1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Spatial heterogeneity of grassland vegetation : a statistical approach
| Project/Area Number |
10640609
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
生態
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| Research Institution | IBARAKI UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
SHIYOMI Masae IBARAKI Univ. Fuc.of Science, Prof, 理学部, 教授 (80250976)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
TAKAHASHI Shigeo NATIONA GRASSLAN RESEARCH INSTITU. Laboratory Head, 草地試験場, 研究室長
YAMAMURA Yasuo IBARAKI Univ. Fuc.of Science, Assoc Prof, 理学部, 助教授 (50202388)
HORI Yoshimichi IBARAKI Univ. Fuc.of Science, Prof, 理学部, 教授 (30125801)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1998 – 1999
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| Keywords | Grassland vegetation / Spatial pattern / Heterogeneous distribution / Grazing grassland / Model / Statistical ecology |
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| Research Abstract |
The objective of this study is to clarify on the relationships between spatial heterogeneity and sustainability in grasslands. We can speculate from results of the study as follows : (a) grazing animals induce a spatial heterogeneity of nutrients and seed over the grassland through their excrement, (b) the large amount of nutrients around areas with excreta brings about active nutrient cycling and promotes the re-growth of plants there, c plant around feces are not consumed by grazing animals due to the bad smell and low digestibility, (d) patchy scattering of seeds through feces may lead to the regeneration of new plant species, then, (e) strong spatial heterogeneity of plant biomass/vegetation occurs over the pasture, and as the result (f) the sustainability in matter cycling between plants, animals and their environment is maintained through the small-scale heterogeneity in the biomass and vegetational distribution in the grassland.
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