Selective and taxon-dependent effects of semi-feral cattle grazing on tree regeneration in an old-growth Mediterranean mountain forest  

作　　者：Xavier Fortuny Christopher Carcaillet Sandrine Chauchard 

机构地区：[1]Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes(EPHE),PSL University,75014 Paris,France [2]Laboratoire d’ cologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés(UMR5023 CNRS,UniversitéLyon 1,ENTPE),69622 Villeurbanne,France [3]Universitéde Lorraine,AgroParisTech,INRAE,UMR Silva,54000 Nancy,France

出　　处：《Forest Ecosystems》2020年第1期128-140,共13页森林生态系统（英文版）

基　　金：the Observatoire des Sciences de l’Univers OREME at Montpellier,France(INSU-CNRS).

摘　　要：Background:In Mediterranean mountain socio-ecosystems,both grazing by livestock and the dry season may influence tree regeneration.However,the relative contributions of these drivers are poorly known,even though present and future canopy composition might result from past and present variations in climate and herbivore density.This study aims to test how semi-feral cattle presence and season affect tree regeneration.Methods:The study was conducted using permanent plots inside and outside a cattle exclosure in an old-growth Mediterranean forest.Saplings and seedlings were counted five times per year(winter,early spring,middle spring,summer,fall)and monitored over 7 yrs.Results:Semi-feral cattle exclusion increased Acer,Fagus,Ilex,Pinus,Prunus and Quercus sapling densities and increased Acer,Fraxinus,Ilex,Quercus and Sorbus seedling densities.Interestingly,the dry season did not exert any noticeable effects on the sapling or seedling densities of any of the studied taxa.Discussion:Semi-feral cattle presence may limit tree regeneration through taxon-dependent effects,which suggests that the current decrease in grazing livestock across the Mediterranean basin will modify recruitment processes and,likely,future forest composition.Conclusions:Semi-feral cattle presence acts as a selective driver of tree community composition.

关 键 词：CATTLE Climate Experiment HERBIVORY Forest pastoralism 

分 类 号：S718.5[农业科学—林学]