CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING

Patches of short grasses and herbs (Greens) are important grazing resources for sheep in the Falkland Islands. Little was known of their origins or diversity making it difficult to select management options for sustainable grazing. The floristic, physiographic, biotic and edaphic attributes of 131 G...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kerr,J. Aidan, McAdam,James H
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Universidad de Magallanes 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-686X2008000100001
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
id oai:scielo:S0718-686X2008000100001
record_format dspace
spelling oai:scielo:S0718-686X20080001000012018-09-05CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZINGKerr,J. AidanMcAdam,James H grassland management patche sheep grazing sheldgeese penguins Patches of short grasses and herbs (Greens) are important grazing resources for sheep in the Falkland Islands. Little was known of their origins or diversity making it difficult to select management options for sustainable grazing. The floristic, physiographic, biotic and edaphic attributes of 131 Greens were surveyed. They occurred widely, were mainly <5 ha, had variable shapes and physiography and were used frequently by livestock. The most dominant plant species were Agrostis spp, Juncus scheuchzerioides, Gunnera magellanica and Poa pratensis. Greens were classified into eight communities that differed floristically, physiographically, edaphi-cally and in herbage quality. For management purposes two main types were identified. The first type, dominated by Agrostis spp. and G. mageííanica, occurred on relatively wet and infertile soil and was mainly associated with inland valleys and small paddocks. The second type, dominated by Poa spp., occurred on relatively dry and fertile soil and was mainly associated with coastal sites, ponds and penguin rookeries. Ordination of sites showed that Greens were floristically similar as no wholly distinct groups were found on any axes combination. Differences were principally in species frequency rather than in diversity. The first ordination axis was positively related to soil Mg and P and dung cover and negatively related to soil moisture. The second axis was positively related to soil Ca and negatively related to K and dung cover. These corresponded generally with the soil features of the classification groups. Variation between Greens was due mainly to the type and degree of disturbance caused by combinations of livestock, penguins and sheldgeese. As Greens were more similar than dissimilar and inter-Green variation was more continuous than discrete, it is expected that management strategies for sustainable grazing would also be similar. Special management may be needed only for overgrazed Greens.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessUniversidad de MagallanesAnales del Instituto de la Patagonia v.36 n.1 20082008-01-01text/htmlhttp://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-686X2008000100001en10.4067/S0718-686X2008000100001
institution Scielo Chile
collection Scielo Chile
language English
topic grassland management
patche
sheep grazing
sheldgeese
penguins
spellingShingle grassland management
patche
sheep grazing
sheldgeese
penguins
Kerr,J. Aidan
McAdam,James H
CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
description Patches of short grasses and herbs (Greens) are important grazing resources for sheep in the Falkland Islands. Little was known of their origins or diversity making it difficult to select management options for sustainable grazing. The floristic, physiographic, biotic and edaphic attributes of 131 Greens were surveyed. They occurred widely, were mainly <5 ha, had variable shapes and physiography and were used frequently by livestock. The most dominant plant species were Agrostis spp, Juncus scheuchzerioides, Gunnera magellanica and Poa pratensis. Greens were classified into eight communities that differed floristically, physiographically, edaphi-cally and in herbage quality. For management purposes two main types were identified. The first type, dominated by Agrostis spp. and G. mageííanica, occurred on relatively wet and infertile soil and was mainly associated with inland valleys and small paddocks. The second type, dominated by Poa spp., occurred on relatively dry and fertile soil and was mainly associated with coastal sites, ponds and penguin rookeries. Ordination of sites showed that Greens were floristically similar as no wholly distinct groups were found on any axes combination. Differences were principally in species frequency rather than in diversity. The first ordination axis was positively related to soil Mg and P and dung cover and negatively related to soil moisture. The second axis was positively related to soil Ca and negatively related to K and dung cover. These corresponded generally with the soil features of the classification groups. Variation between Greens was due mainly to the type and degree of disturbance caused by combinations of livestock, penguins and sheldgeese. As Greens were more similar than dissimilar and inter-Green variation was more continuous than discrete, it is expected that management strategies for sustainable grazing would also be similar. Special management may be needed only for overgrazed Greens.
author Kerr,J. Aidan
McAdam,James H
author_facet Kerr,J. Aidan
McAdam,James H
author_sort Kerr,J. Aidan
title CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
title_short CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
title_full CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
title_fullStr CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
title_full_unstemmed CHARACTERISTICS OF PATCHES OF SHORT GRASSES AND HERBS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT FOR SHEEP GRAZING
title_sort characteristics of patches of short grasses and herbs in the falkland islands and their management for sheep grazing
publisher Universidad de Magallanes
publishDate 2008
url http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-686X2008000100001
work_keys_str_mv AT kerrjaidan characteristicsofpatchesofshortgrassesandherbsinthefalklandislandsandtheirmanagementforsheepgrazing
AT mcadamjamesh characteristicsofpatchesofshortgrassesandherbsinthefalklandislandsandtheirmanagementforsheepgrazing
_version_ 1714205666660319232