Forb diversity globally is harmed by nutrient enrichment but can be rescued by large mammalian herbivory

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 15, 2025

Abstract Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but vulnerable environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) increase herbivory by large mammals. (3) less affected enrichment in more arid climates, because water limitation reduces impacts competition with grasses. (4) families will respond differently mammalian due differences requirements. We find strong evidence for first, partial support second, no third, fourth prediction. Our results underscore that anthropogenic addition is major threat forbs, grazing high herbivore intensity can offset these effects.

Language: Английский

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Nitrogen addition and drought impose divergent effects on belowground bud banks of grassland community: a meta-analysis

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Belowground bud banks (or bud-bearing organs) underlie grassland regeneration and community succession following ecosystem perturbations. Disturbances of nitrogen (N) enrichment, overgrazing, wildfire, drought substantially affect aboveground productivity. To understand the magnitude direction disturbances on belowground banks, we conducted a meta-analysis 46 peer-reviewed studies published from 1980 to 2023. The comprises 231 observations bank density per unit area 410 tiller. Results indicate that N addition remarkably promotes densities plant functional groups grass in banks. While negatively affects grasses forbs. We found effects depend type, e.g., root sprouting buds, bulb dormant buds. However, grazing wildfire have no significant effect Our results suggest may significantly exert promotional inhibitory effects, respectively, critically altering regrowth, succession, dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Mixed Grazing Enhances Bacterial Diversity and Network Stability More Than Single Grazing in Both Nondegraded and Moderately Degraded Grasslands

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 20, 2025

ABSTRACT Soil microbial communities are integral in supporting the sustainability of grassland ecosystems. Livestock grazing exerts varied impacts on soil due to distinct behaviors and feeding preferences. However, effects livestock diversification community moderately degraded compared with nondegraded still uncertain. To narrow this gap, we carried out a experiment eastern Eurasian steppe by altering (nongrazing [NG], cattle alone [CG], sheep [SG], mixed [MG]) both [ND] grasslands [MD] for 3 years. We applied high‐throughput sequencing investigate diversity, composition, co‐occurrence network structure, assembly processes topsoil (0–10 cm). Our study revealed that MG significantly enhanced bacterial richness (144.6%, p = 0.005), fungal (30%, 0.003), stability topological properties (5.7% more nodes, 7.1% higher positive connection ratios) NG grassland. Furthermore, had relatively high networks single grasslands. Additionally, was dominated stochastic processes, whereas reduced randomness assembly. Moreover, exhibited stronger association characteristics terms while demonstrated greater correlation plant characteristics. findings indicated promoted diversity reducing importance grazing. effect largely dependent habitat condition The results highlight diversifying can be an effective management practice maintain edge belt from perspective community.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Services Linked to Extensive Sheep and Goat Farming in Mountain Areas: A Global Literature Analysis Using Text Mining and Topic Analysis

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 350 - 350

Published: Jan. 25, 2025

Mountain ecosystems are unique and complex environments characterised by their high altitudes, steep slopes, significant climatic variations [...]

Language: Английский

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Drivers of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stock in Topsoil and Deep Soil Under Grazing in Two Steppe Ecosystems

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Grazing promotes decomposition of litter in alpine meadow through decoupling climate

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 173, P. 113344 - 113344

Published: March 24, 2025

Language: Английский

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Soil potentially toxic elements promote carbon metabolism in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

European Journal of Soil Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 125, P. 103727 - 103727

Published: April 15, 2025

Language: Английский

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Differential impacts of grazing on grassland plant diversity, biomass, soil C, and soil N across an elevation gradient

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(3)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Understanding how vegetation traits and soil characteristics respond to grazing in grasslands is fundamental their restoration management. Here, we investigated changes species diversity, plant productivity, total nitrogen (STN), organic carbon (SOC) storage following grazer exclusion at three grassland sites along an elevation gradient the Kashmir Himalaya. Plant cover, aboveground belowground biomass (AGB BGB, respectively), SOC, STN increased six years of exclusion, though diversity indices declined over this period. Grazer all functional groups (sedges, grasses, legumes, forbs), with sedges, particularly Carex muricata , showing highest increase. effects on AGB varied elevation, most pronounced effect detected site. vertical distribution root biomass, were restricted topsoil (10 cm) low‐elevation but extended deeper layers high‐elevation sites.

Language: Английский

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Fungal diversity shapes ecosystem multifunctionality in alpine grasslands under different herbivore assemblages: A case study from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

CATENA, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 256, P. 109109 - 109109

Published: May 2, 2025

Language: Английский

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Principle, technique and application of grassland improvement

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 369, P. 122264 - 122264

Published: Aug. 29, 2024

Language: Английский

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