Interactions between grazing behaviour and plant community structure in shrubland and their consequences on desertification
2009
Kyriazopoulos, A.P. | Sklavou, P. | Nastis, A.S. | Papanastasis, V.P.
Changes in grazing behaviour can be used as an early indicator for detecting plant community composition and structure modification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrelationships between plants on offer at pasture and animal behaviour, so as to forestall desertification by applying management measures. The experimental area was a shrubland, dominated by Cistus monspeliensis, Olea europea, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus coccifera, in which a flock of 300 local goats grazed freely. The total area was divided into lightly, moderately and heavily grazed unfenced plots. Grazing behaviour data were recorded separately in each plot, in early spring, early summer, late summer and early winter. The preferred species during early spring, early summer and early winter was Phillyrea latifolia, while during late summer it was Pistacia lentiscus. The goats' average bite size, intake rate and total intake gradually decreased as the growing season progressed. The frequency of visits to a site, and thus the stocking rate on the heavily grazed paddocks gradually increased from spring to late summer, whereas the stocking rate of the moderately and lightly grazed paddocks was similar throughout the grazing seasons. If there is no modification of the present management over a number of years, signs of desertification will inevitably appear in the heavily grazed sites. Management guidelines could be introduced so that, once behavioral changes are detected, grazing pressure is reduced on the heavily grazed areas by better distribution of stock over the entire area
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