Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores
Assemblages of large herbivores may compete for food or facilitate one another. However, small vertebrate herbivore species co-occurring with large herbivores may be affected by large herbivore grazing through changes in plant species composition, nutrient content and vegetation structure. These cha...
Published in: | Basic and Applied Ecology |
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2009
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Online Access: | https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.009 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d |
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ftknawnlpublic:oai:pure.knaw.nl:publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d 2024-04-28T08:28:24+00:00 Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores Bakker, E.S. Olff, H. Gleichman, J.M. 2009 https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.009 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d eng eng https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Bakker , E S , Olff , H & Gleichman , J M 2009 , ' Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores ' , Basic and Applied Ecology , vol. 10 , no. 2 , pp. 141-150 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.009 article 2009 ftknawnlpublic https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.00920.500.11755/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d 2024-04-11T00:14:26Z Assemblages of large herbivores may compete for food or facilitate one another. However, small vertebrate herbivore species co-occurring with large herbivores may be affected by large herbivore grazing through changes in plant species composition, nutrient content and vegetation structure. These changes can be either positive or negative for the smaller herbivores, but this may depend on the species of small herbivores. We experimentally tested the impact of cattle grazing on habitat choice of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and common voles (Microtus arvalis). We excluded cattle for 7 years and measured changes in vegetation parameters, and the response of rabbits and voles. Rabbits were facilitated by cattle, whereas voles strongly preferred vegetation without cattle. The facilitation effect was stronger at low rabbit densities. Vegetation biomass and nitrogen concentration were not affected by cattle grazing, but vegetation height increased significantly where cattle were excluded. Plant species composition also changed following cattle exclusion; however, the main food plants of rabbits and voles remained abundant in each grazing treatment. We conclude that the response of both rabbits and voles predominantly reflect the differences in vegetation height in the presence and absence of cattle, but in a contrasting fashion. The difference in response between rabbits and voles may result from reduced perceived predation risk, which is lowest in high vegetation for voles, but in short vegetation for rabbits, which depend on their burrows for safety. The use of large herbivores in grassland conservation management can thus have a contrasting effect on different species of small herbivores. Assemblages of large herbivores may compete for food or facilitate one another. However, small vertebrate herbivore species co-occurring with large herbivores may be affected by large herbivore grazing through changes in plant species composition, nutrient content and vegetation structure. These changes can be either ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Microtus arvalis KNAW: Research Explorer (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) Basic and Applied Ecology 10 2 141 150 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
KNAW: Research Explorer (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) |
op_collection_id |
ftknawnlpublic |
language |
English |
description |
Assemblages of large herbivores may compete for food or facilitate one another. However, small vertebrate herbivore species co-occurring with large herbivores may be affected by large herbivore grazing through changes in plant species composition, nutrient content and vegetation structure. These changes can be either positive or negative for the smaller herbivores, but this may depend on the species of small herbivores. We experimentally tested the impact of cattle grazing on habitat choice of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and common voles (Microtus arvalis). We excluded cattle for 7 years and measured changes in vegetation parameters, and the response of rabbits and voles. Rabbits were facilitated by cattle, whereas voles strongly preferred vegetation without cattle. The facilitation effect was stronger at low rabbit densities. Vegetation biomass and nitrogen concentration were not affected by cattle grazing, but vegetation height increased significantly where cattle were excluded. Plant species composition also changed following cattle exclusion; however, the main food plants of rabbits and voles remained abundant in each grazing treatment. We conclude that the response of both rabbits and voles predominantly reflect the differences in vegetation height in the presence and absence of cattle, but in a contrasting fashion. The difference in response between rabbits and voles may result from reduced perceived predation risk, which is lowest in high vegetation for voles, but in short vegetation for rabbits, which depend on their burrows for safety. The use of large herbivores in grassland conservation management can thus have a contrasting effect on different species of small herbivores. Assemblages of large herbivores may compete for food or facilitate one another. However, small vertebrate herbivore species co-occurring with large herbivores may be affected by large herbivore grazing through changes in plant species composition, nutrient content and vegetation structure. These changes can be either ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bakker, E.S. Olff, H. Gleichman, J.M. |
spellingShingle |
Bakker, E.S. Olff, H. Gleichman, J.M. Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
author_facet |
Bakker, E.S. Olff, H. Gleichman, J.M. |
author_sort |
Bakker, E.S. |
title |
Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
title_short |
Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
title_full |
Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
title_fullStr |
Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
title_full_unstemmed |
Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
title_sort |
contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.009 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d |
genre |
Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Microtus arvalis |
op_source |
Bakker , E S , Olff , H & Gleichman , J M 2009 , ' Contrasting effects of large herbivore grazing on smaller herbivores ' , Basic and Applied Ecology , vol. 10 , no. 2 , pp. 141-150 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.009 |
op_relation |
https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.10.00920.500.11755/6ffcf0ad-8602-4941-a1ad-276c3636ef3d |
container_title |
Basic and Applied Ecology |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
141 |
op_container_end_page |
150 |
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1797586952947499008 |