Abstract
AbstractCattle activities may affect pasture biodiversity and productivity. This study investigated the effects of type and size of gaps simulating cattle activities on the recovery and similarity of vegetation community in pastures. Two types of gaps (bare ground and mown vegetation as simulated trampling and grazing by animals, respectively) differing in size (20–100 cm in diameter) were artificially created in three vegetation communities (sown, aged sown and native pastures), and vegetation recovery in the gaps was monitored. Undisturbed patches (100 × 100 cm) were also monitored as a control. The similarity of botanical composition to the control was lowest in the 20 cm gaps, irrespective of the disturbance or vegetation types. Vegetation in the bare ground gaps tended to recover slower in 20 cm gaps than in 100 cm gaps in all vegetation types. Small gaps created by cattle activities may enhance vegetation species diversity while it may decrease productivity of pastures.
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