Carla Cepeda^1,*, Gabriel Oliva^1,2, Daniela Ferrante^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1383-1401, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.052534 - 30 July 2024

Abstract Semiarid Patagonia represents 25% of the rangeland area in Argentina, and sheep overgrazing has degraded about a third of it in the past. In this century, depleted domestic stocks have mostly stabilized, but Guanaco populations have grown. These native camelids share habitat and diets with sheep, but their effect on vegetation is poorly understood and has long been debated. We set up an exclusion experiment in Monte León and Cañadón Vaca, a semiarid shrubland grassland in southern Patagonia, currently grazed only by guanacos. Vegetation baselines were studied in 2016 in twelve plots, and half of… More >

Quiroga Mendiola Mariana^1,2,*, Tálamo Andrés^3,4

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.5, pp. 1067-1080, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050556 - 28 May 2024

Abstract The Puna grasslands support grazing systems that produce meat and wool in multi-species herds, especially from llama (Lama glama) and sheep. However, it is yet unknown whether grazing pressure can modify grassland structure and Plant Functional Types diversity and cover in Puna grasslands. We analyzed the relationship between grazing pressure and Plant Functional Types by comparing transects located near stockyards (high grazing pressure) and far from them (low pressure) and by evaluating the relationship between the Plant Functional Types cover to a Grazing Pressure Index (GPI). This index incorporates the heterogeneity of traditional pastoral management. At… More >

Liu ZG^1,2, YL Cai^1,2, K Li^2,3

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 81-86, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.081

Abstract Induced responses to herbivory are physical, nutritional, and allelochemical traits that change in plants following disturbances, and reduce the performance and/or preference of leaf tissues on herbivores. This study gave evidence to the induced defense theory through the simulated herbivory in Schima superba, one of common dominant trees in subtropical evergreen, broadleaf forests in southern China. Results showed that leaves damaged at the beginning of leaf expansion would develop into having a larger area, higher toughness and higher tannin concentrations, but a lower water content compared with control leaves. As a result, they experienced lower herbivory More >