Prolonged exposure to sheep grazing reduces the palatability of Australian saltbush populations [Atriplex vesicaria]
1990
Pearson, J.T. | Sparrow, A.D. | Lange, R.T. (Adelaide Univ., Adelaide (Australia). Botany Dept.)
Twenty saltbush plants (10 male, 10 female) were collected from each of 6 locations across chenopod shrubland of South Australia; 3 areas with long records of intensive sheep pastoralism and 3 areas with negligible stock grazing in the past. The plants were transplanted and grazed by sheep. Overall accumulated tagged terminal shoot loss after 9 days was significantly different between populations. The results indicated that the piosphere is a gradient of variability in palatability as well as a gradient of floristic composition.
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