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Long-term compositional responses of a South African mesic grassland to burning and mowing

2005; Wiley; Volume: 8; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1658/1402-2001(2005)008[0005

1654-109X

Richard W.S. Fynn, Craig Morris, T.J. Edwards,

Botany and Plant Ecology Studies

Applied Vegetation ScienceVolume 8, Issue 1 p. 5-12 Free Access Long-term compositional responses of a South African mesic grassland to burning and mowing Richard W.S. Fynn, Corresponding Author Richard W.S. Fynn School of Conservation and Biological Sciences Corresponding author; Fax + 27 332605708; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorCraig D. Morris, Craig D. Morris Agricultural Research Council – Range and Forage Institute; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorTrevor J. Edwards, Trevor J. Edwards School of Conservation and Biological Sciences, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this author Richard W.S. Fynn, Corresponding Author Richard W.S. Fynn School of Conservation and Biological Sciences Corresponding author; Fax + 27 332605708; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorCraig D. Morris, Craig D. Morris Agricultural Research Council – Range and Forage Institute; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorTrevor J. Edwards, Trevor J. Edwards School of Conservation and Biological Sciences, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 24 February 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-109X.2005.tb00623.xCitations: 50 Nomenclature: Arnold & De Wet (1993). AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Question: What is the long-term compositional response of grass and forb species to various combinations of burning and mowing? Can these responses be predicted from simple plant traits? Location: Ukulinga research and training farm (24°24′E, 30°24′S), Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: Grass species relative abundance in 1996 in various burning and mowing treatments of a long-term (> 50 a) experiment was calculated from data obtained using a point sampling method, whereas forb species abundance in 1999 was determined using the importance score method. The experiment consisted of different frequencies (annual, biennial and triennial) of burning and mowing in winter or spring in combination with different frequencies of summer mowing (none, early, late or both). Results: Grasses responded to the type of disturbance (burn or mow) and frequency of burning, whereas forbs responded primarily to the presence or absence of any form of disturbance and secondarily to the timing of burning (spring versus winter). Summer mowing and annual or biennial dormant-period burning maintained communities dominated by short grasses, whereas tall grasses dominated under annual dormant-period mowing, triennial burning or protection from disturbance. Grass tillering strategy (below- or above-ground) influenced response to burning frequency. Many erect herbaceous dicot species with aerial meristems were reduced in abundance by summer mowing whereas most small creeping herbaceous dicot species appeared to be dependent upon summer mowing. Conclusions: This long-term experiment demonstrated that: (1) grasses and forbs responded differently to burning and mowing; (2) simple plant traits, such as height, position of tiller initiation, and position of meristems have potential for predicting the response of species to the timing and frequency of burning and mowing. Supporting Information Filename Description AVSC_623_sm_app.pdf675 KB Supporting info item Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. References Anon. 1993. Genstat 5.3.Reference manual. Clarendon Press, Oxford , UK . Aerts, R. & Berendse, F. 1988. The effect of increased nutrient availability on vegetation dynamics in wet heathlands. Vegetatio 76: 63–69. Arnold, T.H. & De Wet, B.C. 1993. Plants of Southern Africa: Names and Distribution. 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