Manipulation of nutrients and grazing levels on heather moorland: changes in Calluna dominance and consequences for community composition
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Published source details
Hartley S.E. & Mitchell R.J. (2005) Manipulation of nutrients and grazing levels on heather moorland: changes in Calluna dominance and consequences for community composition. Journal of Ecology, 93, 990-1004.
Published source details Hartley S.E. & Mitchell R.J. (2005) Manipulation of nutrients and grazing levels on heather moorland: changes in Calluna dominance and consequences for community composition. Journal of Ecology, 93, 990-1004.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use fences to exclude livestock from shrublands Action Link |
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Use fences to exclude livestock from shrublands
A replicated, controlled, randomized, before-and-after trial in 1993–1999 in four heathland sites in the UK (Hartley & Mitchell 2005) found that using fences to exclude livestock increased the cover of heather Calluna vulgaris and reduced grass cover. In four of four cases, after six years heather cover in areas that were fenced increased by 5–22% relative to the same areas before fencing, whereas heather cover in areas that were not fenced decreased by 23–31%. In three of four cases, after six years, grass cover declined by 9–27% in areas that were fenced, whereas in areas that were not fenced grass cover increased by 19–30%. In 1993 two 60 m2 plots were fenced and two plots were left unfenced at each site. Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium were applied to half of the fenced and unfenced plots. Twelve 1 m2 quadrats were randomly placed in the plots and vegetation cover was estimated by eye every year in 1993-1999.
(Summarised by: Phil Martin)
Output references
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