Publication Date
1993
Description
Biodiversily with its different components (genes, species and ecosystems) is defined in relation to rangelands, whose Importance in its conservation is described. At the fine scale grasslands are much more diverse than tropical rain forest, and are comparably diverse at a regional scale, at least in Africa. Rangelands are crucially important world wide for 1he conservation of plants, and also for birds and large mammalian herbivores. Large ungulates (and other large herbivores) ace "keystone" species in these·ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of diverse communities of plants, birds and invertebrates associated with such grasslands. Modification of the natural communities of rangelands by large domestic ungulates and pastoralists includes the reduction or elimination of the large mammals (predators and competitors of stock), continued hunting of other wild animals (sometimes. to elimination), and the extension of plant communities dominated by palatable herbaceous and shrub species (fire playing a key role in controlling trees). These changes have favoured some species, and caused the local or total extinction of others. Grassland biodiversity is increasingly maintained in European nature reserves by grazing with domestic stock, a practice that, in addition to its technical advantages, helps to break down the separation (social) between reserves and the wider countryside. The actions needed to enhance biodiversity in managed rangelands are described, with special reference to the current approaches being developed in Europe, and to Australia. The essential elements are public pressure; research and monitoring to establish priorities and techniques; legislation for the protection and management of target species and their habitats; and successful field conservation programmes on farmed and protected lands.
Citation
Duncan, Patrick and Jarman, Peter J., "Conservation of Biodiveristy in Managed Rangelands, with Special Emphasis on the Ecological Effects of Large Grazing Ungulates, Domestic and Wild" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 1.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session57/1
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Conservation of Biodiveristy in Managed Rangelands, with Special Emphasis on the Ecological Effects of Large Grazing Ungulates, Domestic and Wild
Biodiversily with its different components (genes, species and ecosystems) is defined in relation to rangelands, whose Importance in its conservation is described. At the fine scale grasslands are much more diverse than tropical rain forest, and are comparably diverse at a regional scale, at least in Africa. Rangelands are crucially important world wide for 1he conservation of plants, and also for birds and large mammalian herbivores. Large ungulates (and other large herbivores) ace "keystone" species in these·ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of diverse communities of plants, birds and invertebrates associated with such grasslands. Modification of the natural communities of rangelands by large domestic ungulates and pastoralists includes the reduction or elimination of the large mammals (predators and competitors of stock), continued hunting of other wild animals (sometimes. to elimination), and the extension of plant communities dominated by palatable herbaceous and shrub species (fire playing a key role in controlling trees). These changes have favoured some species, and caused the local or total extinction of others. Grassland biodiversity is increasingly maintained in European nature reserves by grazing with domestic stock, a practice that, in addition to its technical advantages, helps to break down the separation (social) between reserves and the wider countryside. The actions needed to enhance biodiversity in managed rangelands are described, with special reference to the current approaches being developed in Europe, and to Australia. The essential elements are public pressure; research and monitoring to establish priorities and techniques; legislation for the protection and management of target species and their habitats; and successful field conservation programmes on farmed and protected lands.
