scholarly journals Floristic survey of the caatinga in areas with different grazing intensities, Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarcilene Silva de Almeida-Cortez ◽  
Fernanda Meira Tavares ◽  
Katharina Schulz ◽  
Rita de Cássia Araújo Pereira ◽  
Arne Cierjacks
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Land Use History ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Floristic Survey ◽  
Grazing Intensities

A floristic survey was conducted in eighteen areas in the municipalities of Itacuruba and Floresta, Pernambuco, northeast Brazil. The objective was to investigate if the species richness of terrestrial plant species of the Caatinga is affected by grazing intensity. Eighteen 20x20 m2 plot were established in areas of low grazing intensity (9), and areas with high grazing intensity (9). We recorded 136 species belonging to 97 genera and 43 families. The most species-rich families were Poaceae (14), Fabaceae (13), and Asteraceae (11). The most species-rich genera were Aristida (Poaceae), Sida (Malvaceae) and Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae). The number of species in each study area (Itacuruba and Floresta) varied according to the distribution of the precipitation, the soil types, the land-use history type, and the actual land-use. Areas with a low grazing pressure show a higher species richness of plant species than areas with higher grazing intensity.

Vegetation damage caused by high densities of burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) at Arid Recovery

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant D. Linley ◽  
Katherine E. Moseby ◽  
David C. Paton
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Dodonaea Viscosa ◽  
Perennial Plant ◽  
Vegetation Condition ◽  
Acacia Aneura ◽  
Acacia Ligulata ◽  
Vegetation Damage

Burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) reached high densities within the fenced Arid Recovery reserve. Grazing pressure was assessed by comparing the vegetation inside and outside the reserve during April in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Mean numbers of bettong tracks crossing small 10 m × 1 m plots overnight in the main exclosure were 20 in 2012, decreasing to 4 in 2013 and 3 in 2014. Similar declines were present in the second expansion, where tracks decreased from 7 in 2012 to 3 in 2013 and 2 in 2014. Perennial plant species richness decreased significantly over the study period. Acacia aneura, Acacia ligulata, Atriplex vesicaria, Crotalaria eremaea, Dodonaea viscosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana astrotricha and Sida ammophila were the most heavily grazed species within the reserve. Overall, more than 25% of plants showed some form of conspicuous grazing. C. eremaea and E. tomentosa showed little damage outside the reserve. Inside the reserve many C. eremaea were dead and heavily browsed and few E. tomentosa remained. Recent recruitment of A. ligulata and D. viscosa was also much higher outside the reserve. High densities of burrowing bettongs were associated with declines in vegetation condition potentially impacting other species and the ecosystem as a whole.

scholarly journals Land use intensity, rather than plant species richness, affects the leaching risk of multiple nutrients from permanent grasslands

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 2828-2840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin H. Klaus ◽  
Till Kleinebecker ◽  
Verena Busch ◽  
Markus Fischer ◽  
Norbert Hölzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Leaching Risk

Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in an agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden

2008 ◽  
Vol 84 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 200-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotten J. Johansson ◽  
Karin Hall ◽  
Honor C. Prentice ◽  
Margareta Ihse ◽  
Triin Reitalu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Natural Grassland

scholarly journals Genetic Variation of Typical Plant Species in Hay Meadows: The Effect of Land Use History, Landscape Structure, and Habitat Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Pagel ◽  
Theresa A. Lehmair ◽  
Peter Poschlod ◽  
Christoph Reisch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Land Use History ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Hay Meadows ◽  
Starting Point

Global changes in land use are threatening the diversity of many ecosystems on both the intra- and interspecific levels. Among these ecosystems are the species-rich hay meadows, which have drastically declined in quality and quantity, due to land use intensification or abandonment in recent decades. The remaining genetic resources of their plant species must therefore be protected. To determine the driving forces impacting genetic variation in common hay meadow species (Dactylis glomerata, Heracleum sphondylium, and Trifolium pratense), we used data on the land use history, historic and present landscape structure and habitat quality. Our results showed average genetic diversity within the study sites, with low differentiation levels and a high gene flow among grasslands. Land use history, landscape structure and habitat quality were found to be related to the distribution of genetic diversity in the studied species, highlighting the complex forces acting in these ecosystems and showing the specific impact of litter accumulation on genetic diversity. Both historic and current environmental variables influence genetic diversity, demonstrating the importance of the land use history of a habitat. The most important group of variables impacting genetic variation in all three species was the landscape structure (e.g., distance to the nearest-located urban area or grassland). Also important was the influence of litter cover on genetic diversity in D. glomerata, which provides an interesting starting point for further research.

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