Rangeland use by the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in relation to short- and long- term non- grazing
Protection from grazing results in biomass accumulation and lower forage quality, which in the long-run adversely affects lower-seral wildlife species’ use. The effects of short-term (i.e. two years) and long-term (more than 15 years) protection from grazing by livestock, on the use of grasslands by the European hare (Lepus europaeus) were investigated in a typical Mediterranean grazing land, using the pellet count method. Hares used the grazed sites with a sparse herb layer more intensively than the short- and long- term ungrazed ones where a denser and higher plant structure occurs. The most striking effect was that even the two year protection from grazing was sufficient enough to reduce the hare’s grazing intensity to a level similar with that of sites ungrazed for more than 15 years. These findings confirm that vegetation characteristics play a prevailing role on the use of space by the hare. Furthermore, these findings guide new strategies both on hare conservation and multiple rangeland management, since grazing by small ruminants may function as an agent to create suitable habitats for the hare.
Effects of grazing on vegetation of abandoned arable fields in a sub- humid Mediterranean environment
Arable land abandonment is a major land use change in the Mediterranean region. Plant colonization and vegetation succession in these areas depend on local climatic conditions, soil quality and, especially, on management practices. Livestock grazing can modify or alter the process of succession by facilitating the colonization of certain species at the expense of others. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of grazing on vegetation of old fields. The research was conducted in the Taxiarchis village located in the Holomontas mountain of Chalkidiki, northern Greece, with a sub-humid Mediterranean climate. Plant cover and biomass were measured in adjacent moderately to heavily grazed mainly by goats and protected plots of an old field abandoned for 20 years. Species richness and abundance were also recorded and the Shannon –Wiener and equitability diversity indices were calculated. Total plant cover was significantly decreased due to grazing, but herbaceous cover was not significantly affected. Woody species did not appear in the grazed plots, while in the protected ones they covered 12.8% of the ground. Current year’s and total herbage biomass was significantly decreased due to grazing. Total biomass (herbage and woody) was dominated by the herbaceous component and differed significantly between the two treatments. Shannon – Weiner index and equitability were significantly higher in the grazed plots, due to the significant increase of species numbers and abundance. Τhe results indicate that moderate to heavy grazing can control woody species invasion and enhance plant species diversity in old fields of sub-humid Mediterranean environments.
An assessment of vegetation structure for the rangelands under grazed different seasons in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different grazing system and environmental variables on plant species distribution in highlands of eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Eight range sites, two of which belong to season-long and the others belong to transhumant grazing system, were selected. The vegetation was sampled using the line intercept method. All data were performed Redundancy analysis (RDA) using CANOCO software, version 4.5. Monte Carlo permutation tests were used to determine the significance of environmental variables. Species distribution was located in separate groups depending on grazing season on ordination diagram. Species distribution produced strong correlations with grazing season and bulk density, pH, CaCO3, Ca, P and Na properties of the soil (p<0.05). The results indicated that grazing seasons displayed an important role at distribution of species and also soil properties were important at these rangelands. Hence, it will be better if traditional upland-lowland (transhumant) grazing systems improve with respect to grazing time and stocking intensity for sustainable use of semi arid highland rangelands.
Forage chemical composition of a grazed and an ungrazed kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) shrubland in northern Greece
Kermes oak shrublands (Quercus coccifera L.) are an important source of nutrients for grazing goats during the critical summer period in Greece. This study was carried out to identify the growing plant species in a grazed (GS) and an adjacent ungrazed for 10 years (UGS) kermes oak shrubland at the Municipality of Anthemouda, Chalkidiki, northern Greece, as well as to determine their chemical composition. Two experimental cages 2×2 m were placed in each shrubland in order to identify the herbaceous and woody species and to collect samples. The collected samples were analyzed for ether extracts (EE), crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (P5+), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) content determination. Mean CF concentration of shrubs was not different (p<0.05) between the GS (21.3% DM) and the UGS (19.7% DM). Higher CP content was found in forbs (11.4 % DM) followed by grasses (9.4% DM) and shrubs (7.4% DM) of the GS. On the contrary, higher mineral content (1316.7 mg Ca2+/100 g DM, 695.5 mg P5+/100 g DM, 1538.6 mg Na+/100 g DM, and 953.6 mg K+/100 g DM) was observed in the UGS, as only shrub species comprised the vegetation of this shrubland.
Relationship between chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of rangeland vegetation of northern Greece
The relationship between chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of some rangeland species in northern Greece was examined in the present study. Samples of herbaceous and ligneous browse species were collected during middle of June and early October. Nutritive value of the above species was evaluated based on chemical composition: crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and the in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). The herbaceous IVOMD did not significant correlated with any of the cell wall fractions in June. However, a significant negative correlation with NDF and a positive one with CP were found in October. Concerning the browse species IVOMD’s, it was negatively related with NDF, ADF, and ADL, both in June and October. It seems that, cell walls content is a reliable predictor for both summer and autumn in vitro digestibility for browse species but it is not for herbaceous species.
