Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system
Abstract Silvopastoral systems have great potential for forming multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of economic and environmental benefits to pastoral land. However, pasture production–diversity relationships in silvopastures require further exploration. This study measures how pasture f...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12218 |
| _version_ | 1797784004825448448 |
|---|---|
| author | Thomas H. Mackay‐Smith Ignacio F. López Lucy L. Burkitt Janet I. Reid |
| author_facet | Thomas H. Mackay‐Smith Ignacio F. López Lucy L. Burkitt Janet I. Reid |
| author_sort | Thomas H. Mackay‐Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Silvopastoral systems have great potential for forming multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of economic and environmental benefits to pastoral land. However, pasture production–diversity relationships in silvopastures require further exploration. This study measures how pasture functional group production, pasture species diversity and pasture functional diversity (FD) are impacted by trees in a novel native silvopastoral system in New Zealand hill country with kānuka (Kunzea spp.). Silvopastoral trees facilitated the growth of fast‐growing competitor functional groups (Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata and high fertility annuals: Bromus hordeaceus and Critesion murinum), because of positive impacts on soil fertility, organic matter and porosity. Shannon diversity, species richness and species evenness were significantly less in the more productive pastoral environment under the trees, but functional richness, functional evenness and functional dispersion were similar between kānuka pasture and open pasture. These results show that silvopastures can increase pasture production by promoting the growth of competitive pasture functional groups, and that reduced species diversity under silvopastoral trees does not necessarily impact FD in the context of production. Moreover, species indices overestimated diversity reductions under the trees compared to functional indices. Thus, considering FD in silvopastoral systems is integral for not misinterpreting diversity outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:33:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63f1effa216341b18f58f4e9ab182082 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2688-8319 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:33:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| spelling | doaj.art-63f1effa216341b18f58f4e9ab1820822023-07-10T07:36:35ZengWileyEcological Solutions and Evidence2688-83192023-04-0142n/an/a10.1002/2688-8319.12218Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral systemThomas H. Mackay‐Smith0Ignacio F. López1Lucy L. Burkitt2Janet I. Reid3School of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New ZealandAbstract Silvopastoral systems have great potential for forming multifunctional landscapes that provide a range of economic and environmental benefits to pastoral land. However, pasture production–diversity relationships in silvopastures require further exploration. This study measures how pasture functional group production, pasture species diversity and pasture functional diversity (FD) are impacted by trees in a novel native silvopastoral system in New Zealand hill country with kānuka (Kunzea spp.). Silvopastoral trees facilitated the growth of fast‐growing competitor functional groups (Lolium perenne, Dactylis glomerata and high fertility annuals: Bromus hordeaceus and Critesion murinum), because of positive impacts on soil fertility, organic matter and porosity. Shannon diversity, species richness and species evenness were significantly less in the more productive pastoral environment under the trees, but functional richness, functional evenness and functional dispersion were similar between kānuka pasture and open pasture. These results show that silvopastures can increase pasture production by promoting the growth of competitive pasture functional groups, and that reduced species diversity under silvopastoral trees does not necessarily impact FD in the context of production. Moreover, species indices overestimated diversity reductions under the trees compared to functional indices. Thus, considering FD in silvopastoral systems is integral for not misinterpreting diversity outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12218agroforestryalpha diversitybiodiversitybotanical compositionkanukamass ratio hypothesis |
| spellingShingle | Thomas H. Mackay‐Smith Ignacio F. López Lucy L. Burkitt Janet I. Reid Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system Ecological Solutions and Evidence agroforestry alpha diversity biodiversity botanical composition kanuka mass ratio hypothesis |
| title | Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system |
| title_full | Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system |
| title_fullStr | Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system |
| title_short | Pasture production–diversity relationships in a kānuka silvopastoral system |
| title_sort | pasture production diversity relationships in a kanuka silvopastoral system |
| topic | agroforestry alpha diversity biodiversity botanical composition kanuka mass ratio hypothesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12218 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thomashmackaysmith pastureproductiondiversityrelationshipsinakanukasilvopastoralsystem AT ignacioflopez pastureproductiondiversityrelationshipsinakanukasilvopastoralsystem AT lucylburkitt pastureproductiondiversityrelationshipsinakanukasilvopastoralsystem AT janetireid pastureproductiondiversityrelationshipsinakanukasilvopastoralsystem |