Catastrophic vegetation shifts and soil degradation in terrestrial grazing systems
Resource Link
Publisher
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Publication Year
1997
Body
It has long been recognized that alternative vegetation states may occur in terrestrial grazing systems. This phenomenon may be of great importance as small environmental fluctuations may lead to relatively sudden and irreversible jumps between vegetation states. Early theoretical studies emphasized saturation of herbivore feeding to explain multiple stable states and catastrophic behaviour. Recent studies on semi-arid grasslands and arctic salt marshes, however, relate catastrophic events in these systems to plant-soil interactions.
Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Journal Volume
12
Journal Number
9
Journal Pages
352-356
Collection
Journal Name
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Keywords
vegetation dynamics
grazing
grasslands
ecosystem ecology
degradation
Africa
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.