Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis
Bird populations inhabiting the Rio de la Plata Grasslands in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are known to be affected by livestock grazing practices. Cattle grazing can lead to changes in bird assemblages by affecting the heterogeneity of vegetation structures. We conducted a meta-analysis...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Birds |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/49 |
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| author | Facundo Niklison David Bilenca Mariano Codesido |
| author_facet | Facundo Niklison David Bilenca Mariano Codesido |
| author_sort | Facundo Niklison |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bird populations inhabiting the Rio de la Plata Grasslands in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are known to be affected by livestock grazing practices. Cattle grazing can lead to changes in bird assemblages by affecting the heterogeneity of vegetation structures. We conducted a meta-analysis using studies that reported bird richness and abundance under different grazing management practices. We compared ranches under continuous grazing management (control, CGM) to (1) ranches under technological inputs management (TIM, herbicides and exotic pastures) and (2) ranches under ecological process-based management (EPM), which include ranches that utilise controlled and rotational grazing. We used random effects multilevel linear models to evaluate grazing regimen impacts. Our results indicate a negative impact of TIM on both bird abundance and richness (mean ± SE: −0.25 ± 0.07 and −0.92 ± 0.10, respectively) since the use of inputs simplifies vegetation structure and results in the loss of ecological niches. Compared to CGM, the influence of EPM on total bird abundance appears to be more dependent on grassland height, as evidenced by a decline in short grasses and increase in tall grasses. Our meta-analysis suggests that EPM practices may be beneficial for the conservation of endangered tall-grass birds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6ad3977dec143dda91e69904a7e91fb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-6004 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Birds |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6ad3977dec143dda91e69904a7e91fb2025-08-20T02:00:18ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042024-11-015471273610.3390/birds5040049Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-AnalysisFacundo Niklison0David Bilenca1Mariano Codesido2Grupo de Estudios sobre Biodiversidad en Agroecosistemas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaGrupo de Estudios sobre Biodiversidad en Agroecosistemas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaGrupo de Estudios sobre Biodiversidad en Agroecosistemas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBird populations inhabiting the Rio de la Plata Grasslands in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are known to be affected by livestock grazing practices. Cattle grazing can lead to changes in bird assemblages by affecting the heterogeneity of vegetation structures. We conducted a meta-analysis using studies that reported bird richness and abundance under different grazing management practices. We compared ranches under continuous grazing management (control, CGM) to (1) ranches under technological inputs management (TIM, herbicides and exotic pastures) and (2) ranches under ecological process-based management (EPM), which include ranches that utilise controlled and rotational grazing. We used random effects multilevel linear models to evaluate grazing regimen impacts. Our results indicate a negative impact of TIM on both bird abundance and richness (mean ± SE: −0.25 ± 0.07 and −0.92 ± 0.10, respectively) since the use of inputs simplifies vegetation structure and results in the loss of ecological niches. Compared to CGM, the influence of EPM on total bird abundance appears to be more dependent on grassland height, as evidenced by a decline in short grasses and increase in tall grasses. Our meta-analysis suggests that EPM practices may be beneficial for the conservation of endangered tall-grass birds.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/49abundancerichnessPampascontinuous grazingrotational grazinggrassland conservation |
| spellingShingle | Facundo Niklison David Bilenca Mariano Codesido Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis Birds abundance richness Pampas continuous grazing rotational grazing grassland conservation |
| title | Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Avian Responses to Different Grazing Management Practices in Neotropical Temperate Grasslands: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | avian responses to different grazing management practices in neotropical temperate grasslands a meta analysis |
| topic | abundance richness Pampas continuous grazing rotational grazing grassland conservation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/49 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT facundoniklison avianresponsestodifferentgrazingmanagementpracticesinneotropicaltemperategrasslandsametaanalysis AT davidbilenca avianresponsestodifferentgrazingmanagementpracticesinneotropicaltemperategrasslandsametaanalysis AT marianocodesido avianresponsestodifferentgrazingmanagementpracticesinneotropicaltemperategrasslandsametaanalysis |