Long?term proliferation of large annual thistles in dry Mediterranean rangelands

Spiny plants comprise a large, ecologically and economically important functional group in Mediterranean rangelands. The increasing abundance of large annual thistles grazed grasslands entails major consequences for ecosystem services. This study aims to quantify the contribution spiny rangeland vegetation cover productivity identify management- climate-related drivers plant distribution performance. Using 15-year dataset from an extensive herbaceous pasture experiment northeastern Galilee, Israel, we examined effects livestock management climate on biomass two dominant thistle species, Scolymus maculatus Carthamus glaucus. These constitute significant proportion productivity, contributing more than 50% 25% under high moderate stocking density, respectively. Despite similarity life-form life-history characteristics, each demonstrates distinct response both intensity climatic parameters. High density had positive effect S. maculatus. Conversely, C. glaucus estimates were higher density. Distance feeding site contrasting focal thistles. Relative humidity temperature most sensitive parameters explaining variation directionality species' responses suggests that attains dry warm conditions. proliferation variable densities conditions increases but reduces palatable rangelands by 27%–50%.