The influence of vegetation pattern on the grazing of heather moorland by red deer and sheep. I. The location of animals on grass/heather mosaics

Clarke, J.L., Welch, D., and Gordon, I.J. (1995) The influence of vegetation pattern on the grazing of heather moorland by red deer and sheep. I. The location of animals on grass/heather mosaics. Journal of Applied Ecology, 32 (1). pp. 166-176.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2404426
 
90
4


Abstract

1. A study site comprising six 2.5 ha plots of heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) moorland which could be viewed from afar was created in NE Scotland. Each plot contained 20% by area of Agrostis/Festuca grassland, distributed in either one large, four medium or 12 small patches.

2. The plots were grazed by groups of sheep or red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in series of 10-day periods; in each period the activities and locations of all individuals were recorded at 30 min intervals during daylight hours on several days. In one experiment in early summer sheep and deer were compared at equivalent stocking rates, and in a second experiment in late summer sheep were compared at two stocking rates.

3. Sheep grazed for longer than deer (53% cf. 37% of daylight time), both species spending more time grazing in the late afternoon and evening than earlier in the day.

4. Typical group size (groups being defined as animals within 30 m of others) was greater in sheep than deer. Sheep were seen in smaller groups when the grass patch number increased, but in deer group size was unaffected by vegetation pattern.

5. The distribution of grass patches significantly affected the grazing time spent on heather by sheep but not by deer. In plots with one large grass patch sheep foraged on heather for only 9% of their grazing time (cf. 40% for deer), but in plots with 12 small grass patches the proportions of grazing time spent on heather were 43% for sheep and 48% for deer.

6. On the heather the densities of grazing sheep and deer were higher in a zone 0-5 m from the edge of grass patches than further away, and densities were higher at the edge of large patches than at the edge of small patches. This may damage heather at the patch edge leading to the spread of grass patches.

7. A simple ratio of grass:heather in a moorland may not be a good predictor of heather utilization because increased fragmentation of the available sass encourages grazers, and sheep in particular, to graze heather more.

Item ID: 42633
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1365-2664
Keywords: grazing time, patch edge, patch choice
Funders: Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Joint Agriculture and Environment Programme (JAEP)
Date Deposited: 10 Feb 2016 07:43
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050199 Ecological Applications not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 4
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page