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.