Effect of exclusion of livestock in two species of palatable shrubs of the Tehuacan Valley

Abstract

In many areas of the planet extensive grazing has been considered as a limitation to the conservation of vegetation. However, herbivores have a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystems and their effects on plant communities are complex and specific. Therefore, studies that analyze the effect of these herbivores on vegetation are needed. In this study we analyze the response, in the short time, of two species of shrubs, one of them in critical state of conservation, to the exclusion of livestock with three pens. The results show that, in just a few months, the plants included in the enclosures were greater (major canopy area) than plants outside enclosures. However, we found no changes in reproductive effort between plants grazed and not grazed. So we can consider that these shrub species are, to some degree, adapted to be consumed. It will require a long-term monitoring to analyze possible changes in plant community composition in livestock exclusion areas. However, results showed in this study the potential changes that may occur to vegetation after livestock removal.