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Boughey I, Hall E, Bush R. Australian Alpaca Demographics and Management: A National Survey. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2861. [PMID: 39409809 PMCID: PMC11475143 DOI: 10.3390/ani14192861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2024] [Revised: 09/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The Australian alpaca industry has continued to grow since the introduction of alpacas in the 1980s. Little is known about the geographical distribution of alpacas or on-farm management practices. This study aimed to address this and identify key producer knowledge through an online survey. The survey consisted of 25 questions grouped into 3 areas: demographics, farm production and alpaca nutrition. The highest concentration of alpaca producers was along the east coast of Australia, primarily in high-rainfall zones, which could be attributed to more consistent year-round pasture availability and market access opportunities. The Huacaya breed accounted for 93% of the animal numbers reported in this survey. Respondents identified 12 key pasture species being grazed, with Kikuyu being the most common, followed by Subterranean Clover and Phalaris, likely due to the majority of respondents being located in suitable high-rainfall environments. Pasture species were not identified by 25% of respondents. There are no registered anthelmintics or vaccinations for alpacas, resulting in a variation in dosage rates and administration frequency, raising concerns for effective disease and parasite management. This survey has identified key knowledge gaps in alpaca management practices in Australia that will be further investigated to provide industry recommendations to improve alpaca production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imogen Boughey
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW 2567, Australia (R.B.)
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2
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Richardson W, Stringham TK, Nuss AB, Morra B, Snyder KA. Shifts in sage-grouse arthropod food sources across grazing and environmental gradients in upland meadow communities. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119261. [PMID: 37844403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater dependent systems are extremely important habitats for a wide variety of taxa in the Great Basin of North America. The impacts of grazing on these habitats cause shifts in resources and subsequent change in species composition. The Greater sage-grouse, a keystone species of Great Basin ecosystems, rear offspring in these areas during spring and summer months using forbs and arthropods. To examine the impact of grazing on arthropod abundance in these ecosystems, seven meadows, each made up of three unique vegetative communities, were grazed at three intensities across two years (2019-2020) and monitored for environmental variables and abundance of arthropods during peak sage-grouse utilization periods. Additionally, the relationship of field measurements and near-surface digital cameras (phenocams) was examined to better understand how remote sensing technologies can be used to monitor these insect abundance shifts on larger scales. Arthropod taxa abundance responded differently to grazing management and environmental variables. Coleoptera abundance during peak sage-grouse usage periods increased roughly 50% in some meadows with increased grazing intensity. For year-to-year environmental variability in precipitation, Lepidoptera abundance was 114% higher in the drier year, while Coleoptera was 39% lower. Near-surface cameras had varied success with predicting peak insect abundance levels. Lepidoptera and Coleoptera capture rates had strong correlations with phenological indices derived from phenocams, while Formicidae had much weaker relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Richardson
- University Nevada Reno, Dept. of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Science, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
| | - Tamzen K Stringham
- University Nevada Reno, Dept. of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Science, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Andrew B Nuss
- University Nevada Reno, Dept. of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Science, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Brian Morra
- University Nevada Reno, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Keirith A Snyder
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Reno, NV, 89512, USA
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Barzegaran F, Erfanzadah R, Saber Amoli S. The effect of woody plants on the understory soil parameters is different between grazed and ungrazed areas. COMMUNITY ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42974-022-00090-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Thornton CM, Elledge AE. Heavy grazing of buffel grass pasture in the Brigalow Belt bioregion of Queensland, Australia, more than tripled runoff and exports of total suspended solids compared to conservative grazing. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112704. [PMID: 34298328 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of sediment and particulate nutrients in runoff from the extensive grazing lands of the Fitzroy Basin, central Queensland, continue to contribute to the declining health of the Great Barrier Reef. This study measured differences in hydrology and water quality from conservative and heavy grazing pressures on rundown improved grass pastures in the Fitzroy Basin. Conservative grazing pressure was defined as the safe long-term carrying capacity for rundown buffel grass pasture, whereas heavy grazing pressure was defined as the recommended stocking rate for newly established buffel grass pasture. Heavy grazing of rundown pasture resulted in 2.5 times more bare ground and only 8% of the pasture biomass compared to conservative grazing. Heavy grazing also resulted in 3.6 times more total runoff and 3.3 times the peak runoff rate compared to conservative grazing. Loads of total suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff were also greater from heavy than conservative grazing.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Thornton
- Department of Resources, PO Box 1762, Rockhampton, Queensland 4700, Australia.
| | - A E Elledge
- Department of Resources, PO Box 1762, Rockhampton, Queensland 4700, Australia
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Trait-Environment Relationships Reveal the Success of Alien Plants Invasiveness in an Urbanized Landscape. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10081519. [PMID: 34451564 PMCID: PMC8399185 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Urban areas are being affected by rapidly increasing human-made pressures that can strongly homogenize biodiversity, reduce habitat heterogeneity, and facilitate the invasion of alien species. One of the key concerns in invaded urban areas is comparing the trait–environment relationships between alien and native species, to determine the underlying causes of invasiveness. In the current study, we used a trait–environment dataset of 130 native plants and 33 alien plants, recorded in 100 plots covering 50 urban areas and 50 non-urban ones in an urbanization gradient in the arid mountainous Saint-Katherine protected area in Egypt. We measured eleven morphological plant traits for each plant species and ten environmental variables in each plot, including soil resources and human-made pressures, to construct trait–environment associations using a fourth-corner analysis. In addition, we measured the mean functional and phylogenetic distances between the two species groups along an urbanization gradient. Our results revealed strongly significant relationships of alien species traits with human-made pressures and soil resources in urban areas. However, in non-urban areas, alien species traits showed weak and non-significant associations with the environment. Simultaneously, native plants showed consistency in their trait–environment relationships in urban and non-urban areas. In line with these results, the functional and phylogenetic distances declined between the aliens and natives in urban areas, indicating biotic homogenization with increasing urbanization, and increased in non-urban areas, indicating greater divergence between the two species groups. Thereby, this study provided evidence that urbanization can reveal the plasticity of alien species and can also be the leading cause of homogenization in an arid urban area. Future urban studies should investigate the potential causes of taxonomic, genetic, and functional homogenization in species composition in formerly more diverse urbanized areas.
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Ji G, Li B, Yin H, Liu G, Yuan Y, Cui G. Non-utilization Is Not the Best Way to Manage Lowland Meadows in Hulun Buir. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:704511. [PMID: 34335668 PMCID: PMC8322850 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.704511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Carex meyeriana lowland meadow is an important component of natural grasslands in Hulun Buir. However, in Hulun Buir, fewer studies have been conducted on C. meyeriana lowland meadows than on other grassland types. To determine the most appropriate utilization mode for C. meyeriana lowland meadows, an experiment was conducted in Zhalantun city, Hulun Buir. Unused, moderately grazed, heavily grazed and mowed meadow sites were selected as the research objects. The analysis of experimental data from 4 consecutive years showed that relative to the other utilization modes, mowing and moderate grazing significantly increased C. meyeriana biomass. Compared with non-utilization, the other three utilization modes resulted in a higher plant diversity, and the moderately grazed meadow had the highest plant community stability. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that among the meadow sites, the mowed meadow had the most stable plant community and soil physicochemical properties. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that grazing pressure was less than 0.25 hm2/sheep unit and that plant biomass in C. meyeriana lowland meadow increases with increasing grazing intensity, temperature and precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxu Ji
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Hang Yin
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Guofu Liu
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Yuying Yuan
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Guowen Cui
- Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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Gosnell H, Charnley S, Stanley P. Climate change mitigation as a co-benefit of regenerative ranching: insights from Australia and the United States. Interface Focus 2020; 10:20200027. [PMID: 32832070 PMCID: PMC7435039 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
‘Managed grazing’ is gaining attention for its potential to contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing bare ground and promoting perennialization, thereby enhancing soil carbon sequestration (SCS). Understanding why ranchers adopt managed grazing is key to developing the right incentives. In this paper, we explore principles and practices associated with the larger enterprise of ‘regenerative ranching’ (RR), which includes managed grazing but infuses the practice with holistic decision-making. We argue that this broader approach is appealing due to a suite of ecological, economic and social benefits, making climate change mitigation an afterthought, or ‘co-benefit’. RR is challenging, however, because it requires a deep understanding of ecological processes along with a set of skills related to monitoring and moving livestock and feeding the soil microbiome. We review the literature regarding links between RR and SCS, then present results of qualitative research focused on motivators, enablers and constraints associated with RR, drawing on interviews with 52 practitioners in New South Wales, Australia and the western United States. Our analysis is guided by a conceptual model of the social–ecological system associated with RR that identifies determinants of regenerative potential. We discuss implications for rancher engagement and conclude with a consideration of leverage points for global scalability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Gosnell
- College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Susan Charnley
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paige Stanley
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Larson DL, Hernández DL, Larson JL, Leone JB, Pennarola N. Management of remnant tallgrass prairie by grazing or fire: effects on plant communities and soil properties. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Diane L. Larson
- U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 1561 Lindig Street St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Daniel L. Hernández
- Biology Department Carleton College 1 North College Street Northfield Minnesota55057USA
| | | | - Julia B. Leone
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology University of Minnesota 2003 Upper Buford Circle St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
| | - Nora Pennarola
- Department of Entomology University of Minnesota 1980 Folwell Avenue St. Paul Minnesota55108USA
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