Gholamali Heshmati; Hamid Siroosi; esmaeil sheydaye Karkaj
Volume 24, Issue 4 , January 2018, , Pages 742-756
Abstract
Rangelands as dynamic ecosystems respond to the disturbances such as climatic fluctuations and grazing management patterns. Prediction of spatial trend of these changes could be contributed to management planning and rehabilitation of degraded landscape. In this study, changes ...
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Rangelands as dynamic ecosystems respond to the disturbances such as climatic fluctuations and grazing management patterns. Prediction of spatial trend of these changes could be contributed to management planning and rehabilitation of degraded landscape. In this study, changes in the function of ecosystem, affected by livestock grazing, were investigated along grazing gradient. To this end, in the winter rangelands of Gorgan, functional features of the rangeland ecosystem including: nutrient cycling, infiltration and stability were measured at the set of points along grazing gradient. Measured parameters were analyzed using statistical methods and regression models to determine changes in ecosystem function along grazing gradient. The results showed a significant trend in functional indices along the grazing gradient. Points close to the livestock camp had the minimum value of functional indices while those at the end of the grazing gradient were found to be maximized. Comparison of different regression models using Akaike Information Criterion revealed that, as per infiltration index four-parameter sigmoid model and also for stability and nutrient cycling indices, three-parameter sigmoid model had the lowest AIC value and were the best models to predict functional changes along grazing gradients. The results of this study may be promising as rangeland model input to identify critical areas and can be used to predict management effects on productivity and sustainability of rangeland ecosystems.
Azam Khosravi Mashizi; Gholamali Heshmati; Adel Sepehri; Hossein Azarnivand
Volume 18, Issue 2 , September 2011, , Pages 244-257
Abstract
Aim of this study was to introduce of the functional threshold by ecological process changes along grazing gradient to determine destroyed area.In order to prove the existence of a threshold, two linear models and three nonlinear models (exponential curve, a piecewise regression and a sigmoid logistic) ...
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Aim of this study was to introduce of the functional threshold by ecological process changes along grazing gradient to determine destroyed area.In order to prove the existence of a threshold, two linear models and three nonlinear models (exponential curve, a piecewise regression and a sigmoid logistic) were fitted on stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling data.Two nonlinear models (exponential curve and a piecewise regression) provided a much better fit to the data than the linear models. It is the evidence of threshold along grazing gradient.Results also showed that ecosystem function descended near the water point that it needs special attention of the managers.The passing of the structural threshold, increase of invasive vegetation and animal trampling were identified as the main factors in the decline of ecosystem function near the water point and occurrence of functional threshold.According to the results, the recognition of the threshold is suggested for rangeland ecosystem because defining the threshold will help land managers to prevent the occurrence of undesirable states and promote for sustainable management of rangeland ecosystems.