Abstract
Livestock behaviour in the Pyrenees includes free grazing and a long resting period that provokes the accumulation of dung and urine in some places,so-called camping areas. The aims of this study were (i) to analyze any change in floral composition,and in nutritional and chemical contents of plants in a livestock camping area; and (ii) to relate the floral composition with soil chemical properties. In a linear transect,five sampling zones were established,from the centre of the camping area to the surrounding Nardus stricta-dominant pasture. The above ground plant biomass and the topsoil were sampled in each zone with 6 replicates per zone. Plant species were classified and weighed to calculate above ground biomass,nutritional and chemical contents,and Shannon diversity and evenness indices. Additionally,soils were sampled in two periods,at the beginning and at the end of grazing period. Soil available nutrients (nitrate,ammonium,phosphorus,potassium,calcium and magnesium),total nitrogen,organic carbon and pH were measured. Plant chemical contents (protein,lignin and others) were significantly related to the proportions of grasses,legumes and other plants; so,the protein content is positively correlated with legumes plant biomass while lignin content is negatively correlated with grasses. Both plant and soil nutrients increased linearly towards the centre of the camping area. However,the relationship among plant species richness,diversity and evenness relative to its position along the studied transect was bell-shaped. From the outskirts to the centre of the camping area,plants with low nutrient demand were progressively replaced by those with medium and high nutrients demand and by pioneers. Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has low plant diversity and plant nutrient content as well as a poor soil nutrient availability. The presence of the camping area introduced patches with more soil nutrients and new species in the large spatial scale. However at a small spatial scale,the strong soil nutrient concentration into the centre of the camping area reduced floral composition again. To ensure positive effects of camping areas on plant diversity,and to manage more effectively the nutrients returned to the soil,a reduction in the stocking rate should be pursued.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Protein content of plants is positively correlated with legume plant biomass.
Verbatim
e1“Plant chemical contents (protein, lignin and others) were significantly related to the proportions of grasses, legumes and other plants”
e2“the protein content is positively correlated with legumes plant biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
Lignin content of plants is negatively correlated with grasses.
Verbatim
e1“Plant chemical contents (protein, lignin and others) were significantly related to the proportions of grasses, legumes and other plants”
e2“lignin content is negatively correlated with grasses”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant and soil nutrients increased linearly towards the centre of the camping area.
Verbatim
e1“Both plant and soil nutrients increased linearly towards the centre of the camping area”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant species richness, diversity and evenness relative to position along the transect were bell-shaped.
Verbatim
e1“the relationship among plant species richness, diversity and evenness relative to its position along the studied transect was bell-shaped”
e2“Plant species were classified and weighed to calculate above ground biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
Plants with low nutrient demand were progressively replaced by plants with medium and high nutrient demand and by pioneers from the outskirts towards the centre of the camping area.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee1
- Outcome
- plants with low nutrient demande1
- Direction
- replacede1
- Setting
- centre of the camping areae1
Verbatim
e1“From the outskirts to the centre of the camping area,plants with low nutrient demand were progressively replaced by those with medium and high nutrients demand and by pioneers”
Claim · model-written summary
Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has low plant diversity and low plant nutrient content.
- Taxon
- Nardus stricta
Nardus strictae1 - Outcome
- plant diversity and plant nutrient contente1
- Qualifier
- lowe1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has low plant diversity and plant nutrient content as well as a poor soil nutrient availability”
Claim · model-written summary
Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has poor soil nutrient availability.
- Taxon
- Nardus strictaNardus strictae1
- Outcome
- soil nutrient availabilitye1
- Qualifier
- poore1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has low plant diversity and plant nutrient content as well as a poor soil nutrient availability”
Claim · model-written summary
The presence of the camping area introduced patches with more soil nutrients and new species at the large spatial scale.
Verbatim
e1“The presence of the camping area introduced patches with more soil nutrients and new species in the large spatial scale”
e2“Plant species were classified and weighed to calculate above ground biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
A strong soil nutrient concentration in the centre of the camping area reduced floral composition at a small spatial scale.
Verbatim
e1“at a small spatial scale,the strong soil nutrient concentration into the centre of the camping area reduced floral composition again”
e2“Plant species were classified and weighed to calculate above ground biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
A reduction in the stocking rate is recommended to ensure positive effects of camping areas on plant diversity.
Verbatim
e1“To ensure positive effects of camping areas on plant diversity”
e2“a reduction in the stocking rate should be pursued”