Impact of different sheep grazing intensities on salt marsh vegetation in northern Germany
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Published source details
Kiehl K., Eischeid I., Gettner S. & Walter J. (1996) Impact of different sheep grazing intensities on salt marsh vegetation in northern Germany. Journal of Vegetation Science, 7, 99-106.
Published source details Kiehl K., Eischeid I., Gettner S. & Walter J. (1996) Impact of different sheep grazing intensities on salt marsh vegetation in northern Germany. Journal of Vegetation Science, 7, 99-106.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Reduce intensity of livestock grazing: brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
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Exclude or remove livestock from historically grazed brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
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Reduce intensity of livestock grazing: brackish/salt marshes
A controlled study in 1988–1992 in a salt marsh in northern Germany (Kiehl et al. 1996) reported that plots under lower grazing intensities developed different cover of some key plant species to a plot that remained heavily grazed, and had taller vegetation. Statistical significance was not assessed. After four years, moderately grazed plots had 19–27% cover of seablite Suaeda maritima (vs heavily grazed: 5%) but only 0–4% cover of glasswort Salicornia europaea (vs heavily grazed: 24%). Cover of the dominant saltmarsh grass Puccinellia maritima was similar under all grazing intensities (moderate: 70–74%; heavy: 71%). The perennial herbs sea aster Aster tripolium and sea purslane Halimione portulacoides had low cover under both moderate and heavy grazing (<2%), but occurred in a greater proportion of quadrats across moderately than heavily grazed plots, especially closer to the sea (see original paper). Finally, the moderately grazed plots had taller vegetation on average (10–20 cm) than the heavily grazed plot (8 cm), with the difference most pronounced closer to the sea. Methods: In 1988, sheep grazing intensity was reduced in two sections of a historically grazed coastal salt marsh (1.5–3.0 sheep/ha, April–October). A high grazing intensity was maintained in a third section (10 sheep/ha, April–October). The marsh was intertidal (flooded 80–200 times/year) but had a dense artificial drainage system. The cover of each plant species was surveyed annually between 1989 and 1992 in permanent quadrats. Perennial herb frequency and overall vegetation height were recorded in 1992, in quadrats or along transects respectively.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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Exclude or remove livestock from historically grazed brackish/salt marshes
A controlled study in 1988–1992 in a historically grazed salt marsh in northern Germany (Kiehl et al. 1996) reported that a plot where sheep grazing was stopped developed different cover of key plant species and taller vegetation than a plot that remained intensely grazed. Statistical significance was not assessed. After four years, the ungrazed plot had only 49% cover of the dominant saltmarsh grass Puccinellia maritima (vs grazed: 71%) and 0% cover of glasswort Salicornia europaea (vs grazed: 24%). Meanwhile, the ungrazed plot had 18% cover of red fescue Festuca rubra (vs grazed: 0%) and 18–21% cover of each of the perennial herbs sea aster Aster tripolium and sea purslane Halimione portulacoides (vs grazed: 0%). The perennial herbs also occurred in a greater proportion of quadrats across the ungrazed plot (see original paper for data). Finally, the ungrazed plots had taller vegetation on average (18 cm) than the grazed plot (8 cm). Methods: In 1988, sheep were excluded from one section of a coastal salt marsh. Another section of the marsh remained grazed by sheep (10 sheep/ha, April–October). The marsh was intertidal (flooded 80–200 times/year) but had a dense artificial drainage system. The cover of each plant species was surveyed annually between 1989 and 1992 in permanent quadrats. Perennial herb frequency and overall vegetation height were recorded in 1992, in quadrats or along transects respectively.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
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