干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): Together we stand, divided we fall: Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation patches in a desert community

Arid

DOI	10.1111/jvs.13015
	Together we stand, divided we fall: Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation patches in a desert community
	Pelliza, Yamila Ivon; Fernandez, Anahi; Saiz, Hugo; Tadey, Mariana
通讯作者	Pelliza, YI (corresponding author), INIBIOMA CONICET, Lab Ecotono, Pasaje Gutierrez 1125, RA-8400 San Carlos De Bariloche, Argentina.
来源期刊	JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
ISSN	1100-9233
EISSN	1654-1103
出版年	2021
卷号	32 期号:2
英文摘要	Questions Vegetation patches formed by interacting xeric species are the main drivers of dryland structure and function. Plant aggregation enhances microclimatic conditions and triggers abiotic and biotic processes, such as nutrient cycling and accumulation, and species interactions. However, vegetation patches may be modified by disturbances in unpredictable ways. We tested whether livestock grazing affects vegetation structure and plant spatial associations in a desert community, by considering the role of plant species in ecological succession. Location Patagonian Monte Desert, Argentina. Methods We used high-quality standardized photographs along transects to characterize plant community structure (i.e., cover, abundance, richness), spatial patterns (i.e. plant-plant associations), and classified species based on their successional role (i.e. early, intermediate and late species). We used regression models and network analysis to evaluate the effect of grazing on vegetation. Results In general, grazing modified community structure, reducing total cover, abundance and richness. Grazing modulated community spatial patterns, simplifying and removing vegetation patches. The impact of grazing depended on the species successional role. The abundance and cover of early species were less affected by grazing than intermediate and late species, the latter being the most affected. However, species richness significantly decreased with increasing stocking rates, regardless of their successional role. Late species were present in most plant spatial associations, indicating a major contribution to multi-specific vegetation patches formation. Conclusions The reduction in species richness and low abundance of late species highlights the need to prevent irreversible degradation caused by overgrazing. Late species emerge as key structures of vegetation in desert rangelands facilitating the establishment and protecting other plant species. Due to the critical role of vegetation patches in maintaining desert ecosystem functioning, conservation and management practices should focus on late species, while early species, responsible for vegetation patch formation in overgrazed situations, should be preferred for restoration practices.
英文关键词	arid rangelands climax species community structure desertification ecological succession fertility islands grazing intensity pioneer species plant‐ plant interactions spatial networks
类型	Article
语种	英语
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:000645256100022
WOS关键词	PLANT FUNCTIONAL TRAITS ; CENTRAL MONTE DESERT ; ECOSYSTEM MULTIFUNCTIONALITY ; SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION ; NUTRIENT CONTENT ; EXOTIC GRAZERS ; LONG-TERM ; LAND-USE ; FACILITATION ; COMPETITION
WOS类目	Plant Sciences ; Ecology ; Forestry
WOS研究方向	Plant Sciences ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Forestry
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/351033
作者单位	[Pelliza, Yamila Ivon; Fernandez, Anahi; Tadey, Mariana] INIBIOMA CONICET, Lab Ecotono, San Carlos De Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina; [Saiz, Hugo] Univ Bern, Inst Plant Sci, Zurich, Switzerland
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Pelliza, Yamila Ivon,Fernandez, Anahi,Saiz, Hugo,et al. Together we stand, divided we fall: Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation patches in a desert community[J],2021,32(2).
APA	Pelliza, Yamila Ivon,Fernandez, Anahi,Saiz, Hugo,&Tadey, Mariana.(2021).Together we stand, divided we fall: Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation patches in a desert community.JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE,32(2).
MLA	Pelliza, Yamila Ivon,et al."Together we stand, divided we fall: Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation patches in a desert community".JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE 32.2(2021).