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Vegetal dynamics along a grazing gradient within the coastal grassland of central Somalia
Author(s) -
BARKER JERRY R.,
HERLOCKER DENNIS J.,
YOUNG STEVE A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - French
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1989.tb01021.x
Subject(s) - rangeland , grazing , grassland , forestry , geography , range (aeronautics) , ecology , biology , materials science , composite material
SUMMARY Domestic and native large‐herbivore grazing within the coastal grassland of central Somalia, influenced vegetal dynamics along a grazing gradient. The gradient extended from large wells on highly overgrazed rangeland, far into rangeland that had received minimal grazing. Range condition values were used as an index of grazing intensity. Range condition along the gradient occurred as: very poor, poor, fair, and good, which represented 1–2, 4–6, 8–40, and 50–100% of the gradient respectively. Plant growth form and species cover responded differentially among the range condition classes. Species diversity increased from very poor to good condition rangeland. Floral similarity among range condition classes increased from very poor to good. Résumé Le broutage des grands herbivores domestiques et indigenes dans les savanes côtiéres de Somalie centrale influence la dynamique végétale selon un gradient. Ce gradient s'étend depuis les grandes sources dans les plaines herbeuses largement surpâturées jusqu'aux lointains pâturages qui subissent un broutage minime. On utilise des valeurs de conditions de milieu comme index intensityé du broutage. Le long du gradient, ces conditions de milieu, qualifyées de trés pauvres, pauvres, moyennes et bonnes, représented 1–2,4‐6,8–40 et 50–100% du gradient, respecti‐vement. Le mode de croissance et la couverture végétale répondent différemment selon les classes de conditions du milieu. Tant la diversité en espéces que la similarité Morale augmentent entre les plaines aux conditions ‘trés pauvres’ et celles qualifyées de ‘bonnes’.