Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems

Wang, Zheng; Zhang, Jing Hui; Li, Zhiyong; Liu, Huamin; Wang, Lixin; Wang, Wen; Wang, Yang; Liang, Cunzhu

doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.682289

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-22804

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems
Authors:	Wang, Zheng Zhang, Jing Hui Li, Zhiyong Liu, Huamin Wang, Lixin Wang, Wen Wang, Yang Liang, Cunzhu
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3389/fevo.2021.682289 10.21256/zhaw-22804
Published in:	Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Volume(Issue):	9
Issue:	682289
Issue Date:	1-Jul-2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	2296-701X
Language:	English
Subjects:	Functional trait; Grazing system; Intraspecific variability; Adaption strategy; Inner Mongolia grassland
Subject (DDC):	577: Ecology
Abstract:	Plant functional traits reflect species ecological strategies and determine how plants respond to environmental changes, Plant functional traits reflect species ecological strategies and determine how plants respond to environmental changes, however, how dominant species in the Inner Mongolia grassland adapt to different grazing systems by changing their functional traits has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we established four 7-year grazing treatments in the Inner Mongolia grassland: cattle grazing, sheep grazing, mixed sheep and cattle grazing, and no grazing. Fourteen functional traits of three dominant species (Stipa grandis, Leymus chinensis, and Cleistogenes squarrosa) were measured under the different grazing treatments. We found convergences of plant functional traits that indicate herbivory avoidance or tolerance. Plants reduced their vegetative height (VH) and stem: leaf ratio (SLR) to avoid grazing; increased their ability to acquire resources by increasing their specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), and leaf phosphorus concentration (LPC); and reduced their leaf dry matter content (LDMC) to tolerate grazing. Moreover, plants may adapt to grazing by increasing the intraspecific variability of their functional traits. Sheep-only grazing adversely affected L. chinensis growth and survival, while cattle-only grazing hindered S. grandis growth and increased the intraspecific variability of its plant functional traits. Our study emphasizes that intraspecific variability is an important indicator of the responses of plant functional traits to grazing. Since single grazing is more detrimental to the functional traits of dominant plants, we suggest that mixed cattle and sheep grazing may be a more environmentally friendly and sustainable practice for the Inner Mongolia grassland than single grazing.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/22804
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Wang, Z., Zhang, J. H., Li, Z., Liu, H., Wang, L., Wang, W., Wang, Y., & Liang, C. (2021). Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9(682289). https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.682289

Wang, Z. et al. (2021) ‘Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems’, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9(682289). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.682289.

Z. Wang et al., “Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems,” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, no. 682289, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.682289.

WANG, Zheng, Jing Hui ZHANG, Zhiyong LI, Huamin LIU, Lixin WANG, Wen WANG, Yang WANG und Cunzhu LIANG, 2021. Single grazing is more detrimental to grasslands than mixed grazing : evidence from the response of functional traits of dominant plants to grazing systems. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 1 Juli 2021. Bd. 9, Nr. 682289. DOI 10.3389/fevo.2021.682289

Wang, Zheng, Jing Hui Zhang, Zhiyong Li, Huamin Liu, Lixin Wang, Wen Wang, Yang Wang, and Cunzhu Liang. 2021. “Single Grazing Is More Detrimental to Grasslands than Mixed Grazing : Evidence from the Response of Functional Traits of Dominant Plants to Grazing Systems.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9 (682289). https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.682289.

Wang, Zheng, et al. “Single Grazing Is More Detrimental to Grasslands than Mixed Grazing : Evidence from the Response of Functional Traits of Dominant Plants to Grazing Systems.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 9, no. 682289, July 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.682289.