The Initial Response of a Chenopod Shrubland Plant and Invertebrate Community to Two Pulses of Intensive Cattle Grazing.

Abstract

The initial effect of two pulses of heavy cattle grazing on chenopod shrubland plants and invertebrates in northern South Australia was assessed in a two year trial. Both plant and invertebrate communities were structured by subhabitats which were defined by edaphic and water-distribution features. The cover of grasses and the dominant shrubs, Atriplex vesicaria and Maireana astrotricha, declined significantly following grazing but only total vegetation cover was significantly lower than controls one year after grazing. Plant species richness was not affected by the grazing pulses. Abundance of ants increased, but the responses of other invertebrates were inconsistent following grazing. Rainfall had a marked effect upon both plant cover and invertebrate abundance. Key words: chenopod shrublands, pulsed cattle grazing, Atriplex vesicaria, invertebrates, bioindicators