Impact of wild boar (Sus scrofa) disturbances on particulate and total organic carbon in the rangeland plant communities

Document Type : Ecology

Authors

1 Department of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box:49138-15739, Noor, Iran

2 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box:49138-15739, Noor, Iran

Abstract

In this study, five plant communities were selected to study on the effect of disturbances of wild boar (sus scrfa) on total organic and particulate organic carbon in rangeland communities, i.e.  Festucaovina, Bromus tomentellus, Alyssum minus- Astragalus sp., Trifolium repens-Poa pratensis and Chenopodium foliosum. In each community, one disturbed patch was selected and 3 1*1m plots were established in and out of each patch. Soil samples were collected from each plot. Total organic carbon (TOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured in the laboratory. The results showed that the effect of disturbance, plant community and the interactions on POC and TOC were significant. The highest of POC (3.33%) and TOC (4.69%) were observed in without disturbance (out the patches). The highest TOC was related to F. ovina community (4.58%) and the highest POC was related to C. foliosum community (4.17%). The lowest of the two soil characteristics was related to the B. tomentellus community (4.32% and 1.98% respectively). The interaction effects of disturbance and community on TOC and POC was also significant. The highest value of TOC was related to F. ovina outside the patches (4.86%) while the lowest value was related to B. tomentellus in inside the patches (3.92%). The highest value of POC was related to C. foliosum outside the patches (3.47%) while the lowest value was related to B. tomentellus in inside the patches (1.48%). 

Keywords

Journal of Animal Environment
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
November 2014
Pages 27-36

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