IAI-Data-CRN_012_Altesor_Grazing: impact of grazing-induced changes in species composition and community structure of a grassland in the Campos region, Uruguay

In this study, we analyzed the impact of grazing-induced changes in
species composition and community structure upon the productivity of a
grassland in the Campos region, Uruguay. We compared three treatments:
a continuously grazed area, a 9-year old exclosure to domestic
herbivores, and grazing-simulated plots inside the exclosure, which
were clipped so that their standing biomass resembled that of the
grazed area. We described the community composition of the grazed and
ungrazed situations, we calculated species richness and diversity
index. ANPP was estimated on the basis of above-ground biomass
seasonaly harvests inside three 5x5 m moveable cages for each
treatment. ANPP was estimated for the period between harvests
following Sala et al. (1981) and considering the functional types,
cool-season and warm-season species, separately.