Grazing and Grazing Exclusion Along a Resource Gradient in Magellanic Meadows of Tierra del Fuego

• Published in: Rangeland ecology & management Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 688 - 699
• Main Authors: Collantes, Marta B., Escartín, Celina, Braun, Karen, Cingolani, Ana, Anchorena, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence the Society for Range Management 01.11.2013; Elsevier Inc; Allen Press Publishing Services; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Azorella; Biomass; botanical composition; Caltha; correspondence analysis; Cyperaceae; Domestic animals; Drought; Ecosystems; Encroachment; Environmental conditions; environmental factors; equilibrium; Grasses; Grazing; Grazing management; Groundwater; herbivores; Herbivory; Meadows; Multivariate analysis; Ordination; plant community dynamics; plant-animal interactions; Poa pratensis; Range management; Research s; riparian ecology; Sedges; Sheep; Shrubs; soil; Soil compaction; spring; state-and-transition; Studies; Vegetation; Wetlands; Argentina, Tierra del Fuego; state-and-transition; equilibrium; plant-animal interactions; plant community dynamics; riparian ecology

Although Magellanic meadows have been subject to ungulate herbivory for a long time; they have suffered severe grazing by domestic sheep since the end of the 19th century. We hypothesized that, if protected from grazing, the present dominant dwarf forms would be replaced by taller competitive forms,...