Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area
Much of the biodiversity in the Mediterranean region depends upon extensive livestock rearing. However, this activity is decreasing, especially in arid environments, where considerable biodiversity loss is expected in the near future. Meanwhile, wild ungulate populations are regaining long lost territories and densities. The question arises as to how far wild ungulates could substitute the ecological role traditionally played by extensive livestock. This study focuses on the effect of an exotic wild ungulate, the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), on the woody vegetation of a semiarid protected area in Southeast Spain where it was introduced in 1970. Forty-five field surveys provided information on the effect of browsing on 92 woody plant species and on the aoudad's feeding behavior. Small shrubs were the most preferred species and showed, on average, higher levels of browsing damage. However, browsing intensity was low in broadleaved trees and negligible in conifers. Highly preferred and sparse shrub species might be severely affected by medium to high aoudad densities. The aoudad could become an opportunity for arid environments that lack native wild ungulates and traditional livestock grazing, since it could partially fulfill most ecological roles played by livestock. However, it could also become a threat should it become overabundant. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
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Format: | artículo biblioteca |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016
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Subjects: | Aoudad, Browsing intensity, Carrying capacity, Exotic ungulate, Forage-ratio index, |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/1444 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/292150 |
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dig-inia-es-10261-2921502023-02-20T07:25:59Z Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area Fernández-Olalla, M. Martínez-Jauregui, M. Perea, R. Velamazán, M. San Miguel, A. Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index Much of the biodiversity in the Mediterranean region depends upon extensive livestock rearing. However, this activity is decreasing, especially in arid environments, where considerable biodiversity loss is expected in the near future. Meanwhile, wild ungulate populations are regaining long lost territories and densities. The question arises as to how far wild ungulates could substitute the ecological role traditionally played by extensive livestock. This study focuses on the effect of an exotic wild ungulate, the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), on the woody vegetation of a semiarid protected area in Southeast Spain where it was introduced in 1970. Forty-five field surveys provided information on the effect of browsing on 92 woody plant species and on the aoudad's feeding behavior. Small shrubs were the most preferred species and showed, on average, higher levels of browsing damage. However, browsing intensity was low in broadleaved trees and negligible in conifers. Highly preferred and sparse shrub species might be severely affected by medium to high aoudad densities. The aoudad could become an opportunity for arid environments that lack native wild ungulates and traditional livestock grazing, since it could partially fulfill most ecological roles played by livestock. However, it could also become a threat should it become overabundant. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd 2023-02-20T07:25:59Z 2023-02-20T07:25:59Z 2016 artículo Journal of Arid Environments 129: 9 -15 (2016) 0140-1963 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/1444 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/292150 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.02.003 1095-922X en none Elsevier |
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Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index |
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Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index Fernández-Olalla, M. Martínez-Jauregui, M. Perea, R. Velamazán, M. San Miguel, A. Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
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Much of the biodiversity in the Mediterranean region depends upon extensive livestock rearing. However, this activity is decreasing, especially in arid environments, where considerable biodiversity loss is expected in the near future. Meanwhile, wild ungulate populations are regaining long lost territories and densities. The question arises as to how far wild ungulates could substitute the ecological role traditionally played by extensive livestock. This study focuses on the effect of an exotic wild ungulate, the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), on the woody vegetation of a semiarid protected area in Southeast Spain where it was introduced in 1970. Forty-five field surveys provided information on the effect of browsing on 92 woody plant species and on the aoudad's feeding behavior. Small shrubs were the most preferred species and showed, on average, higher levels of browsing damage. However, browsing intensity was low in broadleaved trees and negligible in conifers. Highly preferred and sparse shrub species might be severely affected by medium to high aoudad densities. The aoudad could become an opportunity for arid environments that lack native wild ungulates and traditional livestock grazing, since it could partially fulfill most ecological roles played by livestock. However, it could also become a threat should it become overabundant. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd |
format |
artículo |
topic_facet |
Aoudad Browsing intensity Carrying capacity Exotic ungulate Forage-ratio index |
author |
Fernández-Olalla, M. Martínez-Jauregui, M. Perea, R. Velamazán, M. San Miguel, A. |
author_facet |
Fernández-Olalla, M. Martínez-Jauregui, M. Perea, R. Velamazán, M. San Miguel, A. |
author_sort |
Fernández-Olalla, M. |
title |
Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
title_short |
Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
title_full |
Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
title_fullStr |
Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
title_full_unstemmed |
Threat or opportunity? Browsing preferences and potential impact of Ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a Mediterranean protected area |
title_sort |
threat or opportunity? browsing preferences and potential impact of ammotragus lervia on woody plants of a mediterranean protected area |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/1444 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/292150 |
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