. Cerradao was transitional to semideciduous forest and cerrado but certain grasses were characteristic of this vegetation type. The floristic composition of the single campo rupestre locality was somewhat similar to cerrado; however, several of the more abundant grass species of this vegetation type did not occur in any nearby cerrado stand. Granite outcrops had a distinct grass flora and showed little similarity to other vegetation types. In savanna wetland communities, grass species distribution was influenced by water regime. Differences between stands on valley-side campo corresponded to topographic position on a gradient of increasing water surplus. Seasonally humid/dry stands on valley-side campo and pantanal complexes had a high degree of similarity. Stands lower on the catenary sequence of pantanal complexes and valley-side campos were increasingly dissimilar, a result of the different edaphic conditions of the seasonally flooded soils of pantanal complexes when compared with the permanently saturated (but never flooded) soils of valley-side campos. Pantanal complexes had the richest grass flora of all vegetation types because their microtopographic variability creates numerous micro-habitats with distinct water regimes, each supporting different grass species.

Geobotanical studies at the Caucasus: a review of materials of the International Conference “Flora and conservation in the Caucasus: history and current state of knowledge” (Pyatigorsk, May 22–25, 2019)

2019 ◽  
pp. 91-94
Author(s):  
T. M. Lysenko ◽  
V. Yu. Neshatayeva ◽  
Z. V. Dutova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Rare And Endangered Species ◽  
Current State

The International conference “Flora and conservation in the Caucasus: history and current state of knowledge” dedicated to the 130-year anniversary of the Perkalsky Arboretum took place at 22–25 of May 2019 in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory) on the base of the Pyatigorsk Museum of local lore and natural history. The participants were from 11 cities of Russia and 7 Republics of the Caucasus and represented 14 institutions. Proceedings of the conference were published by the beginning of the meeting the book of abstracts includes 49 papers on the study of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and fungi, plant communities, as well as the protection of rare and endangered species, unique plant communities, and ecological problems in the Caucasus. The following geobotanical topics were highlighted in 13 papers: forest communities (3 reports), meadow and steppe vegetation (2), xeric open forests (2), communities of ecotone areas (1), structure of populations of rare plant species (3), as well as the history and current status of nature protected areas (2). The great emphasis has been focused on the study of floristic composition and plant populations. Thus, the conference showed that very few studies от vegetation are currently carried out in the Caucasus, and a lot of districts are not affected by the research. The greatest attention is paid to forest vegetation while meadow, steppe, alpine heath and xerophytic communities are studied rather poorly. Besides, there are “white spots” — mire, floodplain and aquatic vegetation. In nowadays, when the anthropogenic impact on the plant cover of the Caucasus is intensively increasing, it is especially important to study natural undisturbed communities preserved in protected natural areas. Another important issue is the conservation of the unique vegetation cover of the whole Caucasus. Thus, the study of vegetation of this region opens a wide field for researchers using various methods of modern plant science.

scholarly journals Satellite monitoring of different vegetation types by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) in the red spectral range

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wagner ◽  
S. Beirle ◽  
T. Deutschmann ◽  
M. Grzegorski ◽  
U. Platt
Keyword(s):  
Optical Absorption ◽  
Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Spectral Range ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Satellite Monitoring ◽  
Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽  
Vegetation Types

Abstract. A new method for the satellite remote sensing of different types of vegetation and ocean colour is presented. In contrast to existing algorithms relying on the strong change of the reflectivity in the red and near infrared spectral region, our method analyses weak narrow-band (few nm) reflectance structures (i.e. "fingerprint" structures) of vegetation in the red spectral range. It is based on differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), which is usually applied for the analysis of atmospheric trace gas absorptions. Since the spectra of atmospheric absorption and vegetation reflectance are simultaneously included in the analysis, the effects of atmospheric absorptions are automatically corrected (in contrast to other algorithms). The inclusion of the vegetation spectra also significantly improves the results of the trace gas retrieval. The global maps of the results illustrate the seasonal cycles of different vegetation types. In addition to the vegetation distribution on land, they also show patterns of biological activity in the oceans. Our results indicate that improved sets of vegetation spectra might lead to more accurate and more specific identification of vegetation type in the future.

Body size and mean individual biomass variation of ground-beetles community (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as a response to increasing altitude and associated vegetation types in mountainous ecosystem

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Cvetkovska-Gjorgjievska ◽  
Slavčo Hristovski ◽  
Dana Prelić ◽  
Lucija Šerić Jelaska ◽  
Valentina Slavevska-Stamenković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Geologic History ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Mountain Ecosystems ◽  
Individual Biomass

AbstractCarabid fauna is not sufficiently explored in Central and Western Balkan areas, especially in mountain ecosystems with unique biodiversity which is a result of specific environmental factors and geologic history. Furthermore, distribution of species and adaptation to varying environmental parameters change along the altitudinal gradients. All this highlights the need for biodiversity and ecological studies in order to assess the state of the mountain ecosystems and conservation significance. Carabids as good bioindicator group can be used as a tool for monitoring those changes. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences of body size distribution and mean individual biomass (MIB) of ground beetle assemblages as a response of changing conditions and vegetation types along an altitudinal gradient on Belasitsa Mountain in south Macedonia. Both parameters significantly decreased with increasing altitude and were consequently associated with the vegetation type. Larger bodied individuals and higher values of MIB were recorded in the white oak and oriental hornbeam forest stands with the values decreasing in sessile oak forests towards submontane and montane beech forest stands. This research yielded first list of carabid species inhabiting Belasitsa Mountain with insight of carabid body length and biomass distribution along altitudinal gradient.

Soil Moisture Responses Under Different Vegetation Types to Winter Rainfall Events in a Humid Karst Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihong Yan ◽  
Qiuwen Zhou ◽  
Dawei Peng ◽  
Xiaocha Wei ◽  
Xin Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Karst Region ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Recovery Model ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Karst Ecosystems

Abstract Humid karst ecosystems are fragile, with precipitation being the main source of soil moisture recharge. The process of soil moisture recharge and usage varies by vegetation type. To analyze the dynamics of soil moisture under different vegetation types during rainfall events, we continuously monitored soil moisture in arable land, grassland, shrub, and forest areas at 10-minute intervals from November 6, 2019, to January 6, 2020.The arable land was used as a control group. Soil moisture under the different vegetation types responded to light, moderate, and rainstorm events with large rainfall amounts. However, only the soil moisture in the grassland areas responded to a light rainfall event with a rainfall amount of 0.87 mm. The largest soil moisture recharge (12.63 mm) and decline (2.08%) were observed for the grassland areas, with the smallest observed for the forest areas. While the grassland areas showed the greatest decline in soil moisture following rainfall, they were more easily recharged during the winter rainfall events. Soil moisture in forests and shrubs was less recharged than in grasslands but also declined less. Therefore, forests and shrubs are better at retaining soil moisture in winter, which is informative for the formulation of a regional vegetation recovery model.

scholarly journals A proposed procedure for the analysis of large phytosociological data sets in the classification of South African grasslands

Koedoe ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Bredenkamp ◽  
H. Bezuidenhout
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Single Cluster ◽  
Synoptic Table

A procedure for the effective classification of large phytosociological data sets, and the combination of many data sets from various parts of the South African grasslands is demonstrated. The procedure suggests a region by region or project by project treatment of the data. The analyses are performed step by step to effectively bring together all releves of similar or related plant communities. The first step involves a separate numerical classification of each subset (region), and subsequent refinement by Braun- Blanquet procedures. The resulting plant communities are summarised in a single synoptic table, by calculating a synoptic value for each species in each community. In the second step all communities in the synoptic table are classified by numerical analysis, to bring related communities from different regions or studies together in a single cluster. After refinement of these clusters by Braun-Blanquet procedures, broad vegetation types are identified. As a third step phytosociological tables are compiled for each iden- tified broad vegetation type, and a comprehensive abstract hierarchy constructed.

Determinants of spatial variation in fire return period in a semiarid African savanna

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 540 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. O'Connor ◽  
C. M. Mulqueeny ◽  
P. S. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Return Period ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Terrestrial Vegetation ◽  
African Savanna ◽  
Data Set

Fire pattern is predicted to vary across an African savanna in accordance with spatial variation in rainfall through its effects on fuel production, vegetation type (on account of differences in fuel load and in flammability), and distribution of herbivores (because of their effects on fuel load). These predictions were examined for the 23 651-ha Mkuzi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, based on a 37-year data set. Fire return period varied from no occurrence to a fire every 1.76 years. Approximately 75% of the reserve experienced a fire approximately every 5 years, 25% every 4.1–2.2 years and less than 1% every 2 years on average. Fire return period decreased in relation to an increase in mean annual rainfall. For terrestrial vegetation types, median fire return periods decreased with increasing herbaceous biomass, from forest that did not burn to grasslands that burnt every 2.64 years. Fire was absent from some permanent wetlands but seasonal wetlands burnt every 5.29 years. Grazer biomass above 0.5 animal units ha–1 had a limiting influence on the maximum fire frequency of fire-prone vegetation types. The primary determinant of long-term spatial fire patterns is thus fuel load as determined by mean rainfall, vegetation type, and the effects of grazing herbivores.

scholarly journals Arctiinae moths (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) of the Emas National Park, Goiás, Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Moreno ◽  
Viviane G Ferro
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
National Park ◽  
New Records ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Cerrado Biome ◽  
Center Of Diversity ◽  
High Species Richness

Arctiinae are a species-rich subfamily of moth, with approximately 1,400 species in Brazil and 723 recorded in the Cerrado biome. A list of species of these moths was compiled during three years of sampling in four vegetation types within the Emas National Park. A total of 5,644 individuals belonging to 149 species were collected. About 67% of these species are new records for the Emas National Park, 31% for the State of Goiás and 9% for the Cerrado biome. Cerrado sensu stricto and semideciduous forests have higher species richness, followed by campo cerrado and campo sujo. The vegetation type with the highest number of exclusive species was the semideciduous forest, followed by cerrado sensu stricto, campo cerrado and campo sujo. The high species richness and the high proportion of new species records for Goiás and Cerrado reinforce the importance of the Emas National Park region as a center of diversity for this group of moths. The conservation of areas not yet cleared around the Park, including the creation of new protected areas, and the establishment of ecological corridors between these areas and the Park would be strategies to preserve the fauna of these moths.

scholarly journals Consideration of NDVI thematic changes in density analysis and floristic composition of Wadi Yalamlam, Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Y. Aldhebiani ◽  
Mohamed Elhag ◽  
Ahmad K. Hegazy ◽  
Hanaa K. Galal ◽  
Norah S. Mufareh
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Main Stream

Abstract. Wadi Yalamlam is known as one of the significant wadis in the west of Saudi Arabia. It is a very important water source for the western region of the country. Thus, it supplies the holy places in Mecca and the surrounding areas with drinking water. The floristic composition of Wadi Yalamlam has not been comprehensively studied. For that reason, this work aimed to assess the wadi vegetation cover, life-form presence, chorotype, diversity, and community structure using temporal remote sensing data. Temporal datasets spanning 4 years were acquired from the Landsat 8 sensor in 2013 as an early acquisition and in 2017 as a late acquisition to estimate normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) changes. The wadi was divided into seven stands. Stands 7, 1, and 3 were the richest with the highest Shannon index values of 2.98, 2.69, and 2.64, respectively. On the other hand, stand 6 has the least plant biodiversity with a Shannon index of 1.8. The study also revealed the presence of 48 different plant species belonging to 24 families. Fabaceae (17 %) and Poaceae (13 %) were the main families that form most of the vegetation in the study area, while many families were represented by only 2 % of the vegetation of the wadi. NDVI analysis showed that the wadi suffers from various types of degradation of the vegetation cover along with the wadi main stream.

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