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Impact of grazing management on biodiversity of grasslands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

J. R. B. Tallowin ,
A. J. Rook  and
S. M. Rutter
J. R. B. Tallowin
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1SU, UK
A. J. Rook*
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1SU, UK
S. M. Rutter
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1SU, UK
*
†Corresponding author. E-mail: aj.rook@bbsrc.ac.uk
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Abstract

This paper reviews recent work carried out by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research and collaborating organizations that addresses some of the impacts of grazing management on both species-rich and species-poor lowland neutral grassland. Results indicate that for species-rich grassland, lenient grazing pressure maintained botanical diversity and the abundance of positive indicator species of nature conservation value over a 5-year period and also enhanced faunal diversity and abundance reflecting improvements in spatial, architectural and temporal structure. However, there was no enhancement in positive indicator species and there was also an increase in pernicious weeds suggesting that grazing alone may not suffice to deliver all the biodiversity goals for these grasslands and that additional management interventions may be required. For species-poor grassland, results indicate that distinctive differences in structure can lead to differences in faunal diversity. There is also some tentative evidence that livestock breed may affect invertebrate species assemblages.

Keywords

biodiversitygrasslandsgrazing
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 81 , Issue 2 , October 2005 , pp. 193 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2005

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