Herbivory and trampling by small mammals modify soil properties and plant assemblages. (31st July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pascual, Jesús; Alberti, Juan; Daleo, Pedro; Iribarne, Oscar
• Editors: Kikvidze, Zaal
• Is Part Of: Journal of vegetation science. Volume 28:Number 5(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1028
• Page End: 1035
• Publication Date: 2017-07-31
• Subjects: Herbivory -- Plant richness -- Salt marsh -- Small mammals -- Soil compaction -- Trampling; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; 581.7
• DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1100-9233

Abstract

Abstract: Question: Do trampling and herbivory by small mammals affect salt marsh physical and biological properties? Location: Upper salt marsh, Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina. Methods: A field experiment was placed from autumn to early summer in runways made by the wild Guinea pig, Cavia aperea . Segments of runways were randomly assigned to different treatments: control (herbivory and trampling), total exclusion (without herbivory or trampling) and reduced trampling (herbivory without trampling). After 8 months of experiment, soil hardness, runway depth, maximum plant height, above‐ground biomass, plant assemblages, diversity and richness were measured and compared between treatments. Results: Runways of C. aperea covered 14.5% of the area. Through trampling, C. aperea compacted the soil, increasing soil hardness and runway depth. Herbivory, in turn, reduced above‐ground biomass and plant species richness, and affected species composition. Both herbivory and trampling decreased the maximum plant height. Conclusion: Our results show how small herbivores, through trampling, are able to drive soil compaction, an effect previously described only for large mammals. Results also show that small mammals can control salt marsh primary production, reduce species richness and modify the composition of plant species through herbivory. Small mammal herbivores, thus, can modify physical and biological properties of salt marsh communities through both trophic and non‐trophic mechanisms. Abstract : Herbivores can exert important changes on the structure and dynamics of plant communities through both trophic and non‐trophic mechanisms. Our results show that small mammal herbivores, through trampling, drive to soil compaction, an effect previously described only for large mammals. In addition, small mammals through herbivory, can control salt marsh primary production, reduce species richness and modify plant community structure.