Estimation of spatial and temporal changes in net primary production based on Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach(CASA) model in semi-arid rangelands of Semirom County, Iran

Net primary production(NPP) is an indicator of rangeland ecosystem function. This research assessed the potential of the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach(CASA) model for estimating NPP and its spatial and temporal changes in semi-arid rangelands of Semirom County, Iran. Using CASA model, we estimated the NPP values based on monthly climate data and the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) obtained from the MODIS sensor. Regression analysis was then applied to compare the estimated production data with observed production data. The spatial and temporal changes in NPP and light utilization efficiency(LUE) were investigated in different rangeland vegetation types. The standardized precipitation index(SPI) was also calculated at different time scales and the correlation of SPI with NPP changes was determined. The results indicated that the estimated NPP values varied from 0.00 to 74.48 g C/(m^2·a). The observed and estimated NPP values had different correlations, depending on rangeland conditions and vegetation types. The highest and lowest correlations were respectively observed in Astragalus spp.-Agropyron spp. rangeland(R^2=0.75) with good condition and Gundelia spp.-Cousinia spp. rangeland(R^2=0.36) with poor and very poor conditions. The maximum and minimum LUE values were found in Astragalus spp.-Agropyron spp. rangeland(0.117 g C/MJ) with good condition and annual grassesannual forbs rangeland(0.010 g C/MJ), respectively. According to the correlations between SPI and NPP changes, the effects of drought periods on NPP depended on vegetation types and rangeland conditions. Annual plants had the highest drought sensitivity while shrubs exhibited the lowest drought sensitivity. The positive effects of wet periods on NPP were less evident in degraded areas where the destructive effects of drought were more prominent. Therefore, determining vegetation types and rangeland conditions is essential in NPP estimation. The findings of this study confirmed the potential of the CASA for estimating rangeland production. Therefore, the model output maps can be used to evaluate, monitor and optimize rangeland management in semi-arid rangelands of Iran where MODIS NPP products are not available.

Grazing intensity effects on the vegetation in desert rangelands of Southern Tunisia

Although the effects of non-grazing and heavy grazing on vegetation structure have been extensively studied in a wide range of ecosystems, the effects of moderate grazing on desert land are still largely unknown. Many management opportunities exist for increasing forage intake. In order to determine an optimal management method of desert rangelands with high heritage value, we examined the respective effects of heavy grazing, moderate grazing and non-grazing on total vegetation cover, species richness, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and rangeland productivity. Sampling was done from 2010 to 2012 （from the second year after treatments were imposed） using permanent transects under different grazing intensities. While total vegetation cover, species richness, Shan- non-Wiener diversity index, species composition and primary production were significantly greater on the ungrazed site and significantly weaker on the heavily grazed site, in contrast, moderate grazing had no significant effect on total vegetation cover, species richness, Shannon diversity index, species composition and primary production. These studies suggest that desert rangelands plant communities in general lack response to moderate grazing disturbance, and if managed properly they can provide a valuable source of feed for livestock.

A Survey of Fodder Plants in Mid-altitude Himalayan Rangelands of Uttarakhand,India

Himalayan rangelands, the crucial but by and large the neglected ecosystems, are an integral part of mountain farming systems. The present investigation is based on the extensive survey and collection of mid-altitude range plants from Almora and Champawat districts of Kumaun division in the Uttarakhand Himalaya in India, from September 2003 to June 2007. The rangelands studied were oak types, chirpine types, grass types and mixed ones. Some 300 species of grasses, other herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs were found in the mid-altitude rangelands. A sizeable number of species belonged to the family of Poaceae. The grass-dominated rangelands especially harboured a variety of grass species of good fodder value. The diversity of fodder plants is a proportion of the enormous biodiversity occurring in the parts of the Himalaya. A panorama of the biodiversity emerged in this study, which is of both intangible value and direct value for the livestock- and rangeland- dependent mountain communities, suggests a very high scope of the utilization of this natural and uncultivated biodiversity for supporting livestock- based livelihoods of the region. This biodiversity also has enormous bearing on the cultivated area of the region.

Supplemental feeding on rangelands:new dynamics of the livestock in the El Ouara rangelands in southern Tunisia

Fodder production in arid rangelands has been traditionally considered as the main source of nutrition for livestock.However,the production of these fodder may be influenced by some socio-economic and climatic factors.This study aims to identify the various rangeland use forms and determine the types of livestock feeding system in the El Ouara rangelands of Ben guarden District in southern Tunisia by analysing the importance of supplemental feeding and main determinants of this practice.Data were collected by a survey that targeted a sample of 50 breeders in the El Ouara rangelands.Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data.The results showed that there are two types of association practiced by breeders:“Cherka”association practiced by 10.00% of breeders and cash payment association practiced by 53.00% of breeders.Then,transhumance,sedentary,and semi-urban forms are the main ways in which breeders use the rangelands.There are four livestock feeding systems in the El Ouara rangelands being used to feed livestock:natural rangeland,rangeland-based,mixed,and concentrate-based feeding systems.Supplemental feeding has become fundamental for the livestock feeding system in the El Ouara rangelands.The breeders with the largest camel size still use the natural rangeland feeding system,while the breeders who have the largest herd size practice the mixed feeding system.The logistic regression results reveal that breeder age,cereal area,herd size,migrant remittance,second activity,and agricultural development group membership can significantly impact the supplemental feeding.In summary,this study can help policy-makers plan innovative practices based on climatic change,ensure the sustainability of livestock feeding system,and make effective decisions for local development.

Bayesian Estimation of Shrubs Diversity in Rangelands under Two Management Systems in Northern Syria

The diversity of shrubs in rangelands of northern Syria is affected by the grazing management systems restricted by the increase in human and livestock populations. To describe and estimate diversity and compare the rangeland grazing management treatments, two popular indices for diversity, the Shannon index and the Simpson index, were studied for the four combinations of two sites, Hammam and Obeisan, and two grazing methods, Closed and Open, using frequentist and Bayesian approaches. We simulated the a priori and a-posteriori distributions of the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, where from a range of values for a constant in the a priori distribution the best value normalizing the distribution of the diversity indices was chosen. The Bayesian diversity estimates were higher than their frequentist counterparts and had lower standard errors. The grazing methods at each site and sites under each grazing method delivered significant diversity of shrub species. The Bayesian estimates resulted in lower p-values than the frequentist approach for two cases reflecting in Bayesian method’s higher power. Bayesian approach is recommended as it has a wider framework for inference on diversity studies.

Rangelands of Central Asia:challenges and opportunities

Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO2 as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and inter-related. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.

Impact of rangeland enclosure and seasonal grazing on protected and unprotected rangelands in Chakwal region, Pakistan

Scrub rangelands support livestock grazing and provide ecosystem services to their inhabitants. The present study was conducted in Chakwal, an important tract of the Pothwar Plateau,which sustains herds of small domestic and nomadic ruminants. Urbanization and uncontrolled grazing practices have reduced rangeland productivity and increased soil erosion and resulted in poor land conditions. This study assessed the influence of two years of rangeland protection on aboveground vegetation biomass and the chemical composition of plants and aimed to determine the influence of seasonal grazing on the live-weight gain of small ewes.Using the line intercept method, vegetation data from protected and unprotected plots in 2015 and 2016 were collected at two sites, Dhulli and Begal.Vegetation cover was assessed from images using VegMeasure. Results showed that protected study sites displayed higher vegetation biomass(834 and 690 kg ha^(-1)) compared to the unprotected study site(477 and 326 kg ha^(-1)) during April and August of both years. In the seasonal grazing trial, the experimental ewes that grazed on protected rangelands showed higher live-weight gain(33–63 g day^(-1)) compared to live weight of ewes(17–21 g day^(-1)) that grazed on unprotected rangelands during the experimental period of 127 days at both sites. The results suggest that the Chakwal rangeland has tremendous potential to improve vegetation productivity but modern livestock management and seasonal grazing practices are needed to improve carrying capacity and livestock productivity.

Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in the North-Eastern Somali Rangelands of Eastern Ethiopia

Drastic changes have occurred in Siti zone rangeland over nearly the last three decades, due to rapid land conversion dynamics in the area. In the zone, the land-use change over time and space and temporal trends rangeland condition have never been studied. This study analyzed land use and land cover (LULC) change dynamics since the 1980s. Three dates, 1985, 2001 and 2017, Landsat images were used for classification and analysis of the various LULC. The three images were geo-referenced, re-sampled and processed for classification, using the maximum likelihood classifier algorithm. Moreover, field observations and information from local people were used for triangulation to patterns LULC dynamics. From 1985 to 2017, the general trend observed in the land use/cover change in the rangeland resources in the study districts implies a loss of grassland cover was compensated by an increase in cultivated areas, settlement and shrub/bush land cover. Moreover, the encroachments of invasive plant, Prosopis, settlement and the promotion of cultivation to pastoral way of livelihood have exacerbated the decline of rangeland cover. The study findings have shown important changes in the LULC patterns in the north-eastern Somali rangelands of eastern Ethiopia. These trends are certainly the characteristics of a pastoral way of life turn to settlement. This suggests that major changes in the socio-ecological driving forces affecting landscape dynamics have occurred in the last three decades or so.

Plant Diversity and Vegetation Structure in Encroached and Non-encroached Areas of Borana Rangelands： The Case of Hallona and Medhacho Pastoralist Associations

The Borana rangelands are important areas of cattle production in Ethiopia. However, these rangelands are threatened by the increasing changes in the natural vegetation from grass and forbs dominated into unpalatable bushy woody vegetation resulting in the loss of some of the highly desirable grass species. This study was conducted to assess the impacts of bush encroachment on the biodiversity, structure and cover of the native vegetation in bush encroached and non-encroached sites. Vegetation data were collected from both sites by laying quadrate plots along transects using a systematic sampling method. According to the results, higher number of species was recorded in the non-encroached sites than that in the encroached sites. The diversity indices for the non-encroached and the encroached sites were 3.16 and 2.67, respectively. The abundance and cover analysis indicated that there was high density and cover of herbaceous species in the non-encroached site. There was a significantly higher density of woody species cover in the encroached site. Generally, the bush encroachment in the Borana rangelands has hampered the diversity of the native vegetation, particularly the grasses and forbs and reduced the ground cover, exposing large parts of the rangelands for soil erosion and other degradation process.

The Discount Rate in Terms of Evaluating Investments in Rangelands： The Case Study of Greece

This paper aims at analyzing and evaluating investments in rangeland management through the use of the discount rate tool. The most important parameter which is considered when estimating the discount rate is the lifetime of the investment, which varies depending on the kind of the intervention. An undeniable characteristic of rangelands is their rich biodiversity. However, the fact that not all the flora and fauna has been recorded yet, suggests the need for using the lowest possible discount rate （but not zero）, giving thus a high value on the benefits that will arise for future generations always in the light of sustainable development. At the same time, a sensitivity analysis has to be performed in order to determine the upper and lower limit of return on investment, so that the decision-maker in charge can be more flexible on the evaluation Of an investment proposal.

Multiple Uses of Rangelands in Alborz Mountain （Iran）

The most precious ecological function of rangelands is the conservation of soil and water as well as supplying forage for domestic and wild animals. Such an ecological bio habitat, or in the other words the profession of rangelands, has been subject to disorders for the variety of reasons since many years ago. Floods, hungry animals and desertification are the consequences of such disorders. Therefore, the rangeland managers have suggested the multiple usages of rangelands based on their existing talent and efficiency which is called ＂rangeland suitability＂. In this research, based on bio-diversity potentials of the region, the recognition and functions of plants of Alborz Mountain rangelands have been considered as rangeland management tools. The sampling has been carried out in work units （combination of traditional systems in plant types） randomly-systematically by setting ten 50 m transects and putting down a metal bar. In this way, the relative frequency of medicinal and nectarous rangeland plants in work units has been evaluated. Planning for multiple usage of rangelands were performed based on two criteria of suitability of medicinal and nectarous plants, 1991 Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO） method, and using Geographical Information Systems （GIS） with the scale of 1：50,000. The best-growing habitat of the plants was selected based on the modeling. By proving the existence of environmental gradient, one can recommend the above methods to study the environmental factors as complementary to incarnation models theories.

Storage,pattern and driving factors of soil organic carbon in the desert rangelands of northern Xinjiang,north-west China

Soil organic carbon(SOC)is a critical variable used to determine the carbon balance.However,large uncertainties arise when predicting the SOC stock in soil profiles in Chinese grasslands,especially on desert rangelands.Recent studies have shown that desert ecosystems may be potential carbon sinks under global climate change.Because of the high spatial heterogeneity,time-consuming sampling methods,and difficult acquisition process,the relationships the SOC storage and distribution have with driving factors in desert rangelands remain poorly understood.Here,we investigated and developed an SOC database from 3162 soil samples(collected at depths of 0−10 cm and 10−20 cm)across 527 sites,as well as the climate conditions,vegetation types,and edaphic factors associated with the sampling sites in the desert rangelands of northern Xinjiang,north-west China.This study aims to determine the SOC magnitude and drivers in desert rangelands.Our findings demonstrate that the SOC and SOC density(SOCD)were 0.05−37.13 g·kg^(-1)and 19.23−9740.62 g·m^(-2),respectively,with average values of 6.81±5.31 g·kg^(-1)and 1670.38±1202.52 g·m^(-2),respectively.The spatial distributions of SOC and SOCD all showed gradually decreasing trends from south-west to north-east.High-SOC areas were mainly distributed in the piedmont lowlands of the Ili valley,while low-SOC regions were mainly concentrated in the north-west area of Altay.The redundancy analysis results revealed that all environmental factors accounted for approximately 37.6%of the spatial variability in SOC;climate factors,vegetation factors,and soil properties explained 15.0%,1.7%,and 12.3%,respectively.The structural equation model(SEM)further indicated that evapotranspiration,average annual precipitation,and the SWC were the dominant factors affecting SOC accumulation,mainly through direct effects,although indirect effects were also delivered by the vegetation factors.Taken together,the results obtained herein updated the SOC data pool available for desert rangelands and clarified the main driving factors of SOC variations.This study provided supporting data for the sustainable use and management of desert rangelands and the global ecosystem carbon budget.

Grazing Impacts on the Diversity and Composition of Alpine Rangelands in Northwest Yunnan

Aims The eastern Himalayan region of southwest China represents the world’s most biodiverse temperate region as well as a cultural hot-spot undergoing rapid cultural and ecological change.This area represents the center of origin for many plant groups including horticulturally valuable species of Pedicularis,Rhododendron and Primula.alpine meadows here also provide summer pastures for Tibetan yak herders and the source for important medicinal plants.stocking levels for livestock here have quadrupled over the last five decades and shrubs are encroaching into many historical rangelands.Yak herders voice concerns over both shrub encroachment and shrinking grasslands.in this study,we sought to determine:(i)are alpine rangelands in Deqin County overgrazed and degraded?(ii)What are the local impacts of grazing on plant diversity and community composition?and(iii)which environmental variables covary with these differences in species composition across the grazing gradient?Methods To examine the ecological impacts of grazing in Deqin County,northwest Yunnan and assess its long-term sustainability,we used county records to determine historical population and livestock numbers,confirmed the results of interviews by Haynes(2011)and surveyed plant species richness and cover along a grazing gradient extending away from herder huts.along these transects,we sampled 1 m2 quadrats at 5 m intervals,noting species present and per-cent cover for vascular plants,grasses,sedges,rushes,moss,lichen,exposed rock,bare ground and feces.We also measured the average and maximum plant height within each quadrat.We then computed species richness for each of the 38 transects,calculating alpha and beta diversities.We used one-way aNoVas to compare mean species richness values and average and maximum plant height across grazing intensities.To chart changes in composition along the 100m gradient,we also plotted the percent cover of graminoid,forb,shrub and bare ground versus distance from the hut.We applied Nm ordi-nation to relate community patterns to environmental variables and grazing intensity using distances to determine species groupings.Important Findingslivestock impacts are clearly evident with proportions of grass and bare ground decreasing,shrubs increasing and forbs maintaining even cover with increasing distance from the huts.in comparison with earlier surveys of sites farther from huts,we found reduced plant cover and diversity.Plant species richness almost doubles with increasing distance from herder huts from 9.9 to 19.3 species per 1 m2 quadrat.an ordination of species and environmental variables demonstrates that grazing strongly affects plant community com position across these plots with strong impacts on palatable plants.if herd sizes remain large and suitable areas for grazing continue to decline,the cumulative impacts of grazing appear likely to degrade the rich diversity of the region and reduce rangeland quality,threatening its ability to sustain current grazing levels.

Plant species composition and diversity depending on piospheres and seasonality in the southern rangelands of Kenya

Introduction:Scarcity of water in the rangelands of Kenya has led to the introduction of piospheres.Previous research has however produced contrasting results on the effects of piospheres and seasonality on ShannonWiener’s diversity index,and therefore,this information is still deficient.In this study,the impact of these piospheres on plant species composition,diversity,and richness was assessed.Methods:Vegetation sampling was done during both the long rains(April)and the dry season(August).Three piosphere types(dam,trough,and a seasonal river)were studied using 0.25 m2 quadrats to sample vegetation at intervals of 20 m along 100-m transects.Four 100-m transects were used per piosphere(north,east,south,and west directions).Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index was used to determine species richness and composition.Twoway ANOVA was used to determine if piospheric distance had an effect on species diversity,richness,and evenness using GenStat 15th edition.Results:A total of 22 grasses and 29 forbs were recorded in the study area.The most abundant grasses near the piospheres were Eragrostis tenuifolia(12.9%)and Cynodon dactylon(10.6%).E.tenuifolia is an increaser species and was therefore most abundant in areas of severe grazing while C.dactylon has been known to be tolerant to grazing.The most abundant forbs were Crotalaria brevidens(37.5%).The Shannon-Wiener diversity index significantly increased(F=25.07,P=0.001)with distance from the three piospheres owing to the high grazing intensity near the piospheres and was significantly different between piospheres,being higher(F=10.05,P=0.001)at 20 m from the river(1.2±0.1)compared to a similar distance from the dam(0.9±0.1)and the trough(0.8±0.2).This was probably because the trough was smaller in size compared to the other piospheres,thereby concentrating more grazing animals per unit area and causing a greater impact on plant species.Conclusions:The study demonstrated that species diversity,richness,and evenness were low near the piospheres due to heavy grazing.Similarly,the lowest species diversity,richness,and evenness were recorded near the trough compared to the dam and the river.This study therefore recommends that range reseeding and rest period be done to rehabilitate degraded areas and facilitate plant regeneration.Larger piospheres should also be used to minimize animal impact per unit area.

Effect of piospheres on physio-chemical soil properties in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya

Introduction:Water-based interventions haphazardly introduced in the drylands of Kenya have led to the introduction of piospheres used as concentration mounts.Not much is known about the effect of these piospheres on soil physio-chemical properties,especially in the Kenyan rangelands where the government and other development agencies have created piospheres aimed at curbing water shortages and sustaining livestock production.The study assessed the effect of piospheres on soil physio-chemical characteristics in the southern rangelands of Kajiado,Kenya,in order to provide evidence-based insights that will be useful in guiding future water interventions.Methods:Soil samples were collected within 0.25-m2 plots at 20-m intervals along 100-m transects from three piospheres(a dam,a trough,and a seasonal river).Two-way ANOVA was used to determine if there were significant differences in soil parameters between piospheric distances.Results:Soil bulk density significantly different between piospheric distances(F=22.25,P=0.001)and piospheres(F=13.10,P=0.002),being highest at 20 m from the trough(1.1–1.21 gcm−3)relative to a similar distance from the dam(1.01–1.20 gcm−3)and the river(1.1–1.17 gcm−3).On the other hand,mean soil aggregate stability significantly increased(F=66.89,P=0.001)with piospheric distance,being lowest at 20 m from the trough(43.9–46.2%),the dam(43.1–48.9%),and the river(46.6–47.5%).Conclusions:High soil bulk density and consequent low soil porosity,hydraulic conductivity,and moisture content demonstrated that grazing was high near the piospheres.It is recommended that livestock should be herded away from the piospheres after drinking water to ensure that grazing livestock spend less time near the piospheres if reduced soil compaction is to be realized.Piospheres should also be better planned and placed at landscape level to exploit landscape heterogeneity.

Climate change effects on rangelands and rangeland management:affirming the need for monitoring

Uncertainty as to the extent and magnitude of changes in conditions that might occur due to climate change poses a problem for land and resource managers as they seek to adapt to changes and mitigate effects of climate variability.We illustrate using scenarios of projected future conditions on rangelands in the Northern Great Plains and Desert Southwest of the United States.These two regions are different in the ways climate change is projected to affect the regions.Projection of a longer and warmer growing season in the Northern Great Plains could lead to increased forage production and land productivity.Highly uncertain effects on summer monsoons that primarily control rangeland productivity in the Desert Southwest,combined with the possibility of more intense and/or frequent drought events,could present land managers with challenges stemming from decreased forage production and land productivity.Climate projections,though uncertain,provide land managers with basic insight into future conditions they might encounter.They need more.A focus on vulnerability and resilience,with explicit recognition of interactions between ecological and socio-economic factors,coupled with systematic monitoring and assessment of observable conditions on the land to supplement information based on climate projections,will more effectively provide critical and specific information managers need to adaptively manage rangelands under uncertain climate futures.

A review of concentrated flow erosion processes on rangelands:Fundamental understanding and knowledge gaps

Concentrated flow erosion processes are distinguished from splash and sheetflow processes in their enhanced ability to mobilize and transport large amounts of soil,water and dissolved elements.On rangelands,soil,nutrients and water are scarce and only narrow margins of resource losses are tolerable before crossing the sustainability threshold.In these ecosystems,concentrated flow processes are perceived as indicators of degradation and often warrant the implementation of mitigation strategies.Nevertheless,this negative perception of concentrated flow processes may conflict with the need to improve understanding of the role of these transport vessels in redistributing water,soil and nutrients along the rangeland hillslope.Vegetation influences the development and erosion of concentrated flowpaths and has been the primary factor used to control and mitigate erosion on rangelands.At the ecohydrologic level,vegetation and concentrated flow pathways are engaged in a feedback relationship,the understanding of which might help improve rangeland management and restoration strategies.In this paper,we review published literature on experimental and conceptual research pertaining to concentrated flow processes on rangelands to:(1)present the fundamental science underpinning concentrated flow erosion modeling in these landscapes,(2)discuss the influence of vegetation on these erosion processes,(3)evaluate the contribution of concentrated flow erosion to overall sediment budget and(4)identify knowledge gaps.

Climatic and Topographical Factors Affecting the Vegetative Carbon Stock of Rangelands in Arid and Semiarid Regions of China

Rangeland systems play an important role in ecological stabilization and the terrestrial carbon cycle in arid and semiarid regions. However, little is known about the vegetative carbon dynamics and climatic and topog- raphical factors that affect vegetative carbon stock in these rangelands. Our goal was to assess vegetative carbon stock by examining meteorological data in conjunction with NDVI （normalized difference vegetation index） time se- ries datasets from 2001-2012. An improved CASA （Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach） model was then applied to simulate the spatiotemporal dynamic variation of vegetative carbon stock, and analyze its response to climatic and topographical factors. We estimated the vegetative carbon stock of rangeland in Gansu province, China to be 4.4×10^14 gC, increasing linearly at an annual rate of 9.8×10^11 gC. The mean vegetative carbon density of the whole rangeland was 136.5 gC m-2. Vegetative carbon density and total carbon varied temporally and spatially and were highly associated with temperature, precipitation and solar radiation. Vegetative carbon density reached the maximal value on elevation at 2500-3500 m, a slope of 〉30°and easterly aspect. The effect of precipitation, tem- perature and solar radiation on the vegetative carbon density of five rangeland types （desert and salinized meadow, steppe, alpine meadow, shrub and tussock, and marginal grassland in the forest） depends on the acquired quantity of water and heat for rangeland plants at all spatial scales. The results of this study provide new evidence for ex- plaining spatiotemporal heterogeneity in vegetative carbon dynamics and responses to global change for rangeland vegetative carbon stock, and offer a theoretical and practical basis for grassland agriculture management in arid and semiarid regions.

Experimental Exclusion of Guanaco Grazing Increases Cover, Diversity, Land Function and Plant Recruitment in Patagonia

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 them were protected from guanaco grazing.Thirty-six plots were cleared to study revegetation.Vegetation was reassessed in 2021,and changes were evaluated using a paired t-test.Within protected plots,vegetation cover increased,bare soil diminished,and vegetated patches grew in size,but the density of the patch-interpatch arrangement did not change.Biodiversity,measured by richness and the Shan-non-Wiener(SW)index,grew significantly.Nutrient recycling increased,as did the Stability and Infiltration Land Function indexes,although these last differences were not significant.Vegetation cover under guanaco grazing also increased,mainly due to the growth of dwarf shrubs,a typical tendency in sheep grazing-induced transitions in the region.Vegetated patches under grazing fragmented,resulting in smaller patches and denser patch struc-tures,while diversity and land function indexes remained unchanged.Young plants established in cleared plots without guanacos showed higher cover density and individual size.These effects are similar to those observed in numerous experimental sheep exclosures.Guanaco grazing may thus prevent restoration and contribute to the generalized land degradation processes that overgrazing has been causing in Patagonia for over a century.

Ecosystem Services of Grazed Grasslands in the Flooding Pampa

The Flooding Pampa grasslands are the last remnant of the Rio de la Plata grasslands in Argentina.Anthropo-genic interventions have led to severe degradation and,as a result,the ecosystem services provided by the grass-lands are declining,in terms of provisioning,regulating,and supporting services.We synthesized the existing literature on the ecosystem goods and services provided by these grasslands under grazing in different conditions and conservation status.We found that plant and animal diversity and primary production are the most studied ecosystem services,while climate regulation,water supply,nutrient cycling,meat production and erosion control,in that order,are less studied.Cultural services are under-researched.Continuous grazing and glyphosate spraying are the main drivers of grassland degradation.Controlled grazing and conservative stocking rates have been shown to reverse degradation and demonstrate that livestock production is compatible with ecosystem conserva-tion by maintaining regulating and provisioning services.As these management strategies are poorly integrated,improving their implementation will require important changes in farmers’decisions and the development of policies that create the economic conditions for this to happen.Research is needed to understand the conditions that prevent the knowledge generated from being transferred to producers and translated into practices that would improve the provision of ecosystem services.