Grazing and pasture management for biodiversity benefit

摘要: The primary role of grazing animals in grassland biodiversity management is mainte- nance and enhancement sward structural heterogeneity, thus botanical faunal diversity, by selective defoliation due to dietary choices, treading, nutrient cycling propagule dispersal. Most research on choices uses model systems that require considerable extrapolation more com- plex communities. Grazing animals' diets are constrained temporal spatial changes structure, plant defence mechanisms, herbage availability, phenology animal physiological state. Potentially, these could be exploited manipulate choice diverse Dietary differs between species, driven factors such as body size, digestive physiology dental anatomy. There anecdotal evidence for breed differences but little experimentation, with ge- netic effects often confounded background experience. information about landscape- scale parameters bite feeding station areas allow reconstruction the development small-scale patchiness. An experiment at five European sites examining behaviour, structural, floral production economic impacts. In another project, calves being reared their own mothers or cows allowing genetic behaviour separated from early 'Designer may needed deliver desired behav- iour outcomes, either breeding use training previous experience choices. Application results requires consideration conservation goals, whether landscape, habitat, community species level. a need replace stocking rate prescriptions sward-based methods integrate goals into inten- sive systems. Major gaps our knowledge its impact re- main, necessitating greater integration ecophysiology, ecology behavioural research. / pasture type