Abstract
The species density of 252 permanent quadrats set in plots which were ungrazed and lightly, moderately, and heavily grazed, in a Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grassland, was measured on seven occasions between October 1949 and October 1965. The field data were analysed by means of a Response Index and a Grazing Pressure Index to give the grazing responses of 41 individual species. Those species favoured either by grazing or by non-grazing are listed, and their performance examined in relation to published data on the dietary selection exercised by Merino sheep. The present D. caespitosa grassland is a disclimax one resulting from the grazing of domestic and feral animals, and most species have already come into equilibrium with the total environment. It is suggested that the observed reductions in plant density, size, and the seed crop of annual species in the grazed plots was not followed by the elimination of any species because stocking rates applied in the experiment were no more severe than those which brought about the development of the grassland. The possible unique nature of long-term exclosures in a disclimax grassland is noted.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Some grassland species were favored by grazing and others by non-grazing.
- Taxon
- Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grassland
Rytidosperma caespitosume1 - Outcome
- species favoured either by grazing or by non-grazinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Those species favoured either by grazing or by non-grazing are listed”
e1“Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grassland”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors identify the current grassland as a grazing-derived disclimax.
- Taxon
- D. caespitosaRytidosperma caespitosume0
- Interactor
- domestic and feral animalse0herbivore
- Outcome
- disclimaxe0
- Qualifier
- resulting from the grazing of domestic and feral animalse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The present D. caespitosa grassland is a disclimax one resulting from the grazing of domestic and feral animals”
Claim · model-written summary
Most species were considered in equilibrium with their environment.
- Taxon
- D. caespitosaRytidosperma caespitosume1
- Outcome
- come into equilibrium with the total environmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“most species have already come into equilibrium with the total environment”
e1“D. caespitosa grassland”
Claim · model-written summary
Grazing reduced density, size, and seed crop of annual species.
- Taxon
- Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grasslandRytidosperma caespitosume1
- Treatment
- grazed plotse0
- Outcome
- plant density, size, and the seed crop of annual speciese0
- Direction
- reductionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“observed reductions in plant density, size, and the seed crop of annual species in the grazed plots”
e1“Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grassland”
Claim · model-written summary
No species was eliminated following grazing-related reductions.
- Taxon
- Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grasslandRytidosperma caespitosume1
- Outcome
- elimination of any speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“was not followed by the elimination of any species”
e1“Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. grassland”