The vertical distribution of below-ground biomass in grassland communities in relation to grazing regime and habitat characteristics

Abstract. 40 sites, representing different pasture types in Northwest Spain, were sampled in respect of their floristic composition, distribution of above and below-ground biomass and environmental and physical variables. Five plant community types were identified by classification techniques of plant species composition. These communities were then characterized in terms of the percentage of ground covered by herbaceous and shrub vegetation, stones, rocks and gaps as well as their topographic location and characteristics of the shallow soil (pH, organic matter, nitrogen and calcium content). Bio-mass was assessed in terms of above-ground structures, surface crowns and three below-ground layers to a depth of 10 cm. Three types of grazing regime were distinguished: Concentrated Intense Grazing in early spring (CIG), Extended Intense Grazing throughout the spring (EIG), and Non-Intense Grazing (NIG). Grazing regime showed the highest association with plant community type and three broad categories were identified: xeric stressed pastures, which nevertheless received CIG, mesic pastures with EIG, and three kinds of NIG mesic pastures. The xeric communities had the highest proportion of aboveground biomass, as a consequence of their greater proportion of woody perennials. These xeric communities displayed a more gradual reduction in below-ground biomass with depth than mesic pastures, a likely consequence of the low water content in the upper soil layers. The mesic communities had a high concentration of below-ground biomass in the upper layers when they were intensely grazed. However, when grazing was low (i.e. NIG situations), these communities had greater variability in biomass profiles than any of the other pasture types. Possible causes of the patterns in biomass distribution of the intensely grazed pastures are discussed.     

Effects of grazing intensity on soil carbon stocks following deforestation of a Hawaiian dry tropical forest

The effects of forest-to-pasture conversion on soil carbon (C) stocks depend on a combination of climatic and management factors, but factors that relate to grazing intensity are perhaps the least understood. To understand the long-term impact of grazing in converted pastures, methods are needed that accurately measure the impact of grazing on recent plant inputs to soil C in a variety of pasture management and climate settings. Here, we present an analysis from Hawai'i of changes in vegetation structure and soil organic carbon (SOC) along gradients of grazing intensity and elevation in pastures converted from dry tropical forest 100 years ago. We used hyperspectral remote sensing of photosynthetic vegetation, nonphotosynthetic vegetation (NPV) and exposed substrate to understand the effects of grazing on plant litter cover, thus, estimating recent plant inputs to soils (the NPV component). Forest-to-pasture conversion caused a shift from C3 to C4 plant physiology, thus the δ ¹³C method was used in soil cores to measure the fraction of SOC accumulated from pasture vegetation sources following land conversion. SOC decreased in pasture by 5–9 kg C m⁻², depending upon grazing intensity. SOC derived from C3 (forest) sources was constant across the grazing gradient, indicating that the observed variation in SOC was attributable to changes in C inputs following deforestation. Soil C stocks were also reduced in pastures relative to forest soils. We found that long-term grazing lowers SOC following Hawaiian forest-to-pasture conversion, and that these changes are larger in magnitude that those occurring with elevation (climate). Further we demonstrate a relationship between remotely sensed measurements of surface litter and field SOC measurements, allowing for regional analysis of pasture condition and C storage where limited field data are available.     

16S rRNA gene analyses of bacterial community structures in the soils of evergreen broad-leaved forests in south-west China

Bacterial community structure was studied in humus and mineral soils of evergreen broad-leaved forests in Ailaoshan and Xishuangbanna, representing subtropical and tropical ecosystems, respectively, in south-west China using sequence analysis and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes. Clone sequences affiliated to Acidobacteria were retrieved as the predominant bacterial phylum in both forest soils, followed by those affiliated to members of the Proteobacteria, Planctomycete and Verrucomicrobia. Despite higher floristic richness at the Xishuangbanna forest than at the Ailaoshan forest, soil at Xishuangbanna harbored a distinctly high relative abundance of Acidobacteria-affiliated sequences (80% of the total clones), which led to a lower overall bacterial diversity than at Ailaoshan. Bacterial communities in humus and mineral soils of the two forests appeared to be well differentiated, based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, and correlations were found between the bacterial T-RFLP community patterns and the organic carbon and nutrient contents of the soil samples. The data reveal that Acidobacteria dominate soil bacterial communities in the evergreen broad-leaved forests studied here and suggest that bacterial diversity may be influenced by soil carbon and nutrient levels, but is not related to floristic richness along the climatic gradient from subtropical to tropical forests in south-west China.     

Comparison of diversities and compositions of bacterial populations inhabiting natural forest soils

The diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities were compared among six Austrian natural forests, including oak-hornbeam, spruce-fir-beech, and Austrian pine forests, using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP, or TRF) analysis and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes. The forests studied differ greatly in soil chemical characteristics, microbial biomass, and nutrient turnover rates. The aim of this study was to relate these differences to the composition of the bacterial communities inhabiting the individual forest soils. Both TRF profiling and clone sequence analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in soils under Austrian pine forests, representing azonal forest types, were distinct from those in soils under zonal oak-hornbeam and spruce-fir-beech forests, which were more similar in community composition. Clones derived from an Austrian pine forest soil were mostly affiliated with high-G+C gram-positive bacteria (49%), followed by members of the alpha-Proteobacteria (20%) and the Holophaga/Acidobacterium group (12%). Clones in libraries from oak-hornbeam and spruce-fir-beech forest soils were mainly related to the Holophaga/Acidobacterium group (28 and 35%), followed by members of the Verrucomicrobia (24%) and the alpha-Proteobacteria (27%), respectively. The soil bacterial communities in forests with distinct vegetational and soil chemical properties appeared to be well differentiated based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. In particular, the outstanding position of the Austrian pine forests, which are determined by specific soil conditions, was reflected in the bacterial community composition.     

Regional variation in soil carbon and δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C in forests and pastures of northeastern Costa Rica

Recent studies suggest that the direction and magnitude of changes in soil organic carbon (soil C) pools following forest-to-pasture conversion in the tropics are dependent upon initial soil conditions and local factors (e.g. pre-conversion soil C content, soil texture, vegetation productivity, and management practices). The goal of this study was to understand how landscape-scale variation in soil-forming factors influenced the response of soil C pools to forest clearing and pasture establishment in northeastern Costa Rica. We measured soil C and its stable isotopic composition in 24 paired pasture and reference forest sites distributed over large gradients of edaphic characteristics and slope throughout a 1400 km² region. We used the large difference in stable C isotopic signatures of C3 vegetation (rain forest) versus C4 vegetation (pasture grasses) as a tracer of soil C dynamics. Soil C pools to 30 cm depth ranged from 26% lower to 23% higher in pastures compared to paired forests. The presence of non-crystalline clays and percent slope explained between 27 and 37% of the variation in the direction and magnitude of the changes in soil C storage following pasture establishment. Stable carbon isotopes (¹³C) in the top soil (0–10 cm) showed a rapid incorporation of pasture-derived C following pasture establishment, but the vegetation in these pastures never became pure C4 communities. The amount of forest-derived soil C in pasture topsoils (0–10 cm) was negatively correlated to both pasture age and the concentrations of non-crystalline iron oxides. Together these results imply that site factors such as soil mineralogy are an important control over soil C storage and turnover in this region.     

Productivity: key factor affecting grazing exclusion effects on vegetation and soil

In this study, we inquire into the effects of short-term goat grazing abandonment on plant species and functional composition, bare ground and net primary productivity (NPP) in two traditionally grazed pastures located in the Canarian Network of Natural Protected Areas and the Natura 2000 Network. In addition, we analyse soil chemical properties, biomass tannin content and energetic value to find out how grazing abandonment affects soil fertility and forage quality of these agroecosystems. Grazing exclusion effects on plant species and functional composition, as well as on soil fertility depended on the productivity of the studied pasture. Erect forbs and shrubs (endemic to Macaronesian region and native) were favoured by grazing removal in the most productive pasture, while soil fertility decreased in the driest and least productive site. An increase in NPP after exclusion was consistent among study sites. Although we consider goat grazing as necessary for maintaining traditional agroecosystems, we also suggest controlling it over time, allowing some periods of rest to give endemic shrub species time to recover from near propagule sources.     

不同放牧强度下高寒灌丛群落特征和演替规律的数量研究

本文应用多样性指数、聚类分析等数学方法,研究了不同放牧强度下高寒灌丛群落特征的变化,用主分量分析方法,研究了不同放牧强度下高寒灌丛的演替规律。多样性分析结果表明,植物多样性指数在放牧强度为C组的草场达到最大。聚类分析结果,当相关系数R≥0.90 时,以重要值为特征的植物聚合为10类,它们分别属于植物群落不同演替阶段的建群种、优势种和伴生种。主分量分析表明,5个不同放牧强度的高寒灌丛群落聚合为3类,A和B组草场属于以灌木和杂类草为优势植物的2层结构的植物群落,C组草场属于以灌木为建群植物、杂类草和耐牧的莎草为共优势植物的2层结构的植物群落,D和E组草场属于以灌木为建群植物、禾草和莎草为共优势植物的3层结构的植物群落。     

Effect of conversion of sugarcane plantation to forest and pasture on soil carbon in Hawaii

It is well known that land use change can affect soil C storage of terrestrial ecosystems either by altering the biotic processes involved in carbon cycling or by altering abiotic processes such as carbon adsorption on soil minerals. Relatively few studies, however, have examined the dynamics of soil C pools after conversion of farmland to forest or pasture. We selected three pairs of secondary forests and pastures that originated from the same abandoned sugarcane (interspecific hybrids of Saccharum spp.) land in the wet tropics of Hawaii to examine whether forest or pasture converted from farmland is more effective in sequestering C in soils. We compared the soil C pool, soil chemistry, and stable C isotope ratios between the forests and pastures. We found that total soil C was greater (P?<?0.01) in forests than in the pastures 22 years after land conversion. The percentages of SOC₄ in the pastures were significantly higher than in the secondary forests in both soil layers. The percentages of SOC₃ in the pastures were lower than in the secondary forests in both soil layers. The net SOC₃ increase in the forest soils at 0–10 and 10–25 cm was 28.6?±?5.6 and 43.9?±?3.2 Mg ha^?1 while net SOC₄ increase in pasture soils at these respective depths was 18.8?±?2.2 and 26.1?±?2.7 Mg ha^?1. We found that the net increases of SOC₃ in both soil layers in the forest were greater (P?<?0.01) than the net increases of SOC₄ in the respective soil layers in the pasture. Aluminum saturation was greater (P?<?0.01) in the forests than the pastures in both soil layers. There was no difference in oxalate extractable Fe concentration between the forests and the pastures but oxalate extractable Al concentration in both soil layers was greater (P?<?0.05) in forests than the pastures. Our findings indicated that reforestation of abandoned sugarcane farmland in Hawaii is more effective in soil C increase and stabilization than conversion to pasture.     

Comparison of Diversities and Compositions of Bacterial Populations Inhabiting Natural Forest Soils

The diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities were compared among six Austrian natural forests, including oak-hornbeam, spruce-fir-beech, and Austrian pine forests, using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP, or TRF) analysis and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes. The forests studied differ greatly in soil chemical characteristics, microbial biomass, and nutrient turnover rates. The aim of this study was to relate these differences to the composition of the bacterial communities inhabiting the individual forest soils. Both TRF profiling and clone sequence analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in soils under Austrian pine forests, representing azonal forest types, were distinct from those in soils under zonal oak-hornbeam and spruce-fir-beech forests, which were more similar in community composition. Clones derived from an Austrian pine forest soil were mostly affiliated with high-G+C gram-positive bacteria (49%), followed by members of the α-Proteobacteria (20%) and the Holophaga/Acidobacterium group (12%). Clones in libraries from oak-hornbeam and spruce-fir-beech forest soils were mainly related to the Holophaga/Acidobacterium group (28 and 35%), followed by members of the Verrucomicrobia (24%) and the α-Proteobacteria (27%), respectively. The soil bacterial communities in forests with distinct vegetational and soil chemical properties appeared to be well differentiated based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. In particular, the outstanding position of the Austrian pine forests, which are determined by specific soil conditions, was reflected in the bacterial community composition.     

滇中退化山地不同植被恢复下土壤碳氮磷储量与生态化学计量特征

植被恢复对土壤营养元素的存赋及其生态化学计量特征的影响广受关注,为了深入了解不同植被恢复类型下土壤碳、氮、磷储量与生态化学计量特征,选择滇中地区退化山地飒马场流域具有代表性的4种不同修复阶段的典型植被(荒坡灌草丛、云南松林、针阔混交林和次生常绿阔叶林)为研究对象,分析了不同植被类型下不同深度土壤中有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)储量和化学计量变化特征。结果表明,退化山地的植被恢复显著改变土壤碳氮磷储存能力和化学计量比,这种改变作用整体上随土壤深度增加而降低。其中,在0—60 cm土层上,SOC储量在次生常绿阔叶林最高,达123.41 t/hm~2,其次是针阔混交林(115.69 t/hm~2)和云南松林(93.08 t/hm~2),荒坡灌草丛(89.56 t/hm~2)最低;TN储量针阔混交林(4.91 t/hm~2)次生常绿阔叶林(4.58 t/hm~2)云南松林(4.43 t/hm~2)荒坡灌草丛(3.98 t/hm~2),4种植被类型间差异显著;TP储量云南松林最高(2.57 t/hm~2),次生常绿阔叶林(2.2 t/hm~2)最低;4种植被类型下土壤C/N介于15.77—30.18,C/P介于29.24—65.33,N/P介于1.28—2.68之间,在0—60 cm土层上均以次生常绿阔叶林最高。植被类型和土壤深度及其交互作用显著影响研究区的SOC、TN和TP储量和化学计量比。分析认为,退化山地不同植被类型对土壤碳氮磷储量和化学计量的影响过程复杂,修复演替进入到次生常绿阔叶林阶段土壤理化性质显著提升,该地区植被修复主要受到氮的限制。研究表征了滇中退化环境植被恢复过程中土壤主要元素变化特征,为揭示植被恢复与土壤生态功能演变关系提供数据支持。     

Does the Aboveground Herbivore Assemblage Influence Soil Bacterial Community Composition and Richness in Subalpine Grasslands?

Grassland ecosystems support large communities of aboveground herbivores that are known to directly and indirectly affect belowground properties such as the microbial community composition, richness, or biomass. Even though multiple species of functionally different herbivores coexist in grassland ecosystems, most studies have only considered the impact of a single group, i.e., large ungulates (mostly domestic livestock) on microbial communities. Thus, we investigated how the exclusion of four groups of functionally different herbivores affects bacterial community composition, richness, and biomass in two vegetation types with different grazing histories. We progressively excluded large, medium, and small mammals as well as invertebrate herbivores using exclosures at 18 subalpine grassland sites (9 per vegetation type). We assessed the bacterial community composition using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) at each site and exclosure type during three consecutive growing seasons (2009–2011) for rhizosphere and mineral soil separately. In addition, we determined microbial biomass carbon (MBC), root biomass, plant carbon:nitrogen ratio, soil temperature, and soil moisture. Even though several of these variables were affected by herbivore exclusion and vegetation type, against our expectations, bacterial community composition, richness, or MBC were not. Yet, bacterial communities strongly differed between the three growing seasons as well as to some extent between our study sites. Thus, our study indicates that the spatiotemporal variability in soil microclimate has much stronger effects on the soil bacterial communities than the grazing regime or the composition of the vegetation in this high-elevation ecosystem.     

Cattle and Weedy Shrubs as Restoration Tools of Tropical Montane Rainforest

Over the last 150 years, a large proportion of forests in Latin America have been converted to pastures. When these pastures are abandoned, grasses may slow re‐establishment of woody species and limit forest regeneration. In this study, we explored the use of cattle in facilitating the establishment of woody vegetation in Colombian montane pastures, dominated by the African grasses Pennisetum clandestinum (Kikuyo) and Melinis minutiflora (Yaraguá). First, we described woody and herbaceous vegetation in grazed and non‐grazed pastures. Second, we tested the effect of grazing and seed addition on the establishment and growth of woody species. We also determined if the effect of grazing was different in P. clandestinum and M. minutiflora pastures. We found that low stocking density of cattle greatly increased density, number of branches per individual (a measure of “shrubiness”), and basal area of woody species, but also reduced woody plant species richness and diversity. In the grazed area, the shrubs Baccharis latifolia (Chilca) and Salvia sp. (Salvia) were the most abundant. The combined effect of grazing and shading from the shrubs reduced herbaceous vegetation by 52 to 92%. In the grazing/seed addition experiment, grazing increased establishment of woody seedlings, particularly of the shrub Verbesina arborea (camargo), but the largest effect was seed addition. Where grasses are an important barrier to regeneration, grazing can facilitate the establishment of shrubs that create a microhabitat more suitable for the establishment of montane forest tree species.     

放牧对小嵩草草甸生物量及不同植物类群生长率和补偿效应的影响

基于小嵩草(Kobresia parva)草甸连续2 a的牦牛放牧试验,研究了暖季和冷季放牧草场地上地下生物量及其分配规律、不同植物类群的绝对生长率生长率,探讨了放牧制度和放牧强度对不同植物类群补偿效应的影响。结果表明,随着放牧强度的增加地上总生物量呈减小趋势,放牧强度对暖季草场地上总生物量的影响极显著（P?0.01）,对冷季草场地上总生物量的影响不显著（P?0.05）;两季放牧草场各土壤层地下生物量随放牧强度的增加呈明显下降趋势,放牧强度对暖季放牧各土壤层地下生物量的影响显著（P?0.05）,对冷季放牧各土壤层地下生物量的影响不显著（P?0.05）;冷季放牧草场牧草生长季地下生物量与地上生物量的比值随放牧强度的增大而减小,暖季放牧草场对照区地下生物量与地上生物量的比值低于轻度放牧和中度放牧、高于重度放牧;暖季放牧草场各放牧处理不同植物类群均存在超补偿生长,但莎草科和禾本科植物的超补偿生长在8月份,阔叶植物的超补偿生长发生在6月和7月份,禾本科植物的超补偿生长效应强于莎草科植物和阔叶植物,轻度和中度放牧的补偿效应更明显;冷季放牧下不同植物类群也存在超补偿生长,但补偿效应不明现。因此,暖季适度（轻、中度）放牧利用更有利于产生超补偿生长,而重度利用对植被的稳定产生潜在的不利影响。     

干旱风沙区灌丛林地地面节肢动物群落对放牧管理的响应

在干旱风沙区宁夏盐池县,选择典型放牧柠条锦鸡儿灌丛林地为研究样地,以邻近长期围栏封育灌丛林地为对照,调查了春季、夏季和秋季放牧和封育2种类型样地的地表植被、土壤性状和地面节肢动物分布特征,分析了灌丛林地地面节肢动物群落组成及多样性对放牧管理的响应规律.结果表明:1)放牧导致植被高度、土壤细砂粒含量和土壤电导率显著降低,而土壤容重和粗砂粒含量显著升高.2)调查共获得地面节肢动物13目40科,其中优势类群为蚁科和拟步甲科,其个体数占总个体数的68.75%;常见类群4类,其个体数占总个体数的20.82%;其余34类为稀有类群,其个体数占总个体数的10.44%.在春季、夏季和秋季,放牧和封育样地间地面节肢动物群落组成均差别较大,反映了地面节肢动物对包括放牧管理和季节变化双重作用下环境变化的敏感性和适应性.3)放牧导致地面节肢动物多度显著升高.但放牧样地和封育样地间地面节肢动物类群数、Shannon指数、均匀度指数和优势度指数在3个季节中均无显著差异.4)相关分析表明,地面节肢动物多度、均匀度指数、优势度指数均与植被高度、植物多度、土壤水分、土壤pH值和电导率存在相关性,而地面节肢动物Shannon指数与植被高度、土壤水分和土壤细砂粒存在相关性.偏冗余分析(RDA)表明,土壤pH值、植物多度、土壤含水量和温度是影响地面节肢动物群落个体数分布的关键驱动因子.研究表明,放牧管理条件下植被高度、土壤pH、土壤水分和土壤温度差异导致不同地面节肢动物类群表现出了不同的响应模式.灌丛对地面节肢动物多样性的保育效应能够削弱放牧干扰的负向影响.但放牧干扰下春季灌丛林地植食性地面节肢动物多度增加,需注重放牧易导致灌丛林病虫害发生和进行防控.     

CO2 flux from soil in pastures and forests in southwestern Amazonia

Stocks of carbon in Amazonian forest biomass and soils have received considerable research attention because of their potential as sources and sinks of atmospheric CO₂. Fluxes of CO₂ from soil to the atmosphere, on the other hand, have not been addressed comprehensively in regard to temporal and spatial variations and to land cover change, and have been measured directly only in a few locations in Amazonia. Considerable variation exists across the Amazon Basin in soil properties, climate, and management practices in forests and cattle pastures that might affect soil CO₂ fluxes. Here we report soil CO₂ fluxes from an area of rapid deforestation in the southwestern Amazonian state of Acre. Specifically we addressed (1) the seasonal variation of soil CO₂ fluxes, soil moisture, and soil temperature; (2) the effects of land cover (pastures, mature, and secondary forests) on these fluxes; (3) annual estimates of soil respiration; and (4) the relative contributions of grass‐derived and forest‐derived C as indicated by δ¹³CO₂. Fluxes were greatest during the wet season and declined during the dry season in all land covers. Soil respiration was significantly correlated with soil water‐filled pore space but not correlated with temperature. Annual fluxes were higher in pastures compared with mature and secondary forests, and some of the pastures also had higher soil C stocks. The δ¹³C of CO₂ respired in pasture soils showed that high respiration rates in pastures were derived almost entirely from grass root respiration and decomposition of grass residues. These results indicate that the pastures are very productive and that the larger flux of C cycling through pasture soils compared with forest soils is probably due to greater allocation of C belowground. Secondary forests had soil respiration rates similar to mature forests, and there was no correlation between soil respiration and either forest age or forest biomass. Hence, belowground allocation of C does not appear to be directly related to the stature of vegetation in this region. Variation in seasonal and annual rates of soil respiration of these forests and pastures is more indicative of flux of C through the soil rather than major net changes in ecosystem C stocks.     

Succession secondaire et perte de diversité végétale après réduction du broutage dans un paturage boisé des Alpes centrales suisses

Freléchoux F., Meisser M. and Gillet F. 2007. Secondary succession and loss in plant diversity following a grazing decrease in a wooded pasture of the central Swiss Alps. Bot. Helv. 117: 37 – 56. Reduced cattle grazing pressure in the Alps has caused the reforestation of many subalpine pastures during the last decades. To understand the dynamics of natural reforestation and to evaluate how this change affects plant species diversity, we described the vegetation of a wooded pasture in the central Swiss Alps (Sembrancher, Valais) using the integrated synusial method. Based on stratified vegetation relevés in 27 plots,we defined 11 community types at the synusial level (two tree-layer, five shrub-layer, and four herb-layer synusiae), and four community types at the phytocoenosis level (pasture, tall forbs and scrub, wooded pasture and forest). The spatial distribution of these four phytocoenoses suggests that they represent successional stages after abandonment, and that the pathway of vegetation succession depends on the aspect. We suppose that on northern oriented, cool and shady locations, abandoned pastures first develop towards tall-forb meadows and scrub with Alnus viridis, and then to a preforested stage with Picea abies and Larix decidua. In contrast, on western oriented, warm and sunny location, Larix decidua (mainly) and Picea abies directly colonize the abandoned pastures, but further succession finally leads to the same pre-forested stage as on northern slopes. Plant species richness was highest in open areas and decreased by 25% as tree cover increased from 6% to 65%. According to our successional model, plant species diversity is lost more rapidly on northern slopes (with species-poor green alder scrub) than on western slopes (with species-rich young larch forests), suggesting that northern slopes most urgently need an appropriate grazing management. Manuscrit accepté le 28 mars 2007     

Does natural reforestation represent a potential threat to dung beetle diversity in the Alps?

Traditional agro-pastoral practices are in decline over much of the Alps, resulting in the complete elimination of livestock grazing in some areas. Natural reforestation following pastoral abandonment may represent a significant threat to alpine biodiversity, especially that associated with open habitats. This study presents the first assessment of the potential effects of natural reforestation on dung beetles by exploring the relationships between the beetle community (abundance, diversity, species turnover and assemblage structure) and the vegetation stages of ecological succession following pastoral abandonment. A hierarchical sampling design was used in the montane belt of the Sessera Valley (north-western Italian Alps). Dung beetles were sampled across 16 sampling sites set in four habitat types corresponding to four different successional stages (pasture, shrub, pioneer forest and beech forest) at two altitudinal levels. The two habitats at the extremes of the ecological succession, i.e. pasture and beech forest, had the greatest effect on the structure of local dung beetle assemblages. Overall, dung beetle abundance was greater in beech forest, whereas species richness, Shannon diversity and taxonomic diversity were significantly higher in pasture, hence suggesting this latter habitat can be considered as a key conservation habitat. Forests and pastures shared a lower number of species than the other pairs of habitats (i.e. species turnover between these two habitats was the highest). The two intermediate seral stages, i.e. shrub and pioneer forest, showed low dung beetle abundance and diversity values. Local dung beetle assemblages were also dependent on season and altitude; early-arriving species were typical of pastures of high elevation, whereas late-arriving species were typical of beech forests. It is likely that grazing in the Alps will continue to decrease in the future leading to replacement of open habitats by forest. This study suggests therefore that, at least in the montane belt, reforestation may have potentially profound and negative effects on dung beetle diversity. Maintaining traditional pastoral activities appears to be the most promising approach to preserve open habitats and adjacent beech forests, resulting in the conservation of species of both habitats.     

The role of the shrub Cordia multispicata Cham. as a ‘succession facilitator’ in an abandoned pasture,Paragominas, Amazônia

We studied the conditions that permit the shrub, Cordia multispicata, to establish in Amazon pastures and the potential role of this shrub as a succession facilitator near the town of Paragominas, Pará State, Brazil. Local disturbances that reduce cover such as grazing and burning helped C. multispicata establish in pastures in active use. Germination of C. multispicata was significantly improved on sites subjected to simulated grazing and seedling growth was hastened following pasture burning. We found that below-ground competition, evaluated using root ingrowth cores, was reduced by burning and grazing. Recently abandoned pastures are frequently composed of a mix of forbs and grasses but as succession proceeds a mosaic of more discrete vegetation patches appears. At our site, a five-year-old abandoned pasture, grass patches (primarily Panicum maximum) and shrub patches (mainly C. multispicata) were common. We compared physical and biotic characteristics of zones dominated by C. multispicata and P. maximum and found: (1) the rain of bat and bird dispersed seeds of woody species was much greater in the zones of C. multispicata (92 seeds/m²/year) than in the patches of grass (6 seeds/m²/year); (2) the density of woody seedlings was eight times greater in the C. multispicata patches (0.65/m²) than in the zones of P. maximum (0.08 woody individuals/m²); (3) soil nutrient availability and litter nutrient concentrations were greater in the shrub zones than in the grass zones; and (4) photosynthetic photon flux density at the soil surface was generally more favorable for rainforest tree seedling growth in C. multispicata patches (16% of full sunlight) as compared to the grass zones (7.7% of full sun). We conclude that the shrub, C. multispicata, acts as a magnet, attracting volant seed vectors, and as a nurse plant, facilitating the establishment of woody species in abandoned Amazon pastures.     

Community structure analyses are more sensitive to differences in soil bacterial communities than anonymous diversity indices

Changes in the diversity and structure of soil microbial communities may offer a key to understanding the impact of environmental factors on soil quality in agriculturally managed systems. Twenty-five years of biodynamic, bio-organic, or conventional management in the DOK long-term experiment in Switzerland significantly altered soil bacterial community structures, as assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. To evaluate these results, the relation between bacterial diversity and bacterial community structures and their discrimination potential were investigated by sequence and T-RFLP analyses of 1,904 bacterial 16S rRNA gene clones derived from the DOK soils. Standard anonymous diversity indices such as Shannon, Chao1, and ACE or rarefaction analysis did not allow detection of management-dependent influences on the soil bacterial community. Bacterial community structures determined by sequence and T-RFLP analyses of the three gene libraries substantiated changes previously observed by soil bacterial community level T-RFLP profiling. This supported the value of high-throughput monitoring tools such as T-RFLP analysis for assessment of differences in soil microbial communities. The gene library approach also allowed identification of potential management-specific indicator taxa, which were derived from nine different bacterial phyla. These results clearly demonstrate the advantages of community structure analyses over those based on anonymous diversity indices when analyzing complex soil microbial communities.     

Community Structure Analyses Are More Sensitive to Differences in Soil Bacterial Communities than Anonymous Diversity Indices

Changes in the diversity and structure of soil microbial communities may offer a key to understanding the impact of environmental factors on soil quality in agriculturally managed systems. Twenty-five years of biodynamic, bio-organic, or conventional management in the DOK long-term experiment in Switzerland significantly altered soil bacterial community structures, as assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. To evaluate these results, the relation between bacterial diversity and bacterial community structures and their discrimination potential were investigated by sequence and T-RFLP analyses of 1,904 bacterial 16S rRNA gene clones derived from the DOK soils. Standard anonymous diversity indices such as Shannon, Chao1, and ACE or rarefaction analysis did not allow detection of management-dependent influences on the soil bacterial community. Bacterial community structures determined by sequence and T-RFLP analyses of the three gene libraries substantiated changes previously observed by soil bacterial community level T-RFLP profiling. This supported the value of high-throughput monitoring tools such as T-RFLP analysis for assessment of differences in soil microbial communities. The gene library approach also allowed identification of potential management-specific indicator taxa, which were derived from nine different bacterial phyla. These results clearly demonstrate the advantages of community structure analyses over those based on anonymous diversity indices when analyzing complex soil microbial communities.