In:
Journal of Vegetation Science, Wiley, Vol. 16, No. 2 ( 2005-04), p. 151-160
Abstract:
Abstract. Question: How do functional types respond to contrasting levels of herbage use in temperate and fertile grasslands? Location: Central France (3°1’E, 45°43’N), 870 m a.s.l. Methods: Community structure and the traits of dominant plant species were evaluated after 12 years of contrasted grazing and mowing regimes in a grazing trial, comparing three levels of herbage use (high, medium and low). Results and Conclusions: Of 22 measured traits (including leaf traits, shoot morphology and composition, phenology), seven were significantly affected by the herbage use treatment. A decline in herbage use reduced individual leaf mass, specific leaf area and shoot digestibility, but increased leaf C and dry matter contents. Plants were taller, produced larger seeds and flowered later under low than high herbage use. Nine plant functional response types were identified by multivariate optimization analysis; they were based on four optimal traits: leaf dry matter content, individual leaf area, mature plant height and time of flowering. In the high‐use plots, two short and early flowering types were co‐dominant, one competitive, grazing‐tolerant and moderately grazing‐avoiding, and one grazing‐avoiding but not ‐tolerant. Low‐use plots were dominated by one type, neither hardly grazing‐avoiding nor grazing‐tolerant, but strongly competitive for light.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1100-9233
,
1654-1103
DOI:
10.1111/jvs.2005.16.issue-2
DOI:
10.1111/j.1654-1103.2005.tb02350.x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2047714-4
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1053769-7
SSG:
12
SSG:
23
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