Effects of grazing exclusion on soil microbial diversity and its functionality in grasslands: a meta-analysis

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: March 19, 2024

Grazing exclusion (GE) is considered an effective strategy for restoring the degradation of overgrazed grasslands on global scale. Soil microbial diversity plays a crucial role in supporting multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality) grassland ecosystems. However, impact grazing soil remains uncertain. Here, we conducted meta-analysis using dataset comprising 246 paired observations from 46 peer-reviewed papers to estimate how GE affects and these effects vary with climatic regions, types, duration ranging 1 64 years. Meanwhile, explored relationship between its functionality under exclusion. Overall, significantly increased Shannon (1.9%) richness (4.9%) compared group. For groups, fungal (8.6%) bacterial (5.3%), but decreased specific (-11.9%). The responses varied among duration. Specifically, arid, semi-arid, dry sub-humid it humid regions. Moreover, semidesert (5.9%) alpine (3.0%), not temperate grasslands. Long-term (>20 year) had greater (8.0% 6.7% richness) short-term (<10 (-0.8% 2.4%). Furthermore, multifunctionality, both plant positively correlated multifunctionality. our findings emphasize importance considering climate, duration, type biodiversity conservation sustainable functions.

Language: Английский

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Effects of Different Grazing Disturbances on the Plant Diversity and Ecological Functions of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Dec. 13, 2021

Grazing is one of the main human disturbance factors in alpine grassland on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), which can directly or indirectly influence community structures and ecological functions ecosystems. However, despite extensive field grazing experiments, there currently no consensus how different management approaches affect diversity, soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N). Here, we conducted a meta-analysis 70 peer-reviewed publications to evaluate general response 11 variables related ecosystems plant diversity grazing. Overall, results showed that significantly increased species richness, Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou evenness index values by 9.89% (95% CI: 2.75-17.09%), 7.28% 1.68-13.62%), 3.74% 1.40-6.52%), respectively. Aboveground biomass (AGB) belowground (BGB) decreased, respectively, 41.91% -50.91 -32.88%) 17.68% -26.94 -8.52%). Soil organic (SOC), total (TN), C:N ratio, moisture decreased 13.06% -15.88 -10.15%), 12.62% -13.35 -8.61%), 3.27% -4.25 -2.09%), 20.75% -27.89 -13.61%), whereas, bulk density pH 17.46% 11.88-24.53%) 2.24% 1.01-3.64%), Specifically, moderate grazing, long-durations (>5 years), winter contributed increases index. AGB, BGB, SOC, TN, ratios decrease with enhanced intensity. The ratio SOC was positively associated AGB BGB but negatively Furthermore, effects TN varied duration, season, livestock type, type. findings suggest should synthesize other appropriate patterns, such as seasonal rotation and, furthermore, additional research QTP needed future.

Language: Английский

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Livestock grazing‐induced large‐scale biotic homogenization in arid Mediterranean steppe rangelands

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 32(17), P. 5099 - 5107

Published: Sept. 9, 2021

Abstract Despite many studies that have explored the effect of livestock grazing on plant communities, response species composition and diversity to in arid rangelands remains ambiguous. This study examined effects communities steppe North Africa. Plant annual species, perennial all combined were measured compared between grazed grazing‐excluded areas. We also relative importance turnover community nestedness. Moreover, beta at local among transects landscape sites scales using multiplicative partitioning. Results revealed significantly decreased alpha plants. Livestock induced a shift where most variation (~74%) was due infrequent replacement 'turnover' two management types rather than nestedness (~26%). transects, higher steppes steppes. Whereas, sites, lower These findings suggest increases spatial scale engenders vegetation homogeneity scale. Therefore, implementation appropriate practices such as short‐term exclusion is mandatory prevent these ecosystems from large‐scale biotic homogenization.

Language: Английский

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Grazing Effects on Mongolian Steppe Vegetation—A Systematic Review of Local Literature

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Oct. 25, 2021

The Mongolian steppes with a long history of nomadic pastoralism cover large area the Palaearctic steppe biome and are still relatively intact. As livestock number has increased over last two decades, grazing been considered as main reason pasture degradation. However, impact on vegetation dynamics, its interaction climate, is not clear. We reviewed 44 publications in language, covering 109 sites five types, i.e., desert, dry, meadow, mountain, high mountain steppe, mean annual precipitation temperature range from 120 to 370 mm −6 +5°C, respectively. calculated relative changes cover, species richness, aboveground biomass heavily grazed respect lightly/non-grazed conditions. Multiple linear regression models were used test environmental factors, precipitation, coefficient variation for elevation. Grazing had stronger effect desert steppes, whereas was less pronounced meadow mesic climate productivity. Vegetation richness reduced by heavy steppes. In but nearly no biomass. affected, grazing. Additionally, effects tended be more at higher amounts changed negative positive elevation increased. conclusion, overall dry or even found Especially, showed detrimental all variables indicating existence combined pressure arid habitats, making them potentially sensitive overgrazing change. Grassland conservation management should consider characteristics different types give importance local

Language: Английский

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Atmospheric nitrogen deposition affects forest plant and soil system carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometric flexibility: A meta-analysis

Forest Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11, P. 100192 - 100192

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Nitrogen (N) deposition affects forest stoichiometric flexibility through changing soil nutrient availability to influence plant uptake. However, the effect of N on carbon (C), N, and phosphorus (P) in plant-soil-microbe systems remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis based 751 pairs observations evaluate responses plant, microbial biomass C, P nutrients stoichiometry addition different intensity (0–50, 50–100, >100 kgha−1 year−1 N), duration (0–5, >5 year), method (understory, canopy), matter (ammonium nitrate organic mixed N). significantly increased N:P (leaf: 14.98%, root: 13.29%), C:P 6.8%, 25.44%), (13.94%), (10.86%), (23.58%), (12.62%), but reduced C:N 6.49%, 9.02%). Furthermore, C:N:P changed under short-term inputs, while microorganisms drastically high addition. Canopy primarily affected altering content, understory inputs altered more by influencing C content. Organic influenced C:P, ammonia N:P. Plant were strongly correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAT), connected depth. Besides, decoupled correlations between plant. soil, biomass, reducing C:N, aggravated limitations. Significantly, these impacts contingent climate types, layers, input forms. The findings enhance our comprehension plant-soil system cycling mechanisms ecosystems strategy deposition.

Language: Английский

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The effect of livestock grazing on plant diversity and productivity of mountainous grasslands in South America – A meta‐analysis

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Mountainous grasslands in South America, characterized by their high diversity, provide a wide range of contributions to people, including water regulation, soil erosion prevention, livestock feed provision, and preservation cultural heritage. Prior research has highlighted the significant role grazing shaping diversity productivity grassland ecosystems, especially highly productive, eutrophic systems. In such environments, been demonstrated restore plant reducing primary productivity. However, it remains unclear whether these findings are applicable American mountainous grasslands, where plants adapted different environmental conditions. To address this uncertainty, we conducted meta-analysis experiments excluding assess its impact on across America. alignment with studies temperate our indicated that herbivore exclusion resulted increased aboveground biomass but reduced species richness Shannon diversity. The effects became more pronounced longer durations exclusion; nevertheless, they remained resilient various climatic conditions, mean annual precipitation temperature, as well evolutionary history grazing. contrast results observed reduction due was not associated biomass. This suggests processes governing (sub)tropical may differ from those grasslands. Consequently, further is necessary better understand specific factors influencing montane elucidate ecological implications unique ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Differences in arthropod communities between grazed areas and grazing exclosures depend on arthropod groups and vegetation types

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 341, P. 108222 - 108222

Published: Oct. 20, 2022

Livestock grazing is one of the most common management practices for grasslands and can greatly affect their biodiversity. However, arthropod diversity response patterns to regimes are difficult predict. We conducted a short-term exclusion experiment in traditionally managed alkali Hungary investigate differences between grazed ungrazed vegetation different groups. The was laid out full factorial design, with twelve 50 × 100 m exclosures types high (alkali wet meadow) low productivity steppe). sampled ground beetles spiders pitfall traps true hoppers by sweep netting. used type (wet meadow vs dry steppe), (grazed ungrazed) interaction as fixed effects mixed models. found higher species richness activity density more productive vegetation, where community structure each group also shifted toward hygrophilous species. Significant interactions indicated dependence on types: towards meadows, but not steppe sites. True hopper abundance sites, lower compared generalist herbivores regardless type. concluded that determine communities modulate arthropods. Our results suggest moderate disturbance from low-intensity has positive or neutral effect wetter, negative drier, less depending group. Herbivorous insects dwell plants particularly affected because they susceptible direct impacts, such unintentional predation cattle, asymmetrical competition mammalian insect herbivores.

Language: Английский

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A global meta‐analysis of grazing effects on soil seed banks

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 33(11), P. 1892 - 1900

Published: March 31, 2022

Abstract Livestock grazing is a major disturbance affecting plant diversity and abundance in terrestrial ecosystems. The intermediate hypothesis (IDH) predicts that moderate‐intensity should produce the highest species diversity, while Milchunas‐Sala‐Lauenroth (MSL) model posits IDH valid only for mesic areas. However, it remains unclear how affects soil seed bank whether or not MSL models are communities. Here, we presented global meta‐analysis synthesizing 483 observations: found had negative effect on abundance, but did alter richness compositional similarity between aboveground vegetation. Further refining analysis, light‐intensity was to increase richness, no effect, heavy‐intensity effect. Additionally, both arid areas, declined with intensity increased. Overall, effects banks differed from expectations set by studies of Our study provides key insights policy‐makers managing livestock grassland conservation.

Language: Английский

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Multi-species rotational grazing of small ruminants regenerates undergrowth vegetation while controlling weeds in the oil palm silvopastoral system

Agricultural Systems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 210, P. 103720 - 103720

Published: July 14, 2023

Language: Английский

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Grassland biodiversity response to livestock grazing, productivity, and climate varies across biome components and diversity measurements

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 878, P. 162994 - 162994

Published: March 31, 2023

Language: Английский

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