Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics
Woody vegetation encroachment in natural grasslands is a concern in many parts of the world. We evaluated the effect of Baccharis uncinella (Asteraceae) encroachment on grassland vegetation in southern Brazil, in terms of plant composition and richness. We conducted a vegetation survey in 12 plots o...
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doaj-1a7eb3d0b2e44cbea26d05093c22ea612020-12-31T04:43:23ZengElsevierPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation2530-06442017-01-011515255Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaicsAnaclara Guido0Elisa Salengue1André Dresseno2Corresponding author.; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilWoody vegetation encroachment in natural grasslands is a concern in many parts of the world. We evaluated the effect of Baccharis uncinella (Asteraceae) encroachment on grassland vegetation in southern Brazil, in terms of plant composition and richness. We conducted a vegetation survey in 12 plots of 10 × 10 m. The study site was a forest-grassland mosaic where management practices have been excluded since 1994. Six plots were located in areas without B. uncinella and the remaining six in different densities of it. Within each plot, we randomly placed three subplots of 1 × 1 m where we identified plant species and estimated their cover. Vegetation height, total plant cover and standing dead biomass were also estimated. We recorded 46 species belonging to 15 families; 34 of them were in plots with B. uncinella (29% grasses, 44% shrubs, 24% forbs and 3% trees) and 37 in plots without it (27% grasses, 35% shrubs and 38% forbs). B. uncinella affected grassland community by reducing total plant richness and decreasing the number of forb species. B. uncinella may alter the availability of resources, affecting the ability of forbs to establish and grow. The capacity of B. uncinella to occupy adjacent open-canopy ecosystems and to suppress grassland plants indicates that, without any management practice, plant richness in Brazilian highland grasslands may decrease. This study presents empirical data that may contribute to conservation efforts of forest-grasslands mosaics in southern Brazil.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417300184Araucaria forestBaccharis uncinellaEncroachmentHighlandInterspecific interactionsShrub expansion |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Anaclara Guido Elisa Salengue André Dresseno |
spellingShingle |
Anaclara Guido Elisa Salengue André Dresseno Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation Araucaria forest Baccharis uncinella Encroachment Highland Interspecific interactions Shrub expansion |
author_facet |
Anaclara Guido Elisa Salengue André Dresseno |
author_sort |
Anaclara Guido |
title |
Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
title_short |
Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
title_full |
Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
title_fullStr |
Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in Brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
title_sort |
effect of shrub encroachment on vegetation communities in brazilian forest-grassland mosaics |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |
issn |
2530-0644 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
Woody vegetation encroachment in natural grasslands is a concern in many parts of the world. We evaluated the effect of Baccharis uncinella (Asteraceae) encroachment on grassland vegetation in southern Brazil, in terms of plant composition and richness. We conducted a vegetation survey in 12 plots of 10 × 10 m. The study site was a forest-grassland mosaic where management practices have been excluded since 1994. Six plots were located in areas without B. uncinella and the remaining six in different densities of it. Within each plot, we randomly placed three subplots of 1 × 1 m where we identified plant species and estimated their cover. Vegetation height, total plant cover and standing dead biomass were also estimated. We recorded 46 species belonging to 15 families; 34 of them were in plots with B. uncinella (29% grasses, 44% shrubs, 24% forbs and 3% trees) and 37 in plots without it (27% grasses, 35% shrubs and 38% forbs). B. uncinella affected grassland community by reducing total plant richness and decreasing the number of forb species. B. uncinella may alter the availability of resources, affecting the ability of forbs to establish and grow. The capacity of B. uncinella to occupy adjacent open-canopy ecosystems and to suppress grassland plants indicates that, without any management practice, plant richness in Brazilian highland grasslands may decrease. This study presents empirical data that may contribute to conservation efforts of forest-grasslands mosaics in southern Brazil. |
topic |
Araucaria forest Baccharis uncinella Encroachment Highland Interspecific interactions Shrub expansion |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064417300184 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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