In spite of their recognized ecological value, relatively little is known about the nutritional value of species-rich rangelands for herbivores. We investigated the sources of variation in dry matter digestibility (DMD), neutral detergent fibre content (NDF) and nitrogen concentration (NC) in plants from species-rich Mediterranean rangelands in southern France, and tested whether the dry matter...

In semi-arid ecosystems, vegetation is heterogeneously distributed, with plant species often associating in patches. These associations between species are not constant, but depend on the particular response of each species to environmental factors. Here, we investigated how plant species associations change in response to livestock grazing in a semi-arid ecosystem, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural P...

Soil is the fundamental component of each terrestrial ecosystem, so consequences land management regime on soil health and productivity should be evaluated. To this end, long term effects livestock grazing were studied in three systems north-eastern Iran, comprising unlimited grazing, managed a rangeland where was prohibited. First, properties including pH, EC, bulk density contents phosphorus,...

Reports of positive or neutral effects of grazing on plant species richness have prompted calls for livestock grazing to be used as a tool for managing land for conservation. Grazing effects, however, are likely to vary among different response variables, types, and intensity of grazing, and across abiotic conditions. We aimed to examine how grazing affects ecosystem structure, function, and co...

the superficial strata of ground have been perennially exposed to the action of natural agents such as heat, cold and water. however, grazing agent was not different from them when soils were investigated from temperate rangelands of kashmir and caused the soil compaction, soil structure degradation and loss of soil organic c and c/n ratio. soils from three grazing intensities were investigated...

Overgrazing has been the primary cause of grassland degradation in the semi-arid grasslands of the agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China. However, there has been little evidence regarding grazing intensity impacts on vegetation change and soil C and N dynamics in this region. This paper reports the effects of four grazing intensities namely un-grazed (UG), lightly grazed (LG), moderat...

Article history: Received 6 July 2005 Received in revised form 11 October 2005 Accepted 21 October 2005 Available online 4 January 2006 Global Climate Change (GCC) can bring about changes in ecosystems and consequently in their services value. Here we show that the urban population in Israel values the green landscape of rangelands in the mesic Mediterranean climate region and is willing to pay...

Atriplex spp. (Atriplex canescens, A. lentiformis and A. halimus) plantation has been extensively used to reclaim rangeland in Iran for the past several decades. However, the impacts of this practice have been controversial. Due to the increasing adoption of this reclamation technique for degraded rangelands, it is important to investigate its impacts. The aim of this study was to investigate t...

Short-duration overnight kraaling has been suggested as a tool for restoring degraded rangelands. However, the response of different plant functional types and communities to such intense livestock impact may vary depending on local context. We thus examined effects short-duration soil vegetation characteristics in mesic montane grassland South Africa using paired kraal control sites, part low ...