Competition drives the response of soil microbial diversity to increased grazing by vertebrate herbivores

Ecology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 98(7), P. 1922 - 1931

Published: May 1, 2017

Scientists have largely neglected the effects of grazing on soil microbial communities despite their importance as drivers ecosystem functions and services. We hypothesized that changes in properties resulting from regulate diversity microbes by releasing/suppressing subordinate taxa via competition. To test this, we examined how intensity vertebrate herbivores influences composition bacteria fungi at 216 samples 54 sites across four microsites. Increasing reduced carbon, suppressing dominant bacterial phylum Actinobacteria (indirectly promoting diversity) increasing fungal Ascomycetes reducing diversity). Our data provide novel evidence modulates increases or reductions competition taxa. results suggest can potentially alter function altering community composition, providing a clear link between management, carbon availability functions.

Language: Английский

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The Impact of Continuous Living Cover on Soil Hydrologic Properties: A Meta‐Analysis

Soil Science Society of America Journal, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 81(5), P. 1179 - 1190

Published: Sept. 1, 2017

Core Ideas Meta‐analysis compared soil hydrology in perennial‐ and annual‐based crop systems. Continuous living cover practices significantly increased porosity, field capacity. There may be a greater effect drier environments sandier soils. Experiments place longer than ten years also tended to increase the properties. Results suggest how continuous can negate rainfall variability impacts. Increased due climate change threatens efficacy of critical ecosystem services. One strategy effects too much or not enough is improve water Practices that offer “continuous cover” enhance storage other hydrologic properties relative annual systems, but what extent such benefits accrue, under different conditions, remains under‐quantified. To address these uncertainties, we conducted meta‐analysis included 27 studies representing 93 paired observations measuring two properties: porosity retained at All experiments impact (cover crops, perennial grasses, agroforestry managed forestry) controls. total (8.0 ± 2.2%) capacity (9.3 2.7%). was some evidence indicating improved relatively (<900 mm rainfall) regions with no publication bias, sensitivity analysis indicated overall were robust. The similar direction magnitude improvements both could physical chemical processes impacted by presence roots. Overall, our findings potential adaptation combat variability. Furthermore, as serve proxies determine management influences heath more broadly.

Language: Английский

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Aridity and Overgrazing Have Convergent Effects on Ecosystem Structure and Functioning in Patagonian Rangelands

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 29(2), P. 210 - 218

Published: Jan. 11, 2017

Abstract Over 65% of drylands are used for grazing managed livestock. Understanding what drives effects on the structure and functioning rangelands is critical achieving their sustainability. We studied a network 239 sites across Patagonian (Argentina), which constitute one world's largest rangeland area. aimed to (i) evaluate how aridity affect ecosystem (ii) test usefulness landscape function analysis (LFA) indices (stability, infiltration nutrient cycling) as surrogates soil functioning. Aridity decreased species richness cover palatable grasses but increased shrubs. Grazing pressure negatively impacted did not had direct indirect negative relationships with LFA indices. no an effect them by affecting vegetation structure. The were positively correlated organic carbon sand contents, respectively, suggesting that these useful proxies functional processes in rangelands. Our findings indicate overgrazing have convergent ecosystems, both promoted reductions richness, Rangeland management activities should aim enhance grasses, actions could contribute offset adverse ongoing increases drylands. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: Английский

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Grazing‐induced shifts in community functional composition and soil nutrient availability in Tibetan alpine meadows

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 53(5), P. 1554 - 1564

Published: June 25, 2016

Summary The functional structure of plant communities can be altered by grazing through two main mechanisms: species turnover (i.e. changes in occurrence and relative abundance) intraspecific trait variability ( ITV ), which is driven phenotypic responses individual plants shifts the abundance genotypic variants within species. Studies grassland ecosystem function under often focus on community induced turnover, ignores effects biomass productivity, soil carbon or nutrient availability. By quantifying contribution both community‐wide traits, we highlight role response to its implications for Tibetan alpine meadows. We measured three chemical traits LC : leaf carbon, LN nitrogen LP phosphorus concentrations) morphological SLA specific area, LDMC dry matter content) that are critical components production forage quality grazed ungrazed plots. Using variance decomposition community‐weighted means CWM ) these foliar distinguished importance vs. change associated nutrients increased together with decreases stores, especially enrichment loss available P. was strongly negatively correlated , significantly higher These were generally best captured not abundance, although consistently all traits. Synthesis applications . In continuous grazing, meadows increase area but tend have lower content, a consistent faster growth regrowth grazing. This drives shift from conservative, slow‐growing resource use exploitative enhances quality, turn favouring secondary productivity small herbivorous mammal communities, also contributes accelerated depletion phosphorus. discuss results biodiversity conservation, rangeland sustainability Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, regard managing rotation strike balance between domesticated stock mammals.

Language: Английский

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Vegetation type and grazing intensity jointly shape grazing effects on grassland biodiversity

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(20), P. 10326 - 10335

Published: Oct. 1, 2018

In the Palaearctic steppe zone, overgrazing was identified as one of key drivers declining grassland biodiversity, which underlines necessity functional evaluation increased grazing pressure on vegetation. We tested following hypotheses: (a) The effect intensity species and diversity is strongly dependent type. (b) magnitude diet selectivity grazers decreases with increasing intensity. (c) Increasing increases evenness subjected grasslands. analyzed vegetation patterns in four types grasslands (Dry alkali short-grass steppes, Dry loess Non-alkali wet Alkali grasslands) along an gradient beef cattle at 73 sites Hungary. Species richness, Shannon diversity, evenness, leaf traits were analyzed. calculated community-weighted means for each single trait, multi-trait divergence all traits. All metrics significantly affected by type, except dry matter content. interaction between type also significant area, richness evenness. An upward trend specific area detected highest scores overgrazed sites, but change dependent. suggests that overall decreased. found not Functional more related to than changes intensity, displayed a high variability. stress one-size-fits-all strategies cannot be recommended actions should fine-tuned least level

Language: Английский

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Can trophic rewilding reduce the impact of fire in a more flammable world?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 373(1761), P. 20170443 - 20170443

Published: Oct. 22, 2018

Large vertebrates affect fire regimes in several ways: by consuming plant matter that would otherwise accumulate as fuel; controlling and varying the density of vegetation; engineering soil litter layer. These processes can regulate frequency, intensity extent fire. The evidence for these effects is strongest environments with intermediate rainfall, warm temperatures graminoid-dominated ground vegetation. Probably, extinction Quaternary megafauna triggered increased biomass burning many such environments. Recent continuing declines large are likely to be significant contributors changes vegetation currently being experienced parts world. To date, rewilding projects aim restore herbivores have paid little attention value animals moderating regimes. Rewilding potentially offers a powerful tool managing risks wildfire its impacts on natural human values. This article part theme issue ‘Trophic rewilding: consequences ecosystems under global change’.

Language: Английский

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A framework for deriving measures of chronic anthropogenic disturbance: Surrogate, direct, single and multi-metric indices in Brazilian Caatinga

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 94, P. 274 - 282

Published: July 5, 2018

Language: Английский

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Can the intermediate disturbance hypothesis explain grazing–diversity relations at a global scale?

Oikos, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 129(4), P. 493 - 502

Published: Dec. 11, 2019

In the context of grazing, intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) predicts that plant diversity peaks under moderate resulting in a hump‐shape pattern for grazing–diversity relationship. Although this has been debated due to contradictory empirical results, IDH is still widely accepted among rangeland ecologists. The Milchunas–Sala–Lauenroth (MSL) model arid areas grazing affects negatively regardless intensity, whereas mesic effects on are same as predicted by IDH. Very few studies have attempted specifically evaluate applicability and MSL systems at global scale, accounting possible climate. We conducted meta‐analysis vote‐counting analysis these two hypotheses. results both analyses show cannot be applied globally its application largely depends aridity. prediction curve supported wet areas, while dry there slight decrease species richness with increasing intensity. Overall, correctly relations areas. Looking specific ecosystem types, we found hold grasslands, but not woodlands. Differences between livestock considered model, were important. Mixed sheep goat resulted significant decline only had little effect richness. Cattle yak yielded clear pattern. Therefore, conclude climate‐specific better impact than rangelands, response patterns dependent aridity, intensity grazer type.

Language: Английский

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Characterisation of Vegetation Response to Climate Change: A Review

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(13), P. 7265 - 7265

Published: June 29, 2021

Climate change extreme events have consequential impacts that influence the responses of vegetation dynamics as well ecosystem functioning and sustainable human well-being. Therefore, response to climate (VRCC) needs be explored foster specific-organised management programmes towards ecological conservation targeted restoration policy various threats. This review aimed explore existing literature characterise VRCC identify solutions techniques fundamental in designing strategies for effective adaptation mitigation achieve planning outcomes. Accordingly, this emphasised recent theoretical practical research on vegetation-climate their related wake its debilitating vegetation. Consequently, study proposes Information-based model (IBM), needed examine Factors–forms Impacts–Solutions (Techniques)–Risks assessment provide insights about a given region. In conclusion, two enablers adaptive indicators novel systems-based serve key formulation sustainability strengthening goals global involvement local sub-national governments institutions protection.

Language: Английский

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Impacts of climate change on vegetation pattern: Mathematical modeling and data analysis

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43, P. 239 - 270

Published: Oct. 25, 2022

Language: Английский

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