A modified litter-bag method was used to measure plant fineroot decomposition in relation to biomass quality in a mixedgrass prairie. Measurements were made during three years on moderately and heavily grazed pastures that had been under cattle grazing for 17 years prior to sampling. Although we found no significant difference in initial fine-root litter quality between grazing treatments, nitr...

Canada thistle remains the most common and troublesome weed of pastures, roadsides and other areas of low-maintenance sods. Even though numerous herbicides have excellent activity on Canada thistle, the extensive root system of this species complicates longterm management. This paper will discuss recent research conducted in Alberta, Canada investigating the role of pasture fertilization in Can...

Most Australian soils are derived from parent material which is low in phosphorus. Soils of low phosphorus status support early maturing, grass dominant pastures with a short summer growth period and hence lengthy period of senescence. Phosphorus in these grasses may be as low as 0.02 g P/100 g OM during senescence (Robinson and Sageman 1967) and may only reach 0.15 g.P/lOO g OM during active g...

Some ewes grazing oestrogenic pasture consistently produce viable offspring and are therefore considered to be resistant to Clover Disease. In a search for factors associated with this resistance Obst, Seamark and McGowan (1971) reported a significant association between ewe fertility and haemoglobin type (Hb) in a small flock of Merino ewes grazing Yarloop clover pastures. Low fertility and hi...

Only recently has it been formally acknowledged that native species can occasionally reach the status of 'pest' or 'invasive species' within their own native range. The study of such species has potential to help unravel fundamental aspects of biological invasions. A good model for such a study is the New Zealand native scarab beetle, Costelytra zealandica (White), which even in the presence of...

Pasture areas have been decreasing over the years in Brazil, largely due to expansion of agricultural areas, mainly Southeast region. Natural or planted pastures are subject attack by insects that can become pests depending on their level infestation and among them Scarabaeidae beetles. The scarce information species this family existing region Bálsamo (São Paulo) makes a study occurrence these...

As in many regions across the world, southeastern Kazakhstan is subjected to ongoing water-resource depletion. The livestock sector already a major natural water resource consumer, with groundwater use becoming its supply strategy. Remote pasture infrastructure development requires new resources allow area circulation. distant pastures middle reach of Aksu River consist three pastures, total 32...

The vegetation of an area of the Upper Clutha basin, New Zealand, with a 'semi-arid' climate, was sampled with 95 quadrats in a nested randomised design. All types of vegetation were sampled, from nearnatural to managed pastures. Twenty four environmental factors were measured in each quadrat. Five 'formations' are described, and 14 'communities' recognised within them, although there are few c...

Point counts and mist-net surveys were employed to study the winter distri­ bution of nearctic migratory landbirds in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Overwintering mi­ grants comprised 42 regularly occurring species, and accounted for 30-58% (mean = 41%) of the individual birds encountered in surveys of a wide range of natural and disturbed habitats. Some migratory species were encountered most fre...