EFFECTS OF BROWSING PRESSURE ON THE TEXTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS L. BRANCHES

In the Montseny Natural Park junipers scattered in grasslands can be found. some of these areas park, breeding small ruminants is allowed, while others only find wildlife exists. Junipers develop differently if browsed, adopting spherical or conical morphotypes. This paper studies mechanical characteristics shoots according to sex bush and branching regime which they are subjected. 729 individual were taken from male female exposed browsing goats ewes those not grazed sampled at a different position each bush. All leaves off non-lignified end shot studied by simulated bite. The strength needed cut apical twigs was measured using Volodkevich jaw, mimics way incisors act, texturometer. diameter branches differs bushes’ being larger for females individuals predation pressure. Although differences induced significant, due grazing pressure larger. annual thicker longer non-grazed junipers. difference partial consumption branches, as all samples collected full. continued leads survival strategy growing, with tighter packaged evident analysis structure. bushes allow more open force necessary break branch significantly higher on females. could related fact that must bear weight fruits. elasticity shots junipers, considered tolerate herbivory.