Vegetation change 10 years after cattle removal in a savanna landscape
Jeanette E. Kemp A E and Alexander S. Kutt B C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PO Box 8070, Subiaco East, WA 6008, Australia.
B Bush Heritage Australia, Level 1, 395 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C Green Fire Science, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
D School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: jeanette.kemp@australianwildlife.org
The Rangeland Journal 42(2) 73-84 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ19092
Submitted: 20 December 2019 Accepted: 6 June 2020 Published: 26 June 2020
Abstract
Following the establishment of a conservation reserve, changes in ground stratum vegetation following removal of cattle were examined in a northern Australian savanna over a 10-year period. The floristic composition of 40 vegetation plots in lowland savannas were surveyed shortly after acquisition of the property, and then surveyed twice in the following 10 years after cattle removal. Some notable ecosystem-transforming introduced species (weeds) such as Themeda quadrivalvis remained relatively stable, whereas the pasture legume Stylosanthes scabra increased in cover. The species richness of both native and introduced plants increased. Various plant functional groups changed in relative cover, with a decline in relatively unpalatable grasses and a corresponding increase in palatable grasses, responses that are consistent with recovery from grazing pressure. Our results show that removal of cattle in highly disturbed savanna ecosystems can have both positive and negative results for native ground stratum vegetation in the first decade of recovery.
Additional keywords: conservation, grazing, grader grass, ground cover, restoration, Stylosanthes, weeds.
References
Accad, A., Neldner, V. J., Kelley, J. A. R., and Li, J. (2017). ‘Remnant Regional Ecosystem Vegetation in Queensland, Analysis 1997–2015.’ (Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)Anderson, M. J. (2001). A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecology 26, 32–46.
Anderson, M. J., Gorley, R. N., and Clarke, K. R. (2008). ‘PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods.’ (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)
Andrew, M. H. (1986). Selection of plant species by cattle grazing native monsoon tallgrass pasture at Katherine, N.T. Tropical Grasslands 20, 120–127.
Ash, A. J., Corfield, J. P., McIvor, J. G., and Ksiksi, T. S. (2011). Grazing management in tropical savannas: Utilization and rest strategies to manipulate rangeland condition. Rangeland Ecology and Management 64, 223–239.
| Grazing management in tropical savannas: Utilization and rest strategies to manipulate rangeland condition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bennett, L. T., Judd, T. S., and Adams, M. A. (2003). Growth and nutrient content of perennial grasslands following burning in semi-arid, sub-tropical Australia. Plant Ecology 164, 185–199.
| Growth and nutrient content of perennial grasslands following burning in semi-arid, sub-tropical Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bostock, P. D., and Holland, A. E. (2018). ‘Census of the Queensland Flora 2018.’ (Queensland Department of Environment and Science: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)
Bureau of Meteorology (2019). Climate Data Online. Available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/ (accessed 15 June 2020).
Clements, R. J., and Henzell, E. F. (2010). Pasture research and development in northern Australia: an ongoing scientific adventure. Tropical Grasslands 44, 221–230.
Coates, D. B. (1996). Diet selection by cattle grazing Stylosanthes-grass pastures in the seasonally dry tropics: effect of year, season, stylo species and botanical composition. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, 781–789.
| Diet selection by cattle grazing Stylosanthes-grass pastures in the seasonally dry tropics: effect of year, season, stylo species and botanical composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cook, G. D., and Dias, L. (2006). It was no accident: deliberate plant introductions by Australian government agencies during the 20th century. Turner Review No. 12. Australian Journal of Botany 54, 601–625.
| It was no accident: deliberate plant introductions by Australian government agencies during the 20th century. Turner Review No. 12.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crowley, G. M., and Garnett, S. T. (1998). Vegetation change in the grasslands and grassy woodlands of east-central Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 4, 132–148.
| Vegetation change in the grasslands and grassy woodlands of east-central Cape York Peninsula, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Panetta, F. D., O’Loughlin, L. S., and Gooden, B. (2019). Identifying thresholds and ceilings in plant community recovery for optimal management of widespread weeds. NeoBiota , .
| Identifying thresholds and ceilings in plant community recovery for optimal management of widespread weeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (2017). Pastures. Available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/plants/crops-pastures/pastures (accessed 15 June 2020).
Edye, L. A. (1997). Commercial development of Stylosanthes pastures in northern Australia. 1. Cultivar development within Stylosanthes in Australia. Tropical Grasslands 31, 503–508.
Fensham, R. J. (2005). Rainfall, land use and woody vegetation cover change in semi-arid Australian savanna. Journal of Ecology 93, 596–606.
| Rainfall, land use and woody vegetation cover change in semi-arid Australian savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fensham, R. J., and Skull, S. D. (1999). Before cattle: a comparative floristic study of Eucalyptus savanna grazed by macropods and cattle in North Queensland, Australia. Biotropica 31, 37–47.
| Before cattle: a comparative floristic study of Eucalyptus savanna grazed by macropods and cattle in North Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fensham, R. J., Holman, J. E., and Cox, M. J. (1999). Plant species responses along a grazing disturbance gradient in Australian grassland. Journal of Vegetation Science 10, 77–86.
| Plant species responses along a grazing disturbance gradient in Australian grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fisher, D. O., Johnson, C. N., Lawes, M. J., Fritz, S. A., Mccallum, H., Blomberg, S. P., Vanderwal, J., Abbott, B., Frank, A., Legge, S., Letnic, M., Thomas, C. R., Fisher, A., Gordon, I. J., and Kutt, A. (2014). The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating? Global Ecology and Biogeography 23, 181–190.
| The current decline of tropical marsupials in Australia: is history repeating?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gherardi, L. A., and Sala, O. E. (2015). Enhanced precipitation variability decreases grass- and increases shrub-productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112, 12735–12740.
| Enhanced precipitation variability decreases grass- and increases shrub-productivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26417095PubMed |
Gori, D., Simms, K., Donaldson, M., Gitanjali, B., and Schussman, H. (2010). Adaptive Management of the Grassland-Watershed at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area: The Role of Monitoring, Rancher Engagement, and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Teams. In: ‘Southwestern Desert Resources’. (Eds W. Halvorsen, C. Schwalbe, C. van Riper III.) pp. 131–142. (The University of Arizona Press: Tuscon, AZ, USA.)
Grice, A. C. (2004). Weeds and the monitoring of biodiversity in Australian rangelands. Austral Ecology 29, 51–58.
| Weeds and the monitoring of biodiversity in Australian rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogan, J. P., and Phillips, C. J. C. (2011). Transmission of weed seed by livestock: a review. Animal Production Science 51, 391–398.
| Transmission of weed seed by livestock: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones, R. J., McIvor, J. G., Middleton, C. H., Burrows, W. H., Orr, D. M., and Coates, D. B. (1997). Stability and productivity of Stylosanthes pastures in Australia. 1. Long-term botanical changes and their implications in grazed Stylosanthes pastures. Tropical Grasslands 31, 482–493.
Kanowski, J., Joseph, L., Kavanagh, R., and Fleming, A. (2018). Designing a monitoring framework for Australian Wildlife Conservancy, a national conservation organisation. In: ‘Monitoring Threatened Species and Ecological Communities’. (Eds S. Legge, D. Lindenmeyer, N. M. Robinson, B. C. Scheele, D. M. Southwell, B. A. Wintle.) pp. 239–251. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)
Kutt, A. S., and Fisher, A. (2011). Increased grazing and dominance of an exotic pasture (Bothriochloa pertusa) affects vertebrate fauna species composition, abundance and habitat in savanna woodland. The Rangeland Journal 33, 49–58.
| Increased grazing and dominance of an exotic pasture (Bothriochloa pertusa) affects vertebrate fauna species composition, abundance and habitat in savanna woodland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutt, A. S., and Kemp, J. E. (2012). Native plant diversity in tropical savannas decreases when exotic pasture grass cover increases. The Rangeland Journal 34, 183–189.
| Native plant diversity in tropical savannas decreases when exotic pasture grass cover increases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutt, A. S., and Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2007). The effects of grazing and fire on vegetation and the vertebrate assemblage in a tropical savanna woodland in north-eastern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23, 95–106.
| The effects of grazing and fire on vegetation and the vertebrate assemblage in a tropical savanna woodland in north-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutt, A. S., Vanderduys, E. P., Perry, J. J., Perkins, G. C., Kemp, J. E., Bateman, B. L., Kanowski, J., and Jensen, R. (2012). Signals of change in tropical savanna woodland vertebrate fauna five years after feral herbivore removal. Wildlife Research 39, 386–396.
| Signals of change in tropical savanna woodland vertebrate fauna five years after feral herbivore removal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lake, J. C., and Leishman, M. R. (2004). Invasion success of exotic plants in natural ecosystems: the role of disturbance, plant attributes and freedom from herbivores. Biological Conservation 117, 215–226.
| Invasion success of exotic plants in natural ecosystems: the role of disturbance, plant attributes and freedom from herbivores.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lazarides, M. (2002). Economic attributes of Australian grasses. In: ‘Flora of Australia. Vol. 43’. (Ed. Australian Biological Resources Study.) pp. 213–244. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)
Legge, S., Smith, J. G., James, A., Tuft, K. D., Webb, T., and Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2019). Interactions among threats affect conservation management outcomes: livestock grazing removes the benefits of fire management for small mammals in Australian tropical savannas. Conservation Science and Practice 1, e52.
| Interactions among threats affect conservation management outcomes: livestock grazing removes the benefits of fire management for small mammals in Australian tropical savannas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liedloff, A. C., Coughenour, M. B., Ludwig, J. A., and Dyer, R. (2001). Modelling the trade-off between fire and grazing in a tropical savanna landscape, northern Australia. Environment International 27, 173–180.
| Modelling the trade-off between fire and grazing in a tropical savanna landscape, northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11697666PubMed |
Lodge, G. M., Gogel, B. J., Cullis, B. R., and Archer, K. A. (1999). Effects of grazing, slashing and burning on Aristida ramosa and sheep productivity in northern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 685–698.
| Effects of grazing, slashing and burning on Aristida ramosa and sheep productivity in northern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lonsdale, W. M. (1994). Inviting trouble: introduced pasture species in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 19, 345–354.
| Inviting trouble: introduced pasture species in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lunt, I. D., Eldridge, B. D. J., Morgan, C. J. W., and Bradd Witt, G. D. (2007). A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 401–415.
| A framework to predict the effects of livestock grazing and grazing exclusion on conservation values in natural ecosystems in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Malo, J. E., and Suárez, F. (1995). Establishment of pasture species on cattle dung: the role of endozoochorous seeds. Journal of Vegetation Science 6, 169–174.
| Establishment of pasture species on cattle dung: the role of endozoochorous seeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGregor, H. W., Legge, S., Jones, M. E., and Johnson, C. N. (2014). Landscape management of fire and grazing regimes alters the fine-scale habitat utilisation by feral cats. PLoS One 9, e109097.
| Landscape management of fire and grazing regimes alters the fine-scale habitat utilisation by feral cats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25329902PubMed |
McIntyre, S., and Filet, P. G. (1996). Choosing appropriate taxonomic units for ecological survey and experimentation: the response of Aristida to management and landscape factors as an example. The Rangeland Journal 19, 26–39.
| Choosing appropriate taxonomic units for ecological survey and experimentation: the response of Aristida to management and landscape factors as an example.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McIvor, J. G. (1998). Pasture management in semi-arid tropical woodlands: effects on species diversity. Austral Ecology 23, 349–364.
| Pasture management in semi-arid tropical woodlands: effects on species diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McIvor, J. G. (2007). Pasture management in semiarid tropical woodlands: improving the herbage quality of stylos and grasses. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 1359–1367.
| Pasture management in semiarid tropical woodlands: improving the herbage quality of stylos and grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McIvor, J. (2010). Enhancing Adoption of Improved Grazing and Fire Management Practices in Northern Australia: Synthesis of Research and Identification of Best Bet Management Guidelines. Meat and Livestock Australia Final Report Project B.NBP.0579. (Meat and Livestock Australia: North Sydney, NSW, Australia.)
McIvor, J. G., and Howden, S. M. (2000). Dormancy and germination characteristics of herbaceous species in the seasonally dry tropics of northern Australia. Austral Ecology 25, 213–222.
| Dormancy and germination characteristics of herbaceous species in the seasonally dry tropics of northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32313444PubMed |
McIvor, J. G., Singh, V., Corfield, J. P., and Jones, R. J. (1996). Seed production by native and naturalised grasses in north-east Queensland: effects of stocking rate and season. Tropical Grasslands 30, 262–269.
Neldner, V. J., Wilson, B. A., Dillewaard, H. A., Ryan, T. S., and Butler, D. W. (2017). ‘Methodology for survey and mapping regional ecosystems and vegetation communities in Queensland. Ver. 4.0.’ (Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)
Noble, A. D., Orr, D. M., Middleton, C. H., and Rogers, L. G. (2000). Legumes in native pasture – asset or liability? A case history with stylo. Tropical Grasslands 34, 199–206.
Orr, D. M., and O’Reagain, P. J. (2011). Managing for rainfall variability: impacts of grazing strategies on perennial grass dynamics in a dry tropical savanna. The Rangeland Journal 33, 209–220.
| Managing for rainfall variability: impacts of grazing strategies on perennial grass dynamics in a dry tropical savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Orr, D. M., and Paton, C. J. (1994). State and transition models for rangelands. 10. A state and transition model for the southern black speargrass zone of Queensland. Tropical Grasslands 28, 266–269.
Orr, D. M., Yee, M. C., Rutherford, M. T., and Paton, C. J. (2010). Impacts of grazing management options on pasture and animal productivity in a Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) pasture in central Queensland. 2. Population dynamics of Heteropogon contortus and Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca. Crop and Pasture Science 61, 255–267.
| Impacts of grazing management options on pasture and animal productivity in a Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) pasture in central Queensland. 2. Population dynamics of Heteropogon contortus and Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petheram, R. J., and Kok, B. (1983). ‘Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.’ (University of Western Australia Press: Nedlands, WA, Australia.)
Prober, S. M., and Lunt, I. D. (2009). Restoration of Themeda australis swards suppresses soil nitrate and enhances ecological resistance to invasion by exotic annuals. Biological Invasions 11, 171–181.
| Restoration of Themeda australis swards suppresses soil nitrate and enhances ecological resistance to invasion by exotic annuals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Queensland Herbarium (2005). ‘Survey and Mapping of Pre-clearing and 2003 Remnant Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems of Queensland. Ver. 5.0.’ (December 2005) (Queensland Department of Environment: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)
Quirk, M. (2010). Priorities for Investment in Sown Pastures for the Beef Industry of Northern Australia. Meat and Livestock Australia Report Project B.NBP.0652. Meat and Livestock Australia: North Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Renne, I. J., and Tracy, B. F. (2007). Disturbance persistence in managed grasslands: shifts in aboveground community structure and the weed seed bank. Plant Ecology 190, 71–80.
| Disturbance persistence in managed grasslands: shifts in aboveground community structure and the weed seed bank.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russell-Smith, J., Edwards, A. C., and Price, O. F. (2012). Simplifying the savanna: the trajectory of fire-sensitive vegetation mosaics in northern Australia. Journal of Biogeography 39, 1303–1317.
| Simplifying the savanna: the trajectory of fire-sensitive vegetation mosaics in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sharp, B. A., and Whittaker, R. J. (2003). The irreversible cattle-driven transformation of a seasonally flooded Australian savanna. Journal of Biogeography 30, 783–802.
| The irreversible cattle-driven transformation of a seasonally flooded Australian savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Silcock, R. G., Jones, P., Hall, T. J., and Waters, D. K. (2005). Enhancing Pasture Stability and Profitability for Producers in Poplar Box and Silver-leaved Ironbark Woodlands. Meat and Livestock Australia Report Project NAP3.208. Meat and Livestock Australia Limited: North Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Spooner, P. G., and Briggs, S. V. (2008). Woodlands on farms in southern New South Wales: a longer-term assessment of vegetation changes after fencing. Ecological Management & Restoration 9, 33–41.
| Woodlands on farms in southern New South Wales: a longer-term assessment of vegetation changes after fencing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stanton, J. P., Jensen, R. J., and Webb, T. (2013). ‘Vegetation mapping of Brooklyn Sanctuary’. (Australian Wildlife Conservancy: Perth, WA, Australia.)
TIBCO Software Inc. (2017). ‘Statistica Ver. 13.6.0.’ (TIBCO: Palo Alto, CA, USA.)
Tothill, J. C., Mcdonald, C. K., McHarg, G. W., and Hargreaves, J. N. G. (2008). Development options in Heteropogon contortus grasslands in south-east Queensland: tree killing, legume oversowing and pasture replacement. 1. Pasture production and composition. Tropical Grasslands 42, 129–151.
van Rooyen, M. W., Le Roux, A., Geldenhuys, C., van Rooyen, N., Broodryk, N. L., and van der Merwe, H. (2015). Long-term vegetation dynamics (40 yr) in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa: effects of rainfall and grazing. Applied Vegetation Science 18, 311–322.
| Long-term vegetation dynamics (40 yr) in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa: effects of rainfall and grazing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, B. H., Langridge, J. L., and McFarlane, F. (1997). Resilience of an Australian savanna grassland to selective and non-selective perturbations. Austral Ecology 22, 125–135.
| Resilience of an Australian savanna grassland to selective and non-selective perturbations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams, B. K., and Brown, E. D. (2012). ‘Adaptive Management. The U.S. Department of the Interior Applications Guide. Adaptive Management Working Group.’ (U.S. Department of the Interior: Washington DC, USA.)
Williams, P. R., Congdon, R. A., Grice, A. C., and Clarke, P. J. (2003). Effect of fire regime on plant abundance in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north-eastern Australia. Austral Ecology 28, 327–338.
| Effect of fire regime on plant abundance in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2014). The illusion of nature: Perception and the reality of natural landscapes, as illustrated by vertebrate fauna in the Northern Territory, Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration 15, 30–33.
| The illusion of nature: Perception and the reality of natural landscapes, as illustrated by vertebrate fauna in the Northern Territory, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
