Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
Overgrazing can alter rangeland vegetation in different ways. In this study, we used diversity, species richness and plant functional groups as the alternative to assess the vegetation response to different grazing intensities. This was done under three grazing intensities (long-term exclosure as reference area, key area, and critical area) in rangelands of Mahoor Mamasani in Fars province. Vegetation sampling was carried out by random-systematic method and measuring the cover of plant species. The results showed that species diversity and richness significantly decreased with an increase in grazing intensity. Also, the cover percentage of Gramineae، Papilionaceae، Primulaceae، Umbelliferae and Valerianaceae significantly showed a negative response to grazing intensity while a positive response was found for Cruciferae، Labiatae، Plantaginaceae and Malvaceae. Moreover, some functional groups such as annuals, therophytes and Gramineae were significantly reduced from reference area to key area. The other finding of this study showed that decreaser plants significantly had less cover in critical area whereas increaser plants had greater cover in critical area. Species with storage of seeds in soil seed bank significantly had greater cover in aboveground vegetation in reference area than those species absent from soil seed bank. Due to the damage of some vegetation indices under overgrazing, it is recommended to make some changes in rangeland management and utilization in order to restore vegetation
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