Ecology

Data on Agricultural Ecosystems Described by Researchers at University of Avignon

  2012 JUL 6 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- Research findings on Agricultural Ecosystems are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting from Avignon, France, by VerticalNews journalists, researchers stated "The stability of grazing-induced spatial patterns of vegetation was analyzed at two spatial scales (25 m x 20 m areas and 1.6 m x 0.8 m grids) in pastures of contrasting productivity (maximum standing biomass: 130-800 gDM/m(2)). At both scales, the mosaic of grazed and ungrazed patches was modeled as a Boolean process, calculating cross-variograms to quantify the temporal stability of grazing patterns and its links with local floristic composition were tested."

  The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research by the authors from the University of Avignon, "The scale at which stability of vegetation patterns took place in two successive years depended on pasture productivity. Inter-annual stability of large-scale patterns mainly occurred in extensively used fertile pastures grazed by cattle, and in pastures grazed by horses. Less-fertile grasslands were mainly characterized by a fine-scale stability of grazing patterns. Stable fine-scale patterns were often related to the local abundance of legumes and forbs."

  According to the news reporters, the researchers concluded: "Stable large-scale patterns of grazing within lightly grazed productive grasslands could result in divergent local vegetation dynamics, which can be seen as an opportunity for restoring biodiversity in fertile grasslands."

  For more information on this research see: When does grazing generate stable vegetation patterns in temperate pastures? Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 2012;153():50-56. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Bv, PO Box 211, 1000 Ae Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting B. Dumont, Univ Avignon & Pays du Vaucluse, Inst Mediterraneen Biol & Ecol, F-84914 Avignon 9, France.

  Keywords for this news article include: France, Europe, Avignon, Agricultural Ecosystems

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