In the tropical Andean environments little is known about the relationship between weed dispersal and disturbances caused by cattle. We propose that abundance and dispersal of the Venezuelan Andean weed Acaena (Acaena elongata L.) is associated with the widespread grazing habits of cattle. We studied Acaena presence in areas with different cattle movements and grazing intensities. Acaena density increased with cattle trail density (r2 = .98, P < .001). Infestation patterns suggested dispersal by cattle along trails. Areas with greater cattle movement (0.34 trails/m) possessed the greatest density and highest number of Acaena plants (P < .001). This weed has morphological and phenological features adapted to cattle dispersal. Fruits mature during the season when cattle are less selective and travel the greatest distances. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.