Explore biodiversity indicators and outcomes associated with livestock systems.
| ID | Author | Reference | Year | DOI | Research Article (Y/N) | Source (dataset) | Language | Location / country(ies) | Livestock type | Beef Cattle | Dairy Cattle | Cattle (unspecified) | Beef Sheep | Dairy Sheep | Sheep (unspecified) | Goats | Horses | Donkeys | Pigs | Chicken | Others | Product type | Management type | Comparison | Terminology of indicator | Social indicator(s) | Economic indicator(s) | Nutritional Indicator (s) | Environmental indicator(s) | Impact Classification: Livestock Presence | Impact Classification: Livestock Intensity | Impact (actor) | Impact summary | Indicator (scale) | Optimum indicator value | Indicator co-efficient(s) | Externality | Quantitative Data(Y/N | Qualitative Data(Y/N | Data type | Indicator methodology | Study methodology | Study outcome summary | Scale |
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| 1 | Cid-Rodríguez M, Cantonati M, Spitale D, Galluzzi G, Zaccone C. | Using diatoms and physical and chemical parameters to monitor cow-pasture impact in peat cores from mountain mires | 2024 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171779 | Y | PubMed | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Percentage of threatened species; Percentage of eutraphentic and hypereutraphentic species (nutrient-tolerant); Percentage of aerial species (adapted to drying conditions); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
NA | Negative | Other | Diatom communities in highly grazed sites shifted towards more eutraphentic species while more aerial species associated with unstable moisture regimes.The higher percentage of eutraphentic species in highly-grazed areas was related to the increase in nutrients caused by cattle manure. Finally, intense grazing increased the share of taxa that are more likely to survive in environments with unstable water availability (= aerial species). | Peat samples Nr of diatom species |
Empirical | Grazing leads to peat degradation in surface layers (compaction, water loss, increased mineralization). Diatom composition shifts toward nutrient- and disturbance-tolerant species. Highly grazed sites show reduced diatom diversity and richness compared to less impacted sites. Physical and chemical degradation strongly correlates with biological shifts in diatom communities. Diatoms are validated as sensitive bioindicators for monitoring grazing impacts in peatlands. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Candel-Pérez D, Lucas-Borja ME, Plaza-Álvarez PA, Carmona Yáñez MD, Soria R, Ortega R, Miralles I, Miralha L, Zema DA. | Effects of grazing on soil properties in mediterranean forests (Central-Eastern Spain) | 2024 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120316 | Y | PubMed | English | Spain | Cattle | 1 | Intensive | Livestock presence | Species richness | Negative | NA | Plants | Plant richness was significantly lower in grazing plots and higher in the control (no grazing). | Nr of species | Empirical | Grazing resulted in a reduction of plant species richness (−34%) indicating a loss of biodiversity in grazed areas. The observed significant alterations in key soil and plant properties due to livestock activity suggest that grazing has the potential to modify the overall soil quality of these sites. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Torres-Miralles, M; Kyttä, V; Jeanneret, P; Lamminen, M; Manzano, P; Tuomisto, HL; Herzon, I | Applying life cycle assessment to European high nature value farming systems: Environmental impacts and biodiversity | 2024 | 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104096 | Y | WoS | English | Multiple (Finland, Estonia, Spain, Greece, and France) | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock intensity | Biodiversity (SALCA-BD scoring): Terrestrial species (Species groups); Habitat type; Land use; Management practices |
NA | Negative | Plants; Birds; Mammals; Amphibians; Invertebrates |
Farms with higher shares of semi-natural grasslands had higher biodiversity scores. Higher productivity (especially meat yield per hectare) was negatively correlated with biodiversity (Pearson r = −0.353). Farms with mixed or partial HNV use (some arable and some semi-natural land) showed intermediate biodiversity values. Trade-offs between productivity and biodiversity score were evident but not universally linear. |
Biodiversity score per ha per HNV farm | Modeling (LCA and SALCA-BD) | Extensive HNV farms support higher biodiversity, especially when reliant on semi-natural grasslands. Meat and milk production from small ruminants (especially goats) had the highest environmental impacts per product unit. Beef systems had lower emissions per hectare in boreal regions but variable biodiversity scores. Biodiversity negatively correlated with meat productivity. The SALCA-BD method offers a scalable biodiversity assessment tool integrated with LCA. Study supports low-intensity, multifunctional grazing systems as viable for sustainable food production and farmland biodiversity conservation. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Moriana, VC; Mancilla-Leytón, JM; Mena, Y; Morales, FDR | Identification of the Multifunctionality of Andalusian Autochthonous Pastoral Livestock Breeds at the Farm Level | 2024 | 10.3390/agriculture14040558 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock type | Score considering: Pasture area (dehesa/shrubland); Forest area; Uncultivated area; Age of nature areas; Organic farming status; Increased number of wildlife observed; Change, rotation to pasture; Stone enclosures or traditional constructions; Agri-environment payments; Remuneration for maintaining autochthonous breeds; Payment for ecosystem services; Other autochthonous livestock species |
NA | NA | Ecosystem | Comparing sheep, cattle and goat grazing, the values obtained for the three breeds surpassed the mean (47–56) of the maximum achievable value (87), with the sheep breed scoring significantly higher (56 ± 1) compared to the other two study breeds (48 ± 3 for cattle and 47 ± 4 for goat). | Points | Empirical; Interviews | The total multifunctionality index was significantly higher for Lojeña sheep compared with Pajuna cattle and Negra Serrana goats. The habitat and biodiversity function, which obtained the best results, demonstrates the significant role of the livestock studied in providing ecosystem regulation services, which should be translated into direct payments to the farmer. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Samsonstuen, S; Moller, H; Aamaas, B; Knudsen, MT; Mogensen, L; Olsen, HF | Choice of metrics matters-Future scenarios on milk and beef production in Norway using an LCA approach | 2024 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2023.105393 | Y | WoS | English | Norway | Cattle | 1 | 1 | Other | Farming system | NA | NA | Ecosystem | LowY scenario (lower milk yield, only dual-purpose cattle, more pasture) with lower biodiversity loss due to reduced use of concentrate feeds and more reliance on outfield grazing (positive PDF values). LowY with lowest biodiversity damage score among all scenarios (PDF = 548). HighY and TrendY scenarios (higher milk yield, more concentrate feed) with higher biodiversity damage potential due to greater reliance on arable land for feed production and concentrate crops having high PDF. (PDF: TrendY = 639, HighY = 627) |
Modeling (LCA) | Study models future milk and beef production systems in Norway under three yield scenarios. LowY scenario (only dual-purpose cattle, lower milk yield) had lowest biodiversity impact, most efficient land use and reduced reliance on high-impact feed crops. Grazing, especially on semi-natural outfield pastures, had positive impacts on plant biodiversity. Trade-offs exist: high productivity leads to greater feed-food competition and biodiversity loss. Choice of climate metric (GWP100 vs GWP)* alters system ranking: The HighY scenario had the lowest impact on climate change using GWP100, but when taking the different behaviors of short- and long-term climate pollutants into account (GWP*), the ranking of the future scenarios changed and favored LowY. |
Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Deosaran, R; Carvalho, F; Nunes, A; Köbel, M; Serafim, J; Hooda, PS; Waller, M; Branquinho, C; Brown, KA | Response of soil carbon and plant diversity to grazing and precipitation in High Nature Value farmlands | 2024 | 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.121734 | Y | WoS | English | Portugal | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Specific leaf area; Plant height; Seed mass; Species richness; RAO's Q |
Negative and Neutral | NA | Plants | Plant species richness generally responded negatively to cattle grazing but positively to increase in precipitation (and its interaction with cattle grazing). Specific leaf area generally responded negatively to cattle grazing. Changes in plant height, seed mass and Rao’s Q were not associated with cattle grazing (nor precipitation). | % Relative abundance (%) * average trait value Relative abundance (%) * average trait value Relative abundance (%) * average trait value Relative abundance (%) Unspecified |
Empirical | SOC and plant species richness responded negatively to the presence of cattle grazing but positively to increase in precipitation (and its interaction with cattle grazing), while trait-based measures were largely unresponsive to cattle grazing and precipitation. The results suggest that different components of plant diversity respond differently to external drivers in montado HNVfs, while the response time of soil properties may be longer than that of plant taxonomic diversity. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Szyszko-Podgórska, K; Szweda, Z; Swiatek, M; Ukalska, J; Pietrasz, K; Pietrasz, M; Wilk, P; Orlinska-Wozniak, P; Szalinska, E; Rokicki, T; Tylkowski, S; Niznikowski, R | Impact of Land Use on Peat Soil Elemental Content and Carabidae and Plant Species Composition and Abundance | 2024 | 10.3390/su16114420 | Y | WoS | English | Poland | Sheep | 1 | Intensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Floristic composition - species cover; Species abundance |
Negative and Neutral | NA | Plants; Invertebrates |
Apparent negative effect of grazing on plants diversity and neutral effect on carabidae species. A disparity in the abundance of individual species was also presented. | Nr of species % cover Nr of individuals |
Empirical | The study also showed some differences in the abundance and species composition of plants and animals. The meadow had higher biodiversity, while the pasture was dominated by grasses. In the case of beetles, in the results of this study, it is impossible to conclude which form of use determines the species richness of this taxonomic group of animals. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Janisová, M; Magnes, M; Bojko, I; Borsukevych, LM; Budzhak, VV; Chorney, I; Iuga, A; Ivascu, CM; Kish, R; Kuzemko, A; Palpurina, S; Skokanová, K; Sirka, P; Tokaryuk, A; Dayneko, P | Agricultural legacy shapes plant diversity patterns in mountain grasslands of Maramures and Bukovina: A cross-border perspective (Ukraine, Romania) | 2024 | 10.1002/pan3.10698 | Y | WoS | English | Multiple (Romania, Ukraine) | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Floristic composition - species cover |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Plants | There is higher richness of vascular plants in grazed hay meadows and of bryrophytes in pastures. Mowing (considered as predictor variable) had a positive impact on vascular plant's richness. Grazing (considered as predictor variable) had a positive impact on bryrophytes' richeness. Grazing intensity and mowing frequency (considered as predictor variables) infuenced vascular plants composition. |
Nr of species | Empirical | Regular mowing at appropriate intensity increased the richness of vascular plants, while grazing promoted the richness of bryophyte species. The high species richness of the grasslands in the study area is likely a result of long-term extensive management. The composition of the vascular plant species was primarily influenced by mowing frequency and grazing intensity. |
Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Serrano, AR; Peco, B; Morillo, JA; Ochoa-Hueso, R | Abandonment of traditional livestock grazing reduces soil fertility and enzyme activity, alters soil microbial communities, and decouples microbial networks, with consequences for forage quality in Mediterranean grasslands | 2024 | 10.1016/j.agee.2024.108932 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Shannon index; Species relative abundance - soil bacteria and fungi |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Other | The soil microbial composition (bacteria and fungi) in grazed and abandoned sites were different, with negative consequences for soil functioning in abandoned sites. Richness and diversity did not change for neither fungi and bacteria. |
Relative abundance (%) of bacterial and fungi taxa Nr of amplicon sequence variants Relative abundance (%) of amplicon sequence variants |
Empirical | Extensive grazing abandonment had direct and indirect effects on microbial communities (including lower relative abundance of Acidobacteria, Gemmanimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Mortierellomycota), with consequences for soil functioning (i.e., lower soil enzyme activity). Moreover, bacterial and fungal networks were generally less coupled in abandoned grasslands. |
Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Barroso P.; Zanet S. | Biodiversity–livestock interface: a case study | 2024 | 10.1093/af/vfad068 | Y | SCOPUS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Shannon index |
Positive | NA | Birds; Mammals |
Higher species richness and Shannon diversity index in areas with lifestock. | Nr of species | Empirical | In general, there was a statistically significant higher species richness and biodiversity in areas with livestock. Biodiversity increased with the relative abundance of livestock grazing species, but the maximum relative abundances found were considered as moderate. Thus, the effect of heavy grazing could not be evaluated. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Demeaux M.; Kerdoncuff M.; Eycott A.E.; Måren I.E. | Just graze it! Biodiversity, nectar and forage resources in cultural landscapes grazed by different livestock species | 2024 | 10.1080/26395916.2024.2311176 | Y | SCOPUS | English | Norway | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock type | Species richness; Porportion of ferns, mosses and liverworts, woody plants, forbs, legumes, Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Juncaceae; Nectar resource value (as ES); Forage resource value (as ES) |
NA | NA | Plants | Comparation between landscape zones and between livestock type. Species richness and nectar were not significantly influenced by livestock type. Species composition (proportion of funtional groups) varies the most with cattle. Forage was lowest with sheep in coastal places. |
Nr of species Dimensionless |
Empirical;Modelling | The study did not find evidence that livestock type would modify grassland plant species richness. Sites grazed by cattle had significantly different plant functional group compositions than sites grazed by sheep or goats, independent of geographical location. Nectar resource indicator value did not differ between livestock types. Coastal sites grazed by sheep had lower forage resource indicator value. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Kovacsics-Vári, G; Sonkoly, J; Tóth, K; McIntosh-Buday, A; Cando, PD; Töro-Szijgyártó, V; Balogh, N; Suntaxi, LRG; Ami, FDE; Demeter, L; Tóthmérész, B; Török, P | Intensity-dependent effects of cattle and sheep grazing in sand grasslands - Does livestock type really matter? | 2023 | 10.1111/avsc.12727 | Y | WoS | English | Hungary | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock intensity; Livestock type | Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness; Rao's dissimilarity index (Rao's Q); Functional richness; Functional evenness; Functional divergence; Functional dispersion; Plant height; Lifeform; Flowering period/time; Thousand-seed weight; Rosette formation; Leaf dry weight; Leaf area; Specific leaf area; Leaf dry matter content; Graminoid biomass; Forb biomass; Litter biomass; Moss biomass; Lichen biomass |
NA | Negative and Neutral | Plants | Functionally dissimilar species meant a higher probability of functional loss in more intensively grazed sites. The probability of functional loss is higher as overrepresented traits are resistant to grazing and the loss of function is not random (disturbance-sensitive functions are obviously more exposed). Grazing intensity produced significant results with different responses among the indicators. Emphasis on higher Rao dissimilarity index with higher grazing intensity. None of the studied indicators responded significantly to livestock type. Several characteristics were also affected by the interaction of grazing intensity and livestock type. |
Nr of species Dimensionless Dimensionless cm Month Dimensionless g Dimensionless mm2 mg mm2/mg mg/g g g g g g |
Empirical | None of the studied characteristics were significantly affected by the type of grazing livestock. In contrast, strong intensity-dependent effects were found for several characteristics. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Hentschl, M; Michalke, A; Pieper, M; Gaugler, T; Stoll-Kleemann, S | Dietary change and land use change: assessing preventable climate and biodiversity damage due to meat consumption in Germany | 2023 | 10.1007/s11625-023-01326-z | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Diets | Monetized Biodiversity Loss (EUR/m² restoration) | NA | NA | Ecosystem | The land-use change-related externalities of the German meat-based product consumption incur annually societal costs of EUR 1.1 billion (plus EUR 0.5 billion for biodiversity loss). Biodiversity damage is especially high in countries like Brazil and Australia due to soy and pasture expansion. Annual consumption led to 16,414 ha of deforestation, causing EUR 512 million in biodiversity damage. |
Restoration costs (EUR/m² of forest loss) | Modeling | German consumption of meat and dairy causes significant LUC, especially in the global South. Beef has the highest CO₂ and biodiversity impact per ton; milk and pork are major contributors due to volume. Grazing expansion and soy-based feed production are key drivers of deforestation. The study monetizes biodiversity loss based on forest restoration costs. The findings call for dietary changes, true cost pricing, and policy interventions to reduce meat-related environmental damage. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Reutimann, P; Billeter, R; Dengler, J | Effects of grazing versus mowing on the vegetation of wet grasslands in the northern Pre-Alps, Switzerland | 2023 | 10.1111/avsc.12706 | Y | WoS | English | Switzerland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Maximum vegetation height; Mean vegetation height; SD vegetation height; Vegetation cover; Herbaceous plants cover; Moss layer cover; Litter cover; Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness; Mowing tolerance; Community CSR strategies |
Neutral | NA | Plants | At the plot scale, vascular plant diversity did not differ between these management regimes. Thus, from the conservation point of view, in the study region, there is no clear preference for either management type. Grazing plots presented higher vegetation height and mean competitive strategy. Mowing plots presented higher mean ruderal strategy. The remaining indicators did not show significant differences between the two management types. |
cm cm cm % Cover vegetation % Cover herb layer % Cover moss layer % Cover litter Nr of species Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless |
Empirical | Management type had no influence on species richness, Shannon index or Shannon evenness. Maximum microrelief, vegetation height, mean nutrient indicator value and mean competitive strategy were significantly higher with grazing, whereas the mean aeration indicator value and the mean ruderal strategy were significantly higher with mowing. As vascular plant diversity did not differ between these management regimes, from the conservation point of view, in the study region, there is no clear preference for either management type. |
Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Czyzewski, B; Kryszak, L | Can a pursuit of productivity be reconciled with sustainable practices in small-scale farming? Evidence from central and eastern Europe | 2023 | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137684 | y | WoS | English | Multiple (Poland, Romania, Serbia and Moldova) | Unspecified | Extensive and Other | Farming system | Gini crop diversity index; Soil biodiversity index |
NA | NA | Ecosystem; Other |
Mixed farms, which combine crops and livestock, showed higher biodiversity indicators than crop-only farms. | Empirical | Small farms in CEE countries often lack resources but have eco-efficiency potential. Key biodiversity proxies: crop diversity index, grassland area, orchards/vineyards. Soil organic matter loss used as a key negative environmental indicator. Extensive grazing (via permanent grasslands) is indirectly shown to have biodiversity benefits. Livestock farms show the highest manure output but also the greatest challenges to improving biodiversity delivery. No clear trade-off found between economic efficiency and sustainability, with synergies existing especially in mixed farms. Policy implications suggest different pathways: landscape guardians, artisanal farmers, sustainable intensifiers, or exit pathways. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Torma, A; Révész, K; Gallé-Szpisjak, N; Seat, J; Szél, G; Kutasi, C; Malenovsky, I; Batáry, P; Gallé, R | Differences in arthropod communities between grazed areas and grazing exclosures depend on arthropod groups and vegetation types | 2023 | 10.1016/j.agee.2022.108222 | Y | WoS | English | Hungary | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; CWM moisture preference; CWM feeding behaviour |
All | NA | Invertebrates | No significant differences in species richness. Short-term grazing exclusion negatively affected the abundance of true hoppers in the salt meadow vegetation, while it had a positive effect in the less productive salt steppe vegetation. No significant difference in abundance for beetles and spiders. In satl meadows, moisture preference was higher in ungrazed sites. No significant differences in feeding behaviour. |
Nr of species Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless |
Empirical | The study found differences in abundance patterns and related changes in trait composition of arthropod communities between grazed and ungrazed sites, but not in their species richness. True hopper abundance was higher in grazed meadow sites, but lower in grazed steppe sites, compared to ungrazed sites. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Bonavent, C; Olsen, K; Ejrnaes, R; Flojgaard, C; Hansen, MDD; Normand, S; Svenning, JC; Bruun, HH | Grazing by semi-feral cattle and horses supports plant species richness and uniqueness in grasslands | 2023 | 10.1111/avsc.12718 | Y | WoS | English | Denmark | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock presence; Livestock timing | Species richness; Unicity; Forb:graminoid ratio; Litter cover |
Positive | NA | Plants | Higher plant richness in grazing treatments than in mowing and than in full exclosure (no treatment). Higher uniqueness in winter-only grazing treatment. Forb:graminoid ratio differences were not significant, but tended to be higher in winter-only grazing treatment. Litter accumulation was lower in any of the grazing treatments than in full exclosure. |
Average Nr of species per plot Dimensionless Nr of forbs/Nr of graminoids Amount of litter |
Empirical | Both plant species richness and the prevalence of regionally rarer species (uniqueness) tendend to be higher with grazing than mowing or abandonment. Similarly, the tendency for forbs to prevail under grazing may translate into enhanced floral resources for anthophilous insects. Summer-only grazing at low density of large herbivores was not significantly different from winter-only and year-round grazing, but this treatment was much closer to natural grazing than intensive summer grazing typical of agri-environmental practices. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Lomba A, Ferreiro da Costa J, Ramil-Rego P, Corbelle-Rico E. | Assessing the link between farming systems and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: Insights from Galicia (Spain) | 2022 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115335 | Y | PubMed | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Farming system | Species richness; Habitat richness |
NA | NA | Plants; Birds; Mammals; Amphibians; Reptiles; Ecosystem |
Higher habitat richness and number of protected birds, mammals, reptiles and plants found on less intensive cattle farming systems, but lower number of amphibians. | Nr of species Nr of habitats |
Modeling | The gradient of decreasing management intensity matched a gradient of increasing nature value of farmlands, reflected as higher habitat diversity and richness for some of the targeted taxonomic groups. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Gavrichkova O, Pretto G, Brugnoli E, Chiti T, Ivashchenko KV, Mattioni M, Moscatelli MC, Scartazza A, Calfapietra C. | Consequences of Grazing Cessation for Soil Environment and Vegetation in a Subalpine Grassland Ecosystem | 2022 | 10.3390/plants11162121 | Y | PubMed | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence; Livestock timing | Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Plants | Species richness was higher on long duration grazing plots than on short duration grazing and abandoned plots. In terms of the Shannon index and evenness, the three grazing regimes did not demonstrate significant differences. | Nr of species / m2 Dimensionless Dimensionless |
Empirical | Species richness was higher in plots subjected to longer grazing. A decline in species richness in abandoned plots was accompanied by an increase in the share of other graminoids in collected biomass. The longer grazing season demonstrated to be the most beneficial, promoting species richness, C accumulation and better soil microbial functioning. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Garmendia, E; Aldezabal, A; Galan, E; Andonegi, A; del Prado, A; Gamboa, G; Garcia, O; Pardo, G; Aldai, N; Barron, LJR | Mountain sheep grazing systems provide multiple ecological, socio-economic, and food quality benefits | 2022 | 10.1007/s13593-021-00751-7 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness | Positive | NA | Plants | In grazing plots, species richness was higher. All indicators, except soil compaction, benefit from grazing | Nr of species | Empirical | The study found significant synergies among ecological, socio-economic, and nutritional benefits. These results demonstrate that it is possible to enhance the economic profitability of farms based on sustainable extensive grazing practices that provide socio-ecological benefits for the whole society | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Bassignana, CF; Merante, P; Belliére, SR; Vazzana, C; Migliorini, P | Assessment of Agricultural Biodiversity in Organic Livestock Farms in Italy | 2022 | 10.3390/agronomy12030607 | Y | WoS | English | Italy | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Wood Farm Area; Ecological Infrastructure Index |
Positive | NA | Ecosystem | Biodiversity assessment of all the farms grouped together shows very positive results. The ecological infrastructure index for both farm systems reached desired values since they both showed values higher than 5, but livestock farms presented a much better result with 26.41 in comparison to stockless farms reaching only at 16.68. The Wood Land Area indicator was in average 19.46, which is above the desired value (10) and also above the stockless farms value (3.99). |
% total land % agricultural land |
Empirical | The assessment of agricultural diversity of the case study farms showed remarkably positive results, satisfying almost all agroecological indicators desired values. The farms under study resulted in practicing agroecological mixed farming strategies that, as results showed, are able to benefit the environment within and surrounding the farm as well as to play a role in alleviating biophysical and socio-economic constraints. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Fernández-Guisuraga, JM; Fernández-García, V; Tárrega, R; Marcos, E; Valbuena, L; Pinto, R; Monte, P; Beltrán, D; Huerta, S; Calvo, L | Transhumant Sheep Grazing Enhances Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Productive Mountain Grasslands: A Case Study in the Cantabrian Mountains | 2022 | 10.3389/fevo.2022.861611 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species evenness; Shannon index; Species richness; Herbaceous plants cover; SR of herbaceous species; Woody species cover |
Positive | NA | Plants | Long-term grazing exclusion lead to significantly lower values of species evenness and richness, as well as of the overall biodiversity function. | Dimensionless Dimensionless Nr of species % Dimensionless % |
Empirical | Long-term livestock exclusion significantly hindered biodiversity function. Altogether, grazing exclusion significantly decreased overall ecosystem multifuncionality, especially in long-term livestock exclusion areas, while the decline in ecosystem multifuncionality in short-term exclusions with respect to grazed areas was marginally significant. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Pozsgai, G; Quinzo-Ortega, L; Littlewood, NA | Grazing impacts on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) abundance and diversity on semi-natural grassland | 2022 | 10.1111/icad.12533 | Y | WoS | English | Scotland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Species abundance; Species richness; Shannon index; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
Positive and Neutral | Neutral | Invertebrates | Higher ground beetle abundance, richness and diversity on the three grazed systems, compared to the no grazing system, although there was no significant difference within grazed systems. Similar specis composition on the four systems. | Nr of species Nr of species Dimensionless Dimensionless |
Empirical | Species richness, abundance and Shannon diversity of ground beetles were significantly lower in ungrazed plots than in plots subject to high- or low-intensity sheep grazing. Ground beetle abundance (but not species richness or diversity) was lower in ungrazed plots compared to those with low-intensity mixed grazing by sheep and cattle. However, no differences were identified in abundance, species richness or diversity between the three grazed treatments. There was substantial overlap of species composition of ground beetle assemblages in different grazing treatments | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Salachna, A; Marcol, K; Broda, J; Chmura, D | The Contribution of Environmental and Cultural Aspects of Pastoralism in the Provision of Ecosystem Services: The Case of the Silesian Beskid Mts (Southern Poland) | 2022 | 10.3390/su141610020 | Y | WoS | English | Poland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | NA | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Shannon index; Shannon evenness |
NA | NA | Plants | The results showed that grazing has a positive impact on the maintenance of vegetation including EU-protected habitats. | Nr of species | Empirical | Both vegetation type and grazing intensity explained the significant differences in the species composition of vegetation. The state of biodiversity and presence of diagnostic plant species, i.e., characteristic and distinguishing species for given syntaxa showed that grazing has a positive impact on the maintenance of vegetation. |
Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Hellicar, MA; Kirschel, ANG | Influence of grazing and fire on breeding birds and perennial plants in Cyprus scrub and forest systems | 2022 | 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126207 | Y | WoS | English | Cyprus | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock intensity | Vegetation cover; Simpson index / inverse Simpson; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Euclidean, Raup-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness |
NA | Negative and Neutral | Plants; Birds |
Vegetation cover: For ground-level and middle stratums, current moderate and high grazing pressures lead to lower vegetation cover. For upper stratum, current grazing pressure has no significant effect. Diversity of perennial vegetation was higher at sites subject to moderate current grazing pressure, compared to overgrazed sites. Vegetation diversity: Current moderate grazing pressures with higher diversity than hight grazing pressure. Bird species richness: Moderate current grazing pressure had a negative effect, compared to low grazing pressure. |
% cover Dimensionless Nr of species |
Empirical | For plants the patterns found broadly supported the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, with moderate current grazing found to boost diversity of perennial vegetation, though this did not hold for historical grazing. For breeding birds, the pattern was less clear, with species richness boosted by moderate historical grazing, especially in more open habitats, whereas moderate current grazing was found to suppress bird species richness, though this effect diminishes as vegetation becomes taller and denser. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Karatassiou, M; Parissi, ZM; Panajiotidis, S; Stergiou, A | Impact of Grazing on Diversity of Semi-Arid Rangelands in Crete Island in the Context of Climatic Change | 2022 | 10.3390/plants11070982 | Y | WoS | English | Greece | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence | Floristic composition - species cover; Vegetation cover; Species richness; Shannon index; Simpson index / inverse Simpson |
Negative | NA | Plants | There was a significant interaction between rangeland and functional groups. Lowland rangelands, compared to highland, exhibited a higher percentage contribution of grasses, legumes, and forbs. The vegetation cover recorded in Nida and Vroulidia scored the lowest values in comparison to the lowland sites of Pyrathi and Faistos. Species richness, Shannon entropy, and Simpson were higher in the lowlands of Faistos and Pyrathi compared to Vroulidia, while at Nida, the highest species richness was recorded. Overgrazing effects reported. | Nr of species | Empirical | The study indicates that the existing high grazing pressure, in combination with climatic conditions, could result in rangeland degradation on Crete island. Diversity in terms of abundance (ENS Shannon entropy) was lower than species richness, while diversity in terms of dominance (ENS Gini–Simpson index) was lower than the Shannon entropy for both years of the study. This result indicated that there is species dominance in all study areas. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Schwarz, C; Fartmann, T | Traditional grazing management creates heterogeneous swards and fosters grasshopper densities | 2022 | 10.1111/1744-7917.13041 | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species density (n individuals/area) |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Invertebrates | No difference on species richness between grazing and control sites. Higher density on grazing sites, for to total of species and for threatened species only. | Nr of species Individuals/10m2 |
Empirical | The study revealed that grasshopper species richness did not differ between common pastures (n = 57) and controls (n = 57). By contrast, density of all and of threatened species varied between common pastures and controls in all plots and within the two vegetation types with the highest grasshopper abundance, grasslands on mineral soil and fens. It is reccomended to mantain traditonal cattle grazing. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Psyllos, G; Hadjigeorgiou, I; Dimitrakopoulos, PG; Kizos, T | Grazing Land Productivity, Floral Diversity, and Management in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Landscape | 2022 | 10.3390/su14084623 | Y | WoS | English | Greece | Sheep | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence | Species richness | Neutral | NA | Plants | Differences between sites were not significant, revealing similar levels of diversity. | Nr of species | Empirical | There were little differences over the different cages and the degree of grazing intensity regasrding species richness. Overall, the studied ecosystems showed a high degree of resilience despite their intensive use. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Carreira, E; Serrano, J; Gomes, CJP; Shahidian, S; Paniagua, LL; Pilirito, A; Castro, JL; Carvalho, M; Pereira, AF | Effect of Sheep Grazing, Stocking Rates and Dolomitic Limestone Application on the Floristic Composition of a Permanent Dryland Pasture, in the Montado Agroforestry System of Southern Portugal | 2022 | 10.3390/ani12192506 | Y | WoS | English | Portugal | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock timing | Species composition | NA | NA | Plants | The pasture floristic composition differed between the tratment systems adopted in each site. Bioindicator species were selected. Over the three time periods studied, there was higher diversity on the site with continuous grazing and no limestone application and lower diversity on the site with continuous grazing and limestone application. However, ate the end of the vegetative cycle, both sites with continuous grazing has higher botanical diversity. | Nr of species and individuals | Empirical | The type of grazing influences the PFC, which may be positively or negatively impacted, depending on the adopted system. Deferred grazing seems to benefit the disappearance of undesirable plants and the appearance of desired plants. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Kindvall, O; Franzén, M; Askling, J; Forsman, A; Johansson, | Subsidized Common Agricultural Policy grazing jeopardizes the protection of biodiversity and Natura 2000 targeted species | 2022 | 10.1111/acv.12773 | Y | WoS | English | Sweden | Unspecified | Unspecified | Livestock presence | Occurrence probability; Species density (n individuals/area); SR of orchids and flowering plants |
Negative | NA | Plants; Invertebrates |
The grid cell occurrence probability was 1.8 times higher and the population density was 2.3 times higher in ungrazed compared with CAP-grazed habitats in 2017, and the corresponding numbers for 2019 were 10 and 5.3 times higher, respectively. The number of flowering plants were on average 6.9 times higher and the density of orchids was 12.3 times higher in ungrazed habitats. | % individuals/ha Nº of individuals |
Empirical | The study shows that that intense yearly CAP grazing, which is the dominant management strategy in Natura 2000 sites on the studied area, has devastating consequences for the target species and other aspects of biodiversity. Less intense management, which would benefit biodiversity, would require changes in the CAP, to allow more flexible payments for habitat management objectives and conservation of target species. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | Vidaller, C; Malik, C; Dutoit, T | Grazing intensity gradient inherited from traditional herding still explains Mediterranean grassland characteristics despite current land-use changes | 2022 | 10.1016/j.agee.2022.108085 | Y | WoS | English | France | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Species evenness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Mean vegetation height; Forage quality; Litter quality |
NA | Negative | Plants | Moderate grazing intensity showed highest plant species richness and evenness, and greater biomass. High grazing intensity improved forage quality (higher digestibility and nitrogen content). Overgrazing near sheepfolds with lower plant species richness and diversity, dominance of nitrophilous/ruderal species and showed soil degradation and homogenization. Fenced free grazing increased grazing pressure further into the landscape with potential reducing habitat heterogeneity. The change in grazing practice (traditional to fenced) had limited immediate effects. |
Nr of plant species % total plant cover Vegetation height Lignin and nitrogen content Soil chemistry and granulometry |
Empirical | Moderate grazing intensity supports highest plant diversity and structural complexity. Biomass was also significantly higher at moderate grazing intensity. High grazing pressure increases forage quality but reduces biodiversity and soil heterogeneity. Recent fenced free grazing led to significantly more intensively grazed zones, with more mesophilous/nitrophilous vegetation. Fenced free grazing may erode traditional spatial gradients. A strong legacy effect from traditional herding still shapes ecological patterns, but may fade over time. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | Mayer, A; Kaufmann, L; Kalt, G; Matej, S; Theurl, MC; Morais, TG; Leip, A; Erb, KH | Applying the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production framework to map provisioning ecosystem services and their relation to ecosystem functioning across the European Union | 2021 | 10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101344 | Y | WoS | English | EU | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | NA | HANPP | NA | NA | Ecosystem | High HANPP from livestock implies reduced biomass, limiting ecosystem functioning. Some regions with eHANPPlst exceeding 100% of ecosystem capacity, signaling overexploitation. | % of HANPP eHANPPlst |
Modeling | The study uses NPPeco and HANPP as proxies for ecosystem function. EU livestock systems are a large consumer of provisioning ecosystem services, invoking higher HANPP flows than current HANPP on cropland and grassland, an exerting substantial pressure on ecosystem capacity. The study provides a strong framwork for policymaking that targets more sustainable livestock systems. |
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| 33 | Olén, NB; Roger, F; Brady, M; Larsson, C; Andersson, GKS; Ekroos, J; Caplat, P; Smith, HG; Dänhardt, J; Clough, Y | Effects of farm type on food production, landscape openness, grassland biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions in mixed agricultural-forestry regions | 2021 | 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103071 | Y | WoS | English | Sweden | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Farming system | TUVA cover; Number of indicator species; High Nature Value cover |
NA | NA | Ecosystem | Grazing livestock, mixed and small farms had larger proportions of TUVA pastures that contained high biodiversity values compared to dairy, field crop and granivore farms. No clear differences for horse farms. The number of indicator species did not differ significantly. Patterns in farm HNV cover were similar to those observed for the TUVA pasture cover in that grazing livestock, mixed, and small farms had significantly larger proportions of HNV cover compared to dairy, field crop, and granivore farms. | % TUVA area Average number of indicator species in TUVA % average farm area that had a high nature value in the HNV dataset |
Modeling | Results show that there is not one single farm type that would simultaneously maximize food production, grassland biodiversity, and landscape openness, whilst minimizing GHG missions. However, there exists considerable potential to manage the trade-offs between food production and these environmental variables. |
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| 34 | Troiano, C; Buglione, M; Petrelli, S; Belardinelli, S; De Natale, A; Svenning, JC; Fulgione, D | Traditional Free-Ranging Livestock Farming as a Management Strategy for Biological and Cultural Landscape Diversity: A Case from the Southern Apennines | 2021 | 10.3390/land10090957 | Y | WoS | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Simpson index; Shannon index; Berger-Parker dominance index; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn) |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Invertebrates; Plants |
Richness was not significantly different between habitat and managment types, although higher values on the Edge site. Simpson and Shannon indices were higher in Grassland than in the Edge, and than in the Woodland and higher in Grazed than Ungrazed sites, showing high level of evenness. Berger-Parker index had the opposite trend, showing low level of dominance in Grassland (compraed to Edge and Woodland) and in Grazed (compared to ungrazed) sites. The was a strong separation of plots belonging to the three habitat types, but no separation of grazed an ungrazed plots. Some differences in floristic composition between grazed and ungrazed sites, with higher number of species and families in grazed plots. |
Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless Dimensionless Nr of species |
Empirical | Grassland is the habitat represented by the highest levels of evenness and lowest levels of dominance. Arthropod communities felt the repercussions of grazing exclusion, with ungrazed plots showing communities with significantly lower evenness values and significantly higher dominance. Domestic animals can be considered elements that increase the dynamism of the system. In general, traditional pastoral practices could be considered an indirect tool for safeguarding biological diversity. |
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| 35 | Konvicka, M; Ricl, D; Vodicková, V; Benes, J; Jirku, M | Restoring a butterfly hot spot by large ungulates refaunation: the case of the Milovice military training range, Czech Republic | 2021 | 10.1186/s12862-021-01804-x | Y | WoS | English | Czech Republic | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance |
Positive | NA | Invertebrates | The refaunated plots hosted higher butterfly species richness and abundances. Larger-bodied butterflies developing on coarse grasses and shrubs inclined towards neglected plots, whereas refaunated plots supported smaller species developing on small forbs | Nr of species Nr of individuals |
Empirical | By blocking succession, large ungulates support butterflies depending on competitively poor plants. Restoring large ungulates populations represents a great hope for conserving specialised insects, provided that settings of the projects, and locally adapted ungulate densities, do not deplete resources for species with often contrasting requirements. | Local | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | Balfour, NJ; Durrant, R; Ely, A; Sandom, CJ | People, nature and large herbivores in a shared landscape: A mixed-method study of the ecological and social outcomes from agriculture and conservation | 2021 | 10.1002/pan3.10182 | Y | WoS | English | England | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Other | Farming system | Species richness; Species abundance; Species richness of threatened species |
NA | NA | Birds; Invertebrates; Mammals; Ecosystem |
All sites except for Council have at least one plot that scored the highest for at least one taxon-specific species-focused metric. Mean Shannon's Diversity Index scores varied from 0.14 for wild mammals at Ashdown to 2.54 for birds at Tablehurst. | Nr of species Nr of individuals Dimensionless Nr of designated species Nr of records Site/Drone; Plot/LiDAR NDSI |
Empirical | Ecological data from the sites indicated that the most conservation-oriented sites performed best in terms of species richness and activity (birds, mammals, bats and invertebrates) and number of species of conservation concern. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 37 | de Otálora, XD; Epelde, L; Arranz, J; Garbisu, C; Ruiz, R; Mandaluniz, N | Regenerative rotational grazing management of dairy sheep increases springtime grass production and topsoil carbon storage | 2021 | 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107484 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock timing | Species richness; Shannon Index; Simpson Index; Species evenness |
NA | NA | Other | There were no significant differences between treatments in terms of soil prokaryotic (bacteria and archaea) diversity indices. Regenerative rotational grazing achieved 30% higher springtime grass production than conventional rotational grazing. The other parameters did not differ significantly between the grazing regimes. | Soil sample DNA extraction | Empirical | Regenerative grazing (RRG) improved grass yield and carbon storage over conventional rotational grazing (CRG). No significant impact on soil microbial diversity or nutrient cycling enzymes, wich suggests RRG as a viable strategy to boost ecosystem services without biodiversity loss. Dairy sheep production can benefit from RRG without trade-offs in soil biodiversity. A promising practice for sustainable dairy systems in temperate climates. |
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| 38 | Almásy, J; Essl, F; Berger, A; Schulze, CH | To graze or to mow? The influence of grassland management on grasshoppers (Orthoptera) on a flood protection embankment in the Donau-Auen National Park (Austria) | 2021 | 10.1007/s10841-021-00337-4 | Y | WoS | English | Austria | Sheep | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; Species abundance of threatened species; Species richness of threatened species; Mean vegetation height; Vegetation cover |
All | NA | Invertebrates; Plants |
Higher Orthoptera species richness in grazed transects. Grazing favored xero-thermophilic species (dry habitat specialists), several of which are Red-Listed in Austria. Grazing created more heterogeneous vegetation, improving microhabitat diversity. Lower total Orthoptera abundance in grazed plots (about one-third less than in mown plots). Fewer non-threatened mesic grassland species in grazed areas. Abundance of Red-Listed species was not significantly different between mown and grazed sites. Some species (e.g., Calliptamus italicus) were abundant in both management types due to specific microhabitat patches (e.g., gravel paths). |
Total number of Orthoptera (adults and nymphs) Mean vegetation height (in cm) % of ground cover |
Empirical | Grazed sites supported higher grasshopper species richness, especially dry grassland specialists. Mown sites had higher overall abundance, particularly of common mesic species. Fndings suggest that the less dense vegetation in grazed transects better fulflled the habitat requirements of xero-thermophilic species compared to mown transects - Vegetation heterogeneity from rotational grazing promotes diverse microhabitats and may benefit rare insects. Findings indicate that grasshoppers respond rapidly to changing land use - The study recommends continued rotational grazing and heterogeneous mowing strategies (mow in strips or at varied times) for optimal biodiversity conservation. |
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| 39 | Brambilla, M; Gubert, F; Pedrini, P | The effects of farming intensification on an iconic grassland bird species, or why mountain refuges no longer work for farmland biodiversity | 2021 | 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107518 | Y | WoS | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock intensity | Presence (of singular species) | NA | Negative | Birds | Higher stocking density (LU/ha) was strongly associated with lower corncrake occurrence. Untargeted mowing subsidies had a negative effect, likely due to promoting early and widespread cuts. Intensified meadows (with more fertilization, frequent mowing) were avoided by corncrakes. Natura 2000-targeted management (delayed mowing) with positive impact on corncrake occurrence. Organic farming and mountain compensation payments had moderate positive effects. Species-rich, unfertilized grasslands were most favored by corncrakes. |
Corncrake presence (nr of calling males) LU/ha Grassland typologies (based on species richness and management intensity) RDP measures |
Empirical | Corncrake presence declines with increasing stocking density and intensive mowing. Natura 2000 payments (delayed mowing) were the most effective conservation measure. Organic and traditional mountain farming offer some benefits, but are less impactful than targeted schemes. Corncrakes prefer low-elevation, sun-exposed, unfertilized, species-rich meadows. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 | Rysiak, A; Chabuz, W; Sawicka-Zugaj, W; Zdulski, J; Grzywaczewski, G; Kulik, M | Comparative impacts of grazing and mowing on the floristics of grasslands in the buffer zone of Polesie National Park, eastern Poland | 2021 | 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01612 | Y | WoS | English | Poland | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock presence | Species richness; Life form; Life span; Presence of storage organs; Vegetative propagation; Reproduction type; Leaf persistence; Seed mass; Habitat preference; Strategy type; Grazing tolerance; Mowing tolerance; Forage value |
Positive and Negative | NA | Plants | Grazing significantly increased species richness compared to abandoned plots (98 vs. 61 species on average). Promoted grassland and meadow species. Increased segetal and ruderal species (early colonizers). Suppressed tree and shrub encroachment, helping maintain open habitats. Promoted species with larger seeds and greater grazing tolerance. Grazing with lower abundance of water/waterside species compared to mowed plots. Some traits (e.g., geophytes, perennial dominance) reduced under grazing relative to mowing. |
Nr of plant species Functional traits: Life span, leaf presistance, seed mass, grazing tolerance) |
Empirical | Extensive grazing significantly increased plant biodiversity and suppressed tree invasion. White-backed cattle effectively maintained grassland character and biodiversity. Grazing had a stronger impact on dry grassland, ruderal, and weedy species than mowing. Mowing better preserved aquatic species, while grazing maintained open meadow habitats. The study supports grazing with traditional breeds as a biodiversity conservation tool in protected landscapes. |
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| 41 | Velado-Alonso, E; Morales-Castilla, I; Rebollo, S; Gómez-Sal, A | Relationships between the distribution of wildlife and livestock diversity | 2020 | 10.1111/ddi.13133 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock type | Species richness | NA | NA | Mammals; Birds; Amphibians; Reptiles |
Positive correlations between livestock breed richness and wild vertebrate richness across much of Spain. Cattle breeds positively associated with, mammals (artiodactyls), land-based amphibians and rocky habitat reptiles. Sheep breeds positively associated with steppe birds (likely due to traditional sheep grazing maintaining open habitats). Sheep breeds showed negative associations with artiodactyl mammals, land-based amphibians, and rocky-habitat reptiles, suggesting a species-specific and habitat-dependent effects. |
Diversity/distribution maps for wild native vertebrates. | Modeling | Wildlife and livestock genetic diversity co-vary positively in many parts of Spain. Cattle breeds support a wider array of wildlife taxa than sheep breeds, except for steppe birds. Extensive traditional systems likely promote habitat heterogeneity, benefiting both wild and domestic biodiversity. Results support integrated biodiversity conservation strategies, particularly in agricultural landscapes with cultural heritage. Study demonstrates how land-use history and breed diversity can be proxies for ecological complexity and biodiversity. |
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| 42 | Sabia, E; Kuhl, S; Flach, L; Lambertz, C; Gauly, M | Effect of Feed Concentrate Intake on the Environmental Impact of Dairy Cows in an Alpine Mountain Region Including Soil Carbon Sequestration and Effect on Biodiversity | 2020 | 10.3390/su12052128 | Y | WoS | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock intensity; Livestock type | Damage Score; Damage to Ecosystem Diversity |
NA | Negative | Ecosystem | AGLC (Alpine Grey, Low Concentrate) with lowest damage score and lowest species-year damage. This system is also associated with greater use of permanent pasture and lower land-use intensification. BSHC (Brown Swiss, High Concentrate) with highest damage to biodiversity and higher species loss. It is also more dependent on intensive feed production, which has higher biodiversity costs. |
Land use types Nr of species per year (ReCiPe endpoint) |
Modeling (LCA) | BSHC system had the lowest carbon footprint but the highest biodiversity damage. AGLC system had highest carbon footprint but lowest impact on biodiversity. Soil carbon sequestration reduced carbon footprint across all systems, particularly in low-input systems. Biodiversity impact was strongly correlated with feed intensity and land use change. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive environmental metrics that include biodiversity and carbon sinks in LCA evaluations of dairy systems. |
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| 43 | Schmitz, A; Isselstein, J | Effect of Grazing System on Grassland Plant Species Richness and Vegetation Characteristics: Comparing Horse and Cattle Grazing | 2020 | 10.3390/su12083300 | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock type; Livestock timing | Species richness; HNV Species Richness (Nº of HNV indicator species); Floristic contrast (sward structure height); Community CSR strategies; Utilization indicator values: Forage quality; Grazing tolerance; Trampling tolerance |
NA | NA | Plants | Continuous horse grazing (HC) led to higher plant species richness (vs. cattle paddocks), to more HNV indicator species and to greater floristic contrast (heterogeneous sward structure), which promoted diversity. Cattle grazing (C) resulted in more uniform swards with higher competitive and stress-tolerant species, higher forage value, but lower species richness. Rotational horse grazing (HR) with slightly lower species richness and HNV-SR than HC, which suggests less floristic contrast than HC, but still more than C. |
Nr of vascular plant species Nr of High-Nature-Value indicator species Sward vegetation height |
Empirical | Continuous horse grazing (HC) supports higher plant biodiversity and nature conservation value than cattle grazing. Patchy grazing by horses leads to stronger sward heterogeneity, which fosters species richness. Grazing regime matters: continuous grazing shows greater floristic contrast than rotational. Site conditions and management intensity (fertilization, mowing) had less influence on species richness than grazing system. Horse grazing can be a valuable tool for maintaining species-rich grasslands, especially in peri-urban or low-input systems. |
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| 44 | Koncz, NK; Béri, B; Deák, B; Kelemen, A; Tóth, K; Kiss, R; Radócz, S; Miglécz, T; Tóthmérész, B; Valkó, O | Meat production and maintaining biodiversity: Grazing by traditional breeds and crossbred beef cattle in marshes and grasslands | 2020 | 10.1111/avsc.12475 | Y | WoS | English | Hungary | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock type | Species richness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Naturalness index; Cover of plant groups (forage quality); Forage quality |
NA | NA | Plants | Higher plant species richness and Shannon diversity in marshes and grasslands grazed by Hungarian Grey cattle (traditional cattle). Increased legume cover in traditional breed sites (better forage quality). Moderate grazing enhanced microhabitat diversity. Maintained vegetation heterogeneity and prevented succession. Lower biodiversity and reduced moisture indicator values in marshes grazed by crossbred cattle due to heavier trampling, leading to increased bare soil and possible habitat drying. Trampling effects more severe in marshes (wet soils) than in grasslands. Naturalness value was not significantly different between cattle breeds. Forage quality was generally similar, except for weed differences. |
Nr of plant species % cover of vascular plant species |
Empirical | Traditional breeds (Hungarian Grey) support higher biodiversity, particularly in marshes. Crossbred cattle are more productive but pose greater ecological risks due to trampling. Grazing effects are habitat-dependent: wetlands are more sensitive to livestock type. Moderate grazing intensity helps maintain species-rich grasslands. Study recommends prioritizing traditional breeds in protected or conservation-sensitive habitats, while crossbred cattle may be acceptable alternatives in grassland sites if traditional breeds are unavailable. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Rottstock, T; Göttert, T; Zeller, U | Relatively undisturbed African savannas - an important reference for assessing wildlife responses to livestock grazing systems in European rangelands | 2020 | 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01124 | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Unassisted | Livestock presence | Species richness; Ungulate-Carnivore Ratio; Relative capture frequency of total wildlife; Daily Activity Patterns |
Negative and Neutral | NA | Mammals | Medium-sized canids (e.g., red fox, jackals) were largely unaffected by grazing in all regions. Some small ungulates and generalist species (e.g., springbok) showed adaptation or resilience. Livestock presence reduced wildlife species richness in 3 of 4 case studies. Wildlife shifted activity to nocturnal hours when livestock was present (cross-regional pattern). Roe deer and wild boar activity was lower in German sites with livestock. |
Total number of mammal species Nr of species Nr of detection events Nr of camera trap events per 100 trap days Proportion of day/night activity for wildlife species |
Empirical | Livestock presence consistently reduced wildlife activity and species richness, especially for large herbivores. Activity shifts to nighttime were common responses to avoid livestock and associated human presence. No strong evidence that "naturalistic grazing" in Europe was more beneficial to wildlife than rotational grazing. The study proposes a transcontinental framework linking land-use intensity to wildlife impact, reinforcing the need for context-aware grazing policies. |
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| 46 | Lurette, A; Stark, F; Lecomte, L; Lasseur, J; Moulin, CH | A model to explore which diversity is needed to design sustainable agricultural systems at the territorial level | 2020 | 10.1007/s13593-020-00634-3 | Y | WoS | English | France | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Other | Farming system | Shannon index for land use | NA | NA | Ecosystem | Mixed farms show higher product and land use diversity, enhancing resilience. Rangeland use in large mixed farms supports sustainable land management and lower input dependency. High forage autonomy in mixed systems reduces vulnerability to market shocks. | Land use diversity (land use distribution within farm-land area): Crop lands (ha), part for livestock feed (ha), forage lands (ha) Total arable lands (ha) Proportion of grazed lands (ha) Flock size (nb.) Stocking rate (ewes per ha) |
Modeling (Simulation scenarios) | Diversity within and between farms improves resilience and sustainability. Mixed crop-livestock systems outperform specialized ones in resistance to economic shocks. Trade-offs exist: high diversity vs. highest economic return. Simulation shows that farm-level diversity indicators (e.g., Shannon index) correlate with environmental and social sustainability metrics. Models can guide territorial planning for multifunctional agriculture in Mediterranean contexts. |
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| 47 | Milberg, P; Bergman, KO; Glimskär, A; Nilsson, S; Tälle, M | Site factors are more important than management for indicator species in semi-natural grasslands in southern Sweden | 2020 | 10.1007/s11258-020-01035-y | Y | WoS | English | Sweden | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock type | Floristic composition - probability of species occurance; Plant height; Leaf distribution along stem; Flowering period/time; Light preference; Nutrient availability preference |
NA | NA | Plants | Horse grazing had neutral to positive effects on several indicator species (e.g., Luzula campestris, Lotus corniculatus, Polygala spp.). Grazing in general helped maintain open grassland conditions, limiting tree and shrub encroachment. Sheep grazing was detrimental to six species and beneficial to none. Tall vegetation and litter accumulation (due to low grazing or abandonment) negatively affected species occurrence. Management variables (like sward height or grazer type) were less influential than site conditions (e.g., soil fertility, moisture). Species responses to tree and shrub cover were mixed. |
Grassland species presence/absence Nr of grassland species Percent cover of grass sward vegetation Grassland species traits (height, flowering time, nutrient requirements and leaf distribution) Tree and shurb cover Vegetation height Amount of litter |
Empirical | Site conditions (soil nutrient and moisture levels) are more important than grazing management type in determining indicator species presence. Low-productivity, dry sites are key targets for conservation of grassland biodiversity. In comparison to cattle grazing, sheep grazing was detrimental to six species and beneficial to none, while horse grazing was detrimental to no species and beneficial to four species. Tall swards and litter buildup harm many indicator species, indicating the need for active grazing. Results highlight the importance of nutrient-poor and dry sites, e.g., when selecting sites for conservation, and the importance of the type of management executed. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Fondón, CL; González, JB; Fernández, MP; Remelli, S; Lozano-Parra, J; Menta, C | Effects of Livestock Pressure and Vegetation Cover on the Spatial and Temporal Structure of Soil Microarthropod Communities in Iberian Rangelands | 2020 | 10.3390/f11060628 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock intensity | Shannon index; Species abundance |
NA | Negative | Invertebrates | Higher abundance and diversity of microarthropods in areas with medium to low livestock pressure. Vegetation heterogeneity and open areas outside tree canopy supported richer communities. Reduced abundance and soil adaptation of microarthropods in high livestock pressure zones. Bare soil and trampling correlated with lower Shannon index score. Negative influence was stronger beneath tree canopy due to combined effects of compaction and microclimate. Some variables were more influenced by spatial vegetation patterns and tree presence than livestock pressure alone. |
Nr of soil microarthropods species Soil properties Vegetation cover (density) Area of bare soil |
Empirical | Lower livestock pressure supports healthier and more diverse soil arthropod communities. Grazing intensity, vegetation cover, and tree canopy presence interact to shape microarthropod diversity. Soil quality (via QBS-ar) and abundance metrics show sensitivity to overgrazing, especially in canopied zones. This study demonstrates several facts: (1) landscape characteristics play a crucial role on the occurrence of evolutive adaptation of microarthropod biological forms; (2) abundances and the occurrence of morphological adaptation did not follow identical, but similar spatial patterns; (3) and the effect of environmental characteristics, such as the patchy distribution of vegetation being high on abundances and taxa diversity, which is likely due to environmental filtering, but to stochastic dispersal as well; (4) Higher abundances and adaptation to soil environment were related to open spaces rather than areas under arboreal influence; (5) High livestock pressure influenced microarthropod communities’ composition and metrics; (6) The delimitation of SHC areas via OBIA technique showed unexpectedly lower correlations with microarthropod communities’ composition. |
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| 49 | Domingues, JP; Gameiro, AH; Bonaudo, T; Gabrielle, B; Tichit, M | Past intensification trajectories of livestock led to mixed social and environmental services | 2020 | 10.1017/S1751731119001952 | Y | WoS | English | France | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive and Other | Livestock intensity | Proportion of grassland birds; High Nature Value cover |
NA | Negative | Birds; Ecosystem |
Extensive systems showed higher biodiversity and environmental quality in departments with: moderate stocking rates, stable or increasing grassland areas and grazing-based systems. High levels of cultural services (heritage, agro-tourism, quality products). Intensive systems showed decreased biodiversity and water quality in areas with: High monogastric densities, high milk productivity and high feed import dependency. Manure overload and water pollution from intensive systems. Trade-offs observed: employment benefits in intensive systems vs. environmental quality in extensive systems. |
Empirical (qualitative) | Past livestock intensification strongly shaped the current spatial distribution of ecosystem services. Intensive areas provide more employment but degrade environmental services (e.g., biodiversity, water quality), while extensive areas offer more balanced service bundles, with strong environmental and cultural service provision. The proportion of grasslands and herbivore-based systems positively influenced biodiversity proxies (grassland birds, HNV). |
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| 50 | Koncz, P; Vadász-Besnyoi, V; Csathó, AI; Nagy, J; Szerdahelyi, T; Tóth, Z; Pintér, K; Fóti, S; Papp, M; Balogh, J; Gecse, B; Kertész, P; Biró, M; Nagy, Z; Bartha, S | Carbon uptake changed but vegetation composition remained stable during transition from grazing to mowing grassland management | 2020 | 10.1016/j.agee.2020.107161 | Y | WoS | English | Hungary | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Shannon index; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Compositional diversity index |
Neutral | NA | Plants | No significant difference in plant species richness, diversity, or composition between grazed and mowed sites. The plant communities at both sites remained heterogeneous and species-rich. |
Nr of plant species Presence of plant species |
Empirical | Carbon uptake was significantly higher under grazing. Grazing and mowing did not alter fine-scale plant species composition over six years. Both sites remained species-rich and spatially heterogeneous, indicating high vegetation stability. Management influenced ecosystem function (carbon cycling) without altering biodiversity. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | González-Hernández, MP; Mouronte, V; Romero, R; Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A; Mosquera-Losada, MR | Plant diversity and botanical composition in an Atlantic heather-gorse dominated understory after horse grazing suspension: Comparison of a continuous and rotational management | 2020 | 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01134 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Horses | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock timing | Species richness; Species abundance; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Simpson's dominance index; Shannon index; Species evenness; Presence of species of high conservation interest |
NA | NA | Plants | Comparison between Continuous (CG) and Rotational (RG) grazing. Previously grazed sites had higher plant species richness and diversity than ungrazed plots. Grazing reduced dominance of gorse (Ulex europaeus) and promoted grasses and herbs. Grazing also favored several rare or high-conservation species, especially in continuous grazing areas. Both CG and RG maintained positive effects up to 6 years after grazing cessation. RG was slightly more effective at controlling gorse long-term. Evenness and Simpson diversity declined by year 6, indicating shrub dominance recovery. Plant community convergence occurred over time—differences between CG and RG decreased after 6 years. Grasses and herbaceous plants declined post-grazing due to increasing shrub cover. Overall diversity was more affected by time since grazing than by the type of grazing. |
Floristic inventories Vascular plant species presence and estimated visual cover |
Empirical | Horse grazing increased species richness and promoted conservation-relevant species. Continuous grazing supported more rare species; rotational grazing better reduced gorse long-term. The positive effects of grazing persisted up to 6 years after removal but gradually declined. Shrub encroachment and species dominance increased over time without grazing. Grazing is a viable conservation tool for managing Atlantic heathlands and promoting habitat diversity. |
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| 52 | Uusitalo V, Kuokkanen A, Grönman K, Ko N, Mäkinen H, Koistinen K. | Environmental sustainability assessment from planetary boundaries perspective - A case study of an organic sheep farm in Finland | 2019 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.120 | Y | PubMed | English | Finland | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Biosphere integrity - extinction rate (EMSY) | Positive and Negative | NA | Ecosystem | Grazing at biodiversity hotspots boosted endangered species populations. Although grazing prevents forest encroachment on meadows, it conflicts with forest cover goals in the PB framework. |
Extinction per million species years (EMSY) | Quantitative modeling (LCA) | The results showthat in the planetary boundary context, there are positive impacts of sheep grazing on biosphere integrity (genetic diversity) and biogeochemical flows and negative impacts on climate change, land use or freshwater use. Magnitudes of the impacts greatly dependent on the assumptions made especially regarding biosphere integrity impacts. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | Pauler, CM; Isselstein, J; Braunbeck, T; Schneider, MK | Influence of Highland and production-oriented cattle breeds on pasture vegetation: A pairwise assessment across broad environmental gradients | 2019 | 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106585 | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Cattle | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock type | Floristic composition - species cover; Alpha species richness local; Gamma species richness - landscape; Species evenness; Woody species cover; Grazing tolerance; Trampling tolerance; Cover of epizoochoric species |
NA | NA | Plants | Highland cattle supported higher plant species richness (alpha and gamma), more epizoochoric species (beneficial for plant dispersal). There was also less woody species cover (better control of encroachment) and lower indicator values for grazing and trampling (less physical pressure). Production-oriented cattle increased cover of trampling and grazing tolerant species. Higher grazing selectivity reduced species richness. |
Nr of plant species vegetation cover bare ground cover indicator values for grazing and trampling tolerance Nutrient indicator values |
Empirical | Breed choice matters: Highland cattle supported more diverse plant communities than production breeds. Highland cattle impose less grazing and trampling pressure, favoring sensitive and dispersal-limited plant species. These cattle also reduce woody plant encroachment, even at lower stocking rates. Results suggest breed-specific impacts are important and underrecognized in grassland management. Study supports matching livestock breed to conservation goals in pasture-based systems. |
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| 54 | Chabuz, W; Kulik, M; Sawicka-Zugaj, W; Zolkiewski, P; Warda, M; Pluta, M; Lipiec, A; Bochniak, A; Zdulski, J | Impact of the type of use of permanent grasslands areas in mountainous regions on the floristic diversity of habitats and animal welfare | 2019 | 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00629 | Y | WoS | English | Poland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Unassisted | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Species richness; SR of herbaceous species; Shannon index; Floristic composition - species cover; Forage quality |
Positive | Negative | Plants | Extensive grazing (especially sheep + cattle) had the highest species richness and Shannon diversity. It also prevented secondary forest succession, suppressed dominant expansive grasses, and maintained herbaceous diversity. Grazing improved forage use, especially in mixed grazing systems like horses + cattle, and supported occurrence of plant species from species-rich alliances like Cynosurion and Arrhenatherion. Abandoned grasslands had the lowest biodiversity and areas with more intensive interventions like fertilization and sowing showed slightly reduced diversity. |
Nr of plant species Nr of herbaceour species Forage composition: crude protein, crude fibre, ash and fat |
Empirical | Extensive mixed grazing (sheep + cattle) yielded the highest floristic diversity and habitat quality. Grazing was essential to prevent secondary succession and maintain semi-natural grassland ecosystems while abandonment led to a clear decline in biodiversity, with dominance of expansive species and shrubs. Management systems combining traditional practices and local breeds can sustain both animal welfare and habitat conservation in mountain regions. The study promotes grazing as a conservation tool and supports policies encouraging extensive livestock systems in high nature value areas. |
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| 55 | Lagendijk, DDG; Howison, A; Esselink, P; Smit, C | Grazing as a conservation management tool: Responses of voles to grazer species and densities | 2019 | 10.1016/j.baae.2018.10.007 | Y | WoS | English | The Netherlands | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock intensity; Livestock type; Livestock timing | Presence (of singular species) | NA | Negative | Birds | Low-density cattle grazing and rotation grazing supported the highest vole presence. Vole activity increased in rotation plots, especially in the ungrazed years. High-density grazing, particularly by horses, reduced vole presence. High trampling and low vegetation height in these plots negatively affected vole habitats. Horse grazing created more disturbance and reduced vegetation structure. | Burrow entrances; Droppings; Runways; Plant clippings |
Empirical | Low grazer densities ,regardless of species, corresponded to higher vole presence. Vole presence tended to be greater with cattle grazing than with horse grazing, but the difference was not significant. The increase in vole presence was greater in the rotation regime than with low or high density cattle grazing. High-density horse grazing has the most negative impact on vole activity. Burrow entrances were not a reliable indicator of vole activity due to disturbance effects. Findings support the use of rotation or low-density grazing in conservation areas where small mammals are ecologically significant. | Local | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | Moinardeau, C; Mesléard, F; Ramone, H; Dutoit, T | Short-Term Effects on Diversity and Biomass on Grasslands from Artificial Dykes under Grazing and Mowing Treatments | 2019 | 10.1017/S0376892918000346 | Y | WoS | English | France | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; Species evenness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Mean vegetation height; Vegetation cover; Bare cover; Herbaceous plants cover |
Positive | NA | Plants | Extensive grazing increased plant species richness, evenness and heterogeneity. Only grazing was able to reduce the height and cover of the dominant tussock perennial grass species, while increasing bare soil cover and thus the contribution of annual species. | Nr plant species vegetation height (cm) % total vegetation cover % bare soil cover % harbaceous cover |
Empirical | Extensive grazing and annual mechanical mowing increased plant species richness, evenness and heterogeneity. The increase in evenness and beta-diversity from grazing was significantly higher than from mowing. Only grazing was able to reduce the height and cover of the dominant tussock perennial grass species, while increasing bare soil cover and thus the contribution of annual species. On the Rhône’s artificial dykes, extensive grazing appears to be a better management tool than mowing to enhance plant biodiversity and meet safety objectives. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | Johansen, L; Taugourdeau, S; Hovstad, KA; Wehn, S | Ceased grazing management changes the ecosystem services of semi-natural grasslands | 2019 | 10.1080/26395916.2019.1644534 | Y | WoS | English | Norway | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Abundance of food plant species wild polinators - Hymenoptera and Butterflies (as ES) |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Plants; Ecosystem |
Grazing increased species richness in managed plots and supported a higher provision of nutrient cycling, forage quality, aesthetics and regional climate regulation. Grazing maintained open, flower-rich communities and prevented shrub encroachment. Global climate regulation (thrgouh carbon storage) was higher in abandoned areas due to increased woody vegetation. Pollination potential did not significantly differ between grazed and ungrazed plots, likely due to time-lag effects and persistence of food plants in abandoned areas. |
Nr of plant species % cover of canopy and shrub layer Soil analysis |
Empirical | Extensive sheep grazing enhances biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services while abandonment reduces species richness and key ES like nutrient cycling and aesthetics, but may benefit carbon storage. The effect of grazing varies with local soil and climate conditions. Results advocate for context-specific, multifunctional land management. Composite ES indicators are useful tools for integrating biodiversity and ES in policy-making. |
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| 58 | Heuss, L; Grevé, ME; Schäfer, D; Busch, V; Feldhaar, H | Direct and indirect effects of land-use intensification on ant communities in temperate grasslands | 2019 | 10.1002/ece3.5030 | Y | WoS | English | Germany | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Other | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity; Livestock type | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Species abundance; |
Positive | Negative | Invertebrates | Grazing by sheep significantly increased ant species richness. Low-intensity grazing generally supports higher habitat heterogeneity, which benefits ants. High-intensity grazing, especially by cattle, had negative effects on ant species richness. Grazing compacts soil and may destroy nests or alter vegetation structure negatively for certain ant species. |
Nr of ant species Nr of plant species Average vegetation height % Cover of herbs, shrubs, bryophytes, and litter. |
Empirical | Ant species richness and functional diversity decline with increasing land-use intensity. Sheep grazing at low intensity had a positive effect on ant species richness. Mowing had the strongest negative impact, followed by intensive cattle grazing. Management that promotes heterogeneity, like extensive sheep grazing, helps support more specialized and diverse ant communities. Study supports reduced mowing and lower grazing intensity for biodiversity conservation in temperate grasslands. |
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| 59 | Garrouj, M; Alard, D; Corcket, E; Marchand, L; Benot, ML | The effects of management on vegetation trajectories during the early-stage restoration of previously arable land after hay transfer | 2019 | 10.1002/ece3.5798 | Y | WoS | English | France | Sheep | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock presence; Livestock timing | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Species evenness; Community Structure Integrity Index (CSII) |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Plants | Initial Grazing showed the highest increase in reference species proportion and CSII. Indicator species appeared earlier. Grazing likely controlled dominant grasses and created micro-niches via trampling and moderate defoliation, without harming seedlings. Delayed grazing and mowing were slower to show vegetation shifts. |
Nr plant species | Empirical | Hay transfer + initial sheep grazing led to faster, more successful community shifts toward target grassland. Mowing or delayed grazing slowed the establishment of reference species and CSII remained low overall, showing early-stage progress but still far from full reference status. Soil harrowing and grazing timing are crucial for opening a regeneration niche. |
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| 60 | Pakeman R.J.; Fielding D.A.; Everts L.; Littlewood N.A. | Long-term impacts of changed grazing regimes on the vegetation of heterogeneous upland grasslands | 2019 | 10.1111/1365-2664.13420 | Y | SCOPUS | English | Scotland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity; Livestock type | Species richness; Shannon index; Mean vegetation height; Floristic composition - species cover |
Positive and Neutral | Positive and Negative | Plants | High grazing increased species richness and Shannon diversity in most communities, compared to mixed treatment. But mixed grazing (with cattle) reduced dominance of Pteridium aquilinum (bracken) and Vaccinium myrtillus. Complete grazing removal led to increases in litter, declines in certain graminoid species (e.g., Nardus stricta) and growth of competitive, taller or woody species in some communities (e.g., Calluna vulgaris, V. myrtillus). Bracken and wet heath showed strong structural and compositional shifts after grazing changes. Vegetation responses varied across six plant community types and full plant community shifts took 12–15 years to become significant. Some habitats (like Molinia mire and Agrostis-Festuca grassland) showed little change under grazing removal. |
cover and height of individual plant species and litter. Nr of hits per pin point. |
Empirical | Species and community responses to grazing are slow and community-specific. High grazing increased plant diversity, likely by suppressing dominant competitors. Grazing removal led to taller, less diverse vegetation, but benefited some woody and shrub species. Cattle had modest but positive effects on diversity and structure through less selective grazing and trampling. Vegetation mosaics complicate generalizations, thefore management should be habitat-specific. |
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| 61 | Bacher MG, Fenton O, Bondi G, Creamer RE, Karmarkar M, Schmidt O. | The impact of cattle dung pats on earthworm distribution in grazed pastures | 2018 | 10.1186/s12898-018-0216-6 | Y | PubMed | English | Ireland | Cattle | 1 | Intensive | Livestock presence | Species abundance; Species richness; Species distribution |
Positive and Neutral | NA | Invertebrates | Dung pats created hot spots of earthworm aggregation, increasing abundance up to 4× higher than control plots. Some species were mostly restricted to dung pat areas. Not all species were attracted to dung. |
Nr of earthworm species Distribution of earthworm species Recruitment area (distance to dung) Soil physical properties |
Empirical | Dung pats significantly increase local earthworm abundance and alter species distribution in grazed pastures. Effects are temporary but spatially important, influencing up to 11% of pasture surface area during a 6-week grazing period. No long-term legacy effect observed after dung decomposition. Ignoring dung pats in biodiversity surveys can lead to underestimation of species richness, especially for specialist or dung-attracted taxa. |
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| 62 | Listopad CMCS, Köbel M, Príncipe A, Gonçalves P, Branquinho C. | The effect of grazing exclusion over time on structure, biodiversity, and regeneration of high nature value farmland ecosystems in Europe | 2018 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.018 | Y | PubMed | English | Portugal | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Plant height; Shrub cover; Shrub richness; Herbaceous plants cover; Tree canopy cover; LIDAR height diversity index (LHDI) |
Negative and Neutral | NA | Plants | Shrub richness increased linearly with years of grazing exclusion. Grazing suppressed regeneration, especially in shrubs. Tree regeneration was present in all plots but significantly taller in plots with 9+ years of grazing exclusion. Tree canopy cover did not significantly change during the 15-year period. Grazed plots had lower shrub diversity, height, and cover. C. ladanifer dominance was more prevalent in grazed plots. | Nr shrub and herbs species Shrub cover and height Tree cover and height LiDAR-derived Height Diversity Index (LHDI) |
Empirical | Grazing exclusion increases shrub biodiversity, structural diversity, and regeneration. Shrub layer shows the most significant response within the first 5 years of exclusion. Tree saplings grow taller after 9+ years of exclusion, indicating a longer timeframe is needed for tree recruitment. The LHDI closely mimics the compositional biodiversity of the shrubs, with an increase in diversitywith increased yearswithout grazing. Under present climate conditions, both shrub regeneration and the establishment of tree saplings were strongly promoted by grazing exclusion, which has importantmanagement implications for the long-term sustainability of montado systems. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | Török, P; Penksza, K; Tóth, E; Kelemen, A; Sonkoly, J; Tóthmérész, B | Vegetation type and grazing intensity jointly shape grazing effects on grassland biodiversity | 2018 | 10.1002/ece3.4508 | Y | WoS | English | Hungary | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Moderate and Intensive | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness; Functional richness; Functional evenness; Functional divergence; Specific leaf area; Leaf dry matter content; Leaf area; Leaf dry weight |
NA | All | Plants | Functional richness and evenness peaked at medium grazing intensity. Evenness increased in overgrazed alkali grasslands due to suppression of dominant graminoids. Grazing reduced interspecific competition and opened niches in certain communities. Species-rich dry loess steppes were most sensitive: even medium grazing caused significant declines in species richness, shannon diversity and functional richness. Overgrazing reduced diversity in most grassland types. Selectivity of cattle decreased with intensity. Some functional traits (like LDW) were not consistently affected by grazing or grassland type. |
Nr of plant species Total plant cover Plant biomass |
Empirical | Grassland type and grazing intensity interact to determine biodiversity outcomes. All species and functional diversity metrics were significantly affected by the grassland type, except leaf dry matter content. Dry loess steppes are highly vulnerable to increased grazing. Intermediate grazing intensity can support functional diversity in more resilient grasslands. Overgrazing leads to biodiversity loss, especially of forbs and sensitive species. Management must be tailored—“one-size-fits-all” grazing policies are not effective for biodiversity conservation. |
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| 64 | Margalida, A; Oliva-Vidal, P; Llamas, A; Colomer, MA | Bioinspired models for assessing the importance of transhumance and transboundary management in the conservation of European avian scavengers | 2018 | 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.11.004 | Y | WoS | English | Spain | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock timing | Population trends | NA | NA | Birds | Griffon vultures showed population growth and stabilization in medium and high food scenarios. Egyptian and bearded vultures maintained stable or increasing populations under all scenarios due to dietary flexibility. Food shortages in winter/breeding season, especially for Griffon vultures, may limit local population growth. |
Population Dynamic P Systems (vulture population numbers, food biomass per species, annual energetic requirements, foraging radius, reproduction and mortlity rates, livestock mortality rates, temporal parameters - breeding season, transhumance season) | Empirical;Modelling | Transhumance is crucial for increasing summer food availability. Winter (breeding season) represents a critical food shortage period, particularly affecting the Griffon vulture. Results suggest that regardless of active management (e.g. supplementary feeding sites) and the birds’ use of other potential food resources not included in the model, Griffon vultures are able to find important alternative food resources in more remote areas. Bioinspired PDP models are valuable tools to simulate ecosystem dynamics and forecast impacts of management decisions, though continuous refinement with empirical data is essential. |
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| 65 | Dross C.; Princé K.; Jiguet F.; Tichit M. | Contrasting bird communities along production gradients of crops and livestock in French farmlands | 2018 | 10.1016/j.agee.2017.10.025 | Y | SCOPUS | English | France | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | Unspecified | Livestock intensity | Community trophic index; Community specialization index; Species group richness |
NA | Negative | Birds | Increasing livestock production leads to a decline in the Community Specialization Index (CSI), indicating a shift toward more generalist bird communities. But generalist species richness tends to saturate or decline at high levels of livestock production. There is also a decreased in richness of arable specialist species. |
Bird communities: Generalist species richness; Grassland specialist species richness; Arable specialist species richness; Community Specialization Index (CSI); Community Trophic Index (CTI) |
Empirical | Crop production leads to species-poor, specialized bird communities dominated by arable specialists. More intensive livestock production is associated with generalist-dominated communities. Biotic homogenization is a risk in intensively managed livestock regions, but grassland specialist birds were not strongly negatively affected. Highlights the need for differentiated conservation strategies: Possibly land sharing in crop regions; Land sparing or biodiversity-friendly management in livestock areas. |
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| 66 | Noble A.; Palmer S.M.; Glaves D.J.; Crowle A.; Brown L.E.; Holden J. | Prescribed burning, atmospheric pollution and grazing effects on peatland vegetation composition | 2018 | 10.1111/1365-2664.12994 | Y | SCOPUS | English | UK | Unspecified | Other | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Cover of key species |
Negative | NA | Plants | Grazing presence (livestock droppings) linked with lower Sphagnum cover, and Calluna vulgaris cover (possibly due to selective feeding or trampling). Grazing created potential compaction and nutrient enrichment, which can alter hydrology and promote invasive or competitive species. Grazing effects were modest compared to burning and pollution, but still contributed to vegetation changes. |
Species cover Livestock droping |
Empirical (large-scale observation) | Grazing is associated with lower cover of Sphagnum spp. and Calluna vulgaris. Prescribed burning promotes C. vulgaris and C. introflexus (an invasive), and reduces peat-formers. Nitrogen deposition interacts with burning, further reducing Sphagnum. The study recommends limiting grazing and burning on peatlands where conservation and peat formation are goals. |
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| 67 | Ryschawy J, Disenhaus C, Bertrand S, Allaire G, Aznar O, Plantureux S, Josien E, Guinot C, Lasseur J, Perrot C, Tchakerian E, Aubert C, Tichit M. | Assessing multiple goods and services derived from livestock farming on a nation-wide gradient | 2017 | 10.1017/S1751731117000829 | Y | PubMed | English | France | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Unspecified | Farming system | Proportion of grassland birds; High Nature Value cover |
NA | NA | Birds; Ecosystem |
Grass-based ruminant systems were associated with higher biodiversity and HNV landscapes. Multifunctional bundles (Type 2) showed synergetic provisioning of biodiversity, landscape, and cultural values alongside moderate food output. High-density monogastric and dairy systems were associated with low biodiversity. |
Quantitative empirical study | Livestock systems provide diverse ecosystem services, but often with trade-offs. High-output systems contribute to food and employment, but may undermine biodiversity and water quality. Grassland-based systems are associated with higher multifunctionality, including biodiversity, heritage, and scenic value. Bundles of goods and services are not randomly distributed (regional context matters). |
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| 68 | Tonelli M, Verdú JR, Zunino ME. | Effects of grazing intensity and the use of veterinary medical products on dung beetle biodiversity in the sub-mountainous landscape of Central Italy | 2017 | 10.7717/peerj.2780 | Y | PubMed | English | Italy | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Unassisted | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
NA | Positive | Invertebrates | Moderate grazing with higher species richness and diversity, and presence of specialist and larger-bodied dung beetle species. Low grazing with reduced alpha diversity and species turnover, showing community homogenization dominated by opportunistic species. Also with fewer indicator species. VMP use leads to strong reduction in species richness, with significant loss of rare species and community structure. No indicator species found in VMP-treated sites. |
Nr of dung beetle species | Empirical | Moderate grazing + no VMPs supports highest dung beetle diversity and functional richness. Low grazing and VMPs both reduce diversity, abundance, and ecological function. Even slight extensification or VMP use leads to community homogenization and loss of specialist species. In order to prevent negative consequences for dung beetle diversity, it is proposed the maintenance of a moderate grazing intensity and the rational use of VMPs. |
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| 69 | Morgan-Davies, C; Wilson, R; Waterhouse, T | Impacts of farmers' management styles on income and labour under alternative extensive land use scenarios | 2017 | 10.1016/j.agsy.2017.04.011 | Y | WoS | English | Scotland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Farming system | Land-use diversitysification; Areas used for forestry vs. grazing |
NA | NA | Ecosystem | The high market prices scenario resulted in the most varied land use (sheep + cattle + forestry), which is considered positive for biodiversity under the HNVF framework. All others scenarios meant an increase in afforestation (which displaced livestock), an increase in livestock grazing or abandonment of the land, none of which would maintain biodiversity in these areas. |
Biophysical data (land type, type and nr of animals, animal nutrition) Labour and economic data (type of subsidies) Farmer management typologies |
Modeling | Only the High market prices scenario supports a land-use mix favorable for HNV biodiversity. Most other scenarios lead to reduced biodiversity-supportive land uses, such as monoculture forestry or abandonment. Very few scenarios were able to increase on-farm labour demand and although greater flexibility in farm labour was found to be essential, labour scarcity in these marginal mountain areas remained a problem. The study uses a quantitative optimization model, and highlights the need for policies that account for farmer behavior and diversity. | Local | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70 | Duffková, R; Hakrová, P; Brom, J; Fucík, P; Novotná, K | EFFECTS OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN HIGHLAND PASTURES ON AGRONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES | 2017 | 10.15666/aeer/1504_16771695 | Y | WoS | English | Czech Republic | Cattle | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence; Livestock timing | Species richness; Proportion of grasses, forbs and legumes; Herbage dry matter; Nutrient content; Forage value |
Negative | NA | Plants | Grazed plots consistently produced more biomass (dry matter yield), supporting forage availability and quality. Grazing maintained higher removal rates of N, P, K, and Mg, which is agronomically beneficial for nutrient cycling and productivity. Grazing (especially continuous) maintained dominance of graminoids and suppressed forbs and legumes, leading to lower biodiversity compared to mowing, maintaining a less balanced representation of functional plant groups. |
Nr of plant species, Soil and herbage samples. |
Empirical | Mowing instead of grazing increased plant diversity in nutrient-balanced sites by favoring forbs and legumes. Species richness gains were site-specific, depending on soil P availability. Herbage yield and nutrient removal decreased with mowing, but remained within acceptable ranges for cattle nutrition. Grazing produced higher yields, especially in nutrient-rich areas, but suppressed biodiversity due to graminoid dominance. |
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| 71 | Saastamoinen, M; Herzon, I; Särkijärvi, S; Schreurs, C; Myllymäki, M | Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs | 2017 | 10.3390/land6040069 | y | WoS | English | Finland | Horses | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock intensity | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Variation in vegetation height; Litter cover; Bare cover; Forage quality |
NA | Positive and Neutral | Plants | Semi-natural pasture had highest plant richness, with a rich dietary range for horses (good forage quality) and the most positive indicator species (e.g., Alchemilla, Nardus stricta). Selective grazing created structural heterogeneity in one pasture, reflected by variation in vegetation heights. Cultivated pasture had lowest biodiversity, with the highest proportion of species not indicative of semi-natural grasslands. Permanent pasture had higher proportion cover of species preferred by horses, but fewer nature-value species. Overgrazing concerns: some areas rejected by horses accumulated undesirable species. |
Nr of plant species; Vegetation height; Dung, litter and bare ground cover |
Empirical | Horse grazing can support both welfare and biodiversity, particularly in semi-natural systems. Semi-natural pastures had highest biodiversity, but lower forage quantity. Permanent and cultivated pastures had higher preferred forage, but lower ecological value. Nutrient intake generally met or exceeded requirements, with some trace minerals (Cu, Zn) needing supplementation. Long-term horse-only grazing may not prevent woody encroachment in boreal zones. Mixed grazing systems or alternative regimes are suggested for better long-term outcomes. |
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| 72 | Lagendijk, DDG; Howison, RA; Esselink, P; Ubels, R; Smit, C | Rotation grazing as a conservation management tool: Vegetation changes after six years of application in a salt marsh ecosystem | 2017 | 10.1016/j.agee.2017.05.023 | Y | WoS | English | The Netherlands | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity; Livestock type | Species richness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Cover of indicator plant species |
Positive | Positive and neutral | Plants | All grazing regimes increased plant species richness; Grazing helps prevent the spread of invasive species (E. atherica); A. tripolium cover increased in some regimes (especially 0.5 cattle/horse), indicating potential benefit for pollinators; Species turnover was similar across all regimes, regardless of grazing type or density; Ungrazed control showed decreasing richness and increasing E. atherica. |
Nr of species (per plot); % species cover |
Empirical | Species richness increased in all grazing regimes, but less in rotation than in tradicional. Species turnover was similar across all grazing regimes. The cover of the invasive E. atherica remained stable under all grazing treatments, highlighting the need for disturbance (grazing) to prevent its spread. The cover of A. tripolium, a plant important for pollinators, showed higher increases under traditional grazing. Ungrazed areas showed lower species richness and increased dominance of E. atherica. The effects of rotation grazing on vegetation are relatively similar to the grazing regimes with cattle or horses in low densities. The implementation of this rotation regime over the more traditional regimes remains to be decided by the conservation body. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Maseyk, FJF; Demeter, L; Csergo, AM; Buckley, YM | Effect of management on natural capital stocks underlying ecosystem service provision: a 'provider group' approach | 2017 | 10.1007/s10531-017-1406-9 | Y | WoS | English | Romania | Sheep | 1 | Intensive and Other | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; Simpson index / inverse Simpson; Species evenness; Vegetation cover |
Negative | NA | Plants | Grazing favoured quality fodder species (e.g., Trifolium repens, Lolium perenne), increasing their relative abundance and cover. Grazing reduced species richness and abundance of pollen-producing and conservation concern species, and resulted in lowest diversity of conservation species among the three regimes. Abadonment led to high abundance of conservation species, but also promoted competitive species, and was associated with lower overall abundance. |
Nr of species; Plant cover |
Empirical | All three management practices favoured at least one provider group, but hay making in upland grasslands favoured more provider groups than abandonment of mowing or grazing. Grazing supports fodder production but reduces richness and abundance of conservation species and pollinator-supporting plants. Mowing supports a broader range of ecosystem services, including biodiversity and pollination. Abandonment may allow temporary gains for rare species, but risks long-term diversity loss. The provider group framework offers a more nuanced and useful biodiversity metric for ecosystem service-based land management. |
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| 74 | Fiedler, K; Wrbka, T; Dullinger, S | Pluralism in grassland management promotes butterfly diversity in a large Central European conservation area | 2017 | 10.1007/s10841-017-9974-2 | Y | WoS | English | Austria | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Other | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
Positive and Negative | NA | Invertebrates; Plants |
Butterfly species richness increased when multiple management types coexisted, enhancing beta-diversity. Pasture plots supported distinct butterfly assemblages, including species associated with grazing-tolerant or grazing-promoted host plants. If only one regime (e.g., grazing or mowing) were used, specialist species preferring the other regime might decline. Some plant and butterfly species are uniquely associated with meadows or fallows, which grazing alone would not support. |
Nr of butterfly and moths species per site Nr of plant species Nectar flower abundance Soil nitrogen |
Empirical | Butterfly communities differ significantly between pasture, meadow, and fallow sites, despite their spatial proximity. No single management regime maximized butterfly diversity—instead, management pluralism (coexistence of different regimes) did. The structure and composition of plant communities influence butterfly species indirectly via host plant availability. Diversified grassland use is recommended for maximizing conservation value, especially in large protected areas. |
Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | Lyons A.; Ashton P.A.; Powell I.; Oxbrough A. | Impacts of contrasting conservation grazing management on plants and carabid beetles in upland calcareous grasslands | 2017 | 10.1016/j.agee.2017.04.020 | Y | SCOPUS | English | UK | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence; Livestock type | Species richness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Mean vegetation height; Vegetation cover; Grass cover |
Positive | NA | Plants; Invertebrates |
Plants: Species richness and composition were directly and positively influenced by grazing (both regimes). There was greater structural heterogeneity with reduced dominance of grasses Carabid beetles: Species composition differed between grazing regimes, but overall species richness remained stable. Certain rare or declining beetles were linked to and supported by specific grazing types (e.g., C. arvensis to cattle grazing). |
Nr of species (plants and beetles) Vegetation height % grass cover total plant cover |
Empirical | Plant and beetle species composition differed significantly between regimes, as did plant species richness where ungrazed sites had significantly fewer species than sheep or cattle grazed sites. In contrast, beetle species richness did not differ by grazing type. Low-intensity grazing (by sheep or cattle) has positive impacts on plant species richness and supports distinct beetle communities in upland calcareous grasslands. Study shows that plants and beetles respond differently to grazing, highlighting the need for multi-taxa assessments in conservation planning. It recommends using a mosaic of grazing types and ungrazed areas at the landscape scale to maximize biodiversity outcomes. |
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| 76 | Pétillon J.; François A.; Lafage D. | Short-term effects of horse grazing on spider assemblages of a dry meadow (Western France) | 2017 | 10.32800/abc.2018.41.0019 | Y | SCOPUS | English | France | Horses | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Species abundance; Activity-density; Hunting guild structure |
All | NA | Invertebrates | Spider abundance decreased over time. Horse grazing had minor short-term effects on spider biodiversity, primarily decreasing abundance. Diachronic (before/after) comparisons were more informative than synchronic (grazed/ungrazed). There was a preference of thermophilous species for grazed sites. | Nr of spider species Nr of individuals Functional groups |
Empirical | Few effects of grazing, i.e. only one significantly indicative species, were found on assemblage composition. The main effects of grazing management were revealed over time (after one year), and not between managed and control units. Grazing by horses could be relevant to manage meadows because it creates a high spatial heterogeneity, but long–term studies are required. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 77 | Lazaro A, Tscheulin T, Devalez J, Nakas G, Stefanaki A, Hanlidou E, Petanidou T. | Moderation is best: effects of grazing intensity on plant--flower visitor networks in Mediterranean communities | 2016 | 10.1890/15-0202 | Y | PubMed | English | Greece | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Moderate and Intensive | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Flower cover; Metrics of structure of pollination networks - visitor selectiveness; Metrics of structure of pollination networks - Insect visitation number |
NA | Negative | Plants; Invertebrates |
Networks at intermediate grazing intensities were larger, more generalized, more modular, and contained more diverse and even interactions. | Nr of insect species Nr of functional reproductive units Flower abundance (nr of flowers/m2) Floral richness |
Empirical | Moderate sheep and goat grazing can help preserve the complexity and biodiversity of plant and pollinators. Results show that moderate grazing by sheep and/or goats increases the size, generalization, diversity, and complexity of the plant–flower visitor networks, which could in turn confer stability to Mediterranean communities. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 78 | Austrheim, G; Speed, JDM; Evju, M; Hester, A; Holand, O; Loe, LE; Martinsen, V; Mobæk, R; Mulder, J; Steen, H; Thompson, DBA; Mysterud, A | Synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem services in an alpine ecosystem grazed by sheep - An experimental approach | 2016 | 10.1016/j.baae.2016.06.003 | Y | WoS | English | Norway | Sheep | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Species richness; Species abundance; Plant cover (as ES); Plant productivity (as ES) |
Positive | Negative | Plants; Invertebrates; Birds; Mammals; Ecosystem |
Maintained grazing (low intensity) maximized biodiversity and ES provision across most indicators, supported habitat openness, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and animal population stability. Also beneficial for both production (lamb meat) and regulating services. Increased grazing reduced carbon storage, water quality, and some soil properties. It also decreased spider richness. Grazing cessation promoted tree and shrub encroachment, reducing habitat openness, and lowered bird abundance, vole population growth, and nutrient cycling. Trade-offs: higher grazing (livestock meat) reduced tree growth (less fuelwood); reindeer food (lichens) declined under higher sheep density; Biodiversity vs. provisioning: some invertebrate groups responded negatively to changes in grazing intensity. |
Nr of species Plant cover |
Empirical | Maintained low grazing levels support the highest overall biodiversity and ES. Both increased and decreased grazing led to trade-offs and declines in specific services or biodiversity components. Grazing helps maintain habitat openness and alpine landscape identity, but must be carefully regulated. Positive outcomes align with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis: moderate disturbance maintains ecosystem complexity. |
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| 79 | Fleurance, G; Farruggia, A; Lanore, L; Dumont, B | How does stocking rate influence horse behaviour, performances and pasture biodiversity in mesophile grasslands? | 2016 | 10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.044 | Y | WoS | English | France | Horses | 1 | Intensive and Moderate | Livestock intensity | Species richness; Species evenness; Proportion of grasses, forbs and legumes Community CSR strategies Species abundance; |
NA | Negative and Neutral | Plants; Invertebrates |
Moderate grazing with greater abundance of insect groups dependent on tall vegetation. More selective grazing behavior and better patch use by horses. Intensive grazing with more ruderal and competitive species. Higher abundance of Curculionidae associated with competitive plant species. No significant change in plant species richness or evenness between treatments over four years. No effect on total arthropod abundance or spider diversity. |
Nr of species (plants and invertebrates) Functional groups (plants) Sward heterogeneity (height and patch distribution) |
Empirical | Moderate stocking rate benefits horse performance and increases certain insect groups tied to tall vegetation. Floristic and arthropod diversity were not significantly affected by stocking rate. Sward structural heterogeneity did not significantly differ between highly and moderately grazed plots. The two stocking rates did however result in a divergent evolution of legumes for which abundance increased at the high stocking rate. Abundance of Carabidae and grasshoppers from tall grasslands was higher at the moderate stocking rate. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | van Klink, R; Ruifrok, JL; Smit, C | Rewilding with large herbivores: Direct effects and edge effects of grazing refuges on plant and invertebrate communities | 2016 | 10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.050 | Y | WoS | English | The Netherlands | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock presence | Species richness; Species abundance; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Multidiversity index - 10 taxa richness |
All | NA | Plants; Invertebrates |
Plant species richness decreased significantly in the center of ungrazed exclosures, but remained high outside the exclosures and at their edges. Earthworm, isopod, myriapod and ground beetle diversity increased in the exclosures, but showed small or no differences in species composition, while weevils showed a decrease. Spiders and true bugs showed compositional changes without changes in overall richness. Some groups like dung beetles and click beetles showed no response to grazing treatments. Refuge edges supported the most diverse communities. | Empirical | Excluding grazing reduces plant diversity but increases richness of soil fauna and some beetles. Multidiversity is highest at the edges of grazing refuges, suggesting that a edge-focused refuge design can maximize biodiversity. Because exclosure edges support the highest multidiversity, maximising the edge length will have the most beneficial effects, by combining high richness from grazed and ungrazed conditions, and supporting landscape heterogeneity. Artificial refuges (exclosures) can mimic natural grazing heterogeneity and should be used when natural refuges are absent. |
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| 81 | Milligan G.; Rose R.J.; Marrs R.H. | Winners and losers in a long-term study of vegetation change at Moor House NNR: Effects of sheep-grazing and its removal on British upland vegetation | 2016 | 10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.10.053 | Y | SCOPUS | English | UK | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Shannon index; Species richness; Relative abundance of spceies groups |
Positive and Negative | NA | Plants | Grazed plots with decline in abundance and presence of mosses, liverworts, and lichens, and loss of sensitive species. Herbs, sedges, and shrubs increased in abundance in grazed plots. Vegetation remained largely stable over the 28–44 year monitoring period, especially without disturbance. |
Nr of species plant cover National vegetation classification (NVC) |
Empirical | Sheep grazing reduced species diversity and decreased the abundance of vascular plants, grasses, lichens,liverworts and mosses. Some groups like herbs and shrubs increased under both grazing and exclusion. Ungrazed plots showed moderate recovery, but restoration is slow and incomplete. No evidence of tree colonization, even after 44 years without grazing. |
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| 82 | Leip, A; Billen, G; Garnier, J; Grizzetti, B; Lassaletta, L; Reis, S; Simpson, D; Sutton, MA; de Vries, W; Weiss, F; Westhoek, H | Impacts of European livestock production: nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and greenhouse gas emissions, land-use, water eutrophication and biodiversity | 2015 | 10.1088/1748-9326/10/11/115004 | Y | WoS | English | EU | Multiple | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Livestock intensity | Mean Species Abundance (MSA) | NA | Negative | Ecosystem | Livestock production is responsible for 76–80% of agricultural impact on biodiversity (MSA loss). The greatest biodiversity loss came from land use for grazing and feed, habitat fragmentation, and ammonia and NOₓ emissions causing eutrophication and acidification.. | Modeling (LCA) | The results show that the livestock sector contributes significantly to agricultural environmental impacts. This contribution is 78% for terrestrial biodiversity loss, 80% for soil acidification and air pollution (ammonia and nitrogen oxides emissions), 81% for global warming, and 73% for water pollution (both N and P). Significant progress in mitigating these environmental impacts in Europe will only be possible through a combination of technological measures reducing livestock emissions, improved food choices and reduced food waste of European citizens. |
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| 83 | Chroňáková A.; Schloter-Hai B.; Radl V.; Endesfelder D.; Quince C.; Elhottová D.; Šimek M.; Schloter M. | Response of archaeal and bacterial soil communities to changes associated with outdoor cattle overwintering | 2015 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0135627 | Y | SCOPUS | English | Czech Republic | Cattle | 1 | Intensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
Negative | NA | Other | Reduced alpha and beta diversity with increased cattle impact. Homogenization of microbial communities over time. Loss of oligotrophic and acidophilic taxa. Introduction and dominance of copiotrophic, fecal-origin microbes. Bacterial communities were more resilient than archaeal ones. No direct positive biodiversity effects were reported. |
Soil and cattle manure samples | Empirical | Outdoor cattle overwintering reduces soil microbial diversity, especially among archaea. Both short and long term cattle impact negatively altered archaeal and bacterial diversity, leading to increase of homogenization of microbial communities in overwintering soils over time. Long-term impact leads to community homogenization and dominance of fecal and copiotrophic microbes. Soil chemistry changes (higher pH, N, organic matter) drive microbial shifts. Recovery is possible (REG sites), but full restoration is not guaranteed. |
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| 84 | Payró, C; Taherzadeh, O; van Oorschot, M; Koch, J; Marselis, S | Consumer resistance diminishes environmental gains of dietary change | 2024 | 10.1088/1748-9326/ad3c57 | Y | WoS | English | The Netherlands | Unspecified | Unspecified | Diets | Biodiversity footprint | NA | NA | Ecosystem | On the current diet, animal products contribute significantly to the biodiversity footprint and loss, specially meat. EAT Lancet diet and No-milk diet presented a reduction biodiversity footprint. The results indicate that the environmental gains from adopting the EAT diet are 2-3 times larger compared with the No-Milk diet. |
% % |
Modeling | We find that meat and dairy significantly contribute to the biodiversity footprint (59%) of all consumer groups. If the EAT diet is fully adopted by the entire Dutch population biodiversity footprint could be reduced by 21,1%, but it can increase the blue water footprint by 7,6%. This highlights that implementing a uniform policy does not necessarily result in the most significant reduction of environmental impacts. |
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| 85 | Angerer V, Sabia E, König von Borstel U, Gauly M. | Environmental and biodiversity effects of different beef production systems | 2021 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112523 | Y | PubMed | English | Italy | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Farming system | NA | NA | Ecosystem | Comparison between Conventional calf-fattening farms (CCF) vs Organic suckler cow farms (SCF) vs Conventional heifer/ox fattening farms (HOF). All three systems had negative biodiversity damage potential values, meaning they had positive effets on biodiversity. SCF showed the greatest benefit, followed by HOF and CCF. |
PDF/kg LW | Modeling (LCA) | The study showed that beef cattle husbandry in the Alpine area has a satisfactory environmental performance. In particular, the systems studied showed a positive impact in terms of biodiversity. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 86 | Zira, S; Rydhmer, L; Ivarsson, E; Hoffmann, R; Röös, E | A life cycle sustainability assessment of organic and conventional pork supply chains in Sweden | 2021 | 10.1016/j.spc.2021.03.028 | Y | WoS | English | Sweden | Pigs | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Farming system | NA | NA | Ecosystem | The organic farm system showed lower values of biodiversity damage potential than the conventional farm system both by 1000kg of pork and by 1000 ha of farm. | PDF/1000 kg of pork PDF/1000 ha of farm |
Modeling (LCA) | The organic pork supply chain out-performed the conventional chain in 11 of the 20 indicators expressed per unit product and 18 of the 20 indicators expressed per unit area. The organic pork supply chain performs better than the conventional one in terms of biodiversity. | National/Supranational | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 87 | Moinardeau, C; Mesléard, F; Ramone, H; Dutoit, T | Using mechanical clearing and goat grazing for restoring understorey plant diversity of embankments in the Rhone valley (Southern France) | 2020 | 10.1080/11263504.2019.1686080 | Y | WoS | English | France | Goats | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, multivariate methods); Species richness; Mean vegetation height |
Positive | NA | Plants | The monitoring of the vegetation on permanent plots provided evidence that goat grazing significantly increased in the short term the species-richness and heterogeneity of herbaceous plants communities, in complement with prior clearing. Highly significant effects of the management treatments on the mean height of the vegetation, the species-richness and the Bray-Curtis index. The species richness was significantly higher in CG than the control, and higher than in all the other treatments in 2016. In 2015 as in 2016, the species-richness of CF, or G were not significantly different from the no-management Control. In 2014, the Bray-Curtis was significantly higher in the managed quadrats compared to the control. In 2015, in CG and CF it was significantly higher than in the two others (G, C). In 2016, only CG was significantly higher than the others. In 2014 and 2015, no significant difference in the mean height of the herbaceous vegetation was recorded between the different treatments. In 2016, the CG height was significantly lower than in CF and G. |
Nr of species Dimensionless |
Empirical | The monitoring of the vegetation on permanent plots provided evidence that goat grazing significantly increased in the short term the species-richness and heterogeneity of herbaceous plants communities, in complement with prior clearing. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 88 | Curran, M; Lazzarini, G; Baumgart, L; Gabel, V; Blockeel, J; Epple, R; Stolze, M; Schader, C | Representative Farm-Based Sustainability Assessment of the Organic Sector in Switzerland Using the SMART-Farm Tool | 2020 | 10.3389/fsufs.2020.554362 | Y | WoS | English | Switzerland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unspecified | Livestock type | Scoring system (SMART Tool) | NA | NA | Ecosystem | Biodiversity performance overall was considered "Good" (between 61 an 80%). Biodiversity performance on cattle farms and other livestock type farms overlapped. |
% performance | Empirical | The results indicate that the Swiss organic sector makes a substantially positive contribution to sustainability, with average scores for theme goal achievement of 62% (Good Governance), 77% (Environmental Integrity), 70% (Economic Resilience), and 87% (Social Well-being). | National/Supranational | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 89 | Newey S, Mustin K, Bryce R, Fielding D, Redpath S, Bunnefeld N, Daniel B, Irvine RJ. | Impact of Management on Avian Communities in the Scottish Highlands | 2016 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0155473 | Y | PubMed | English | Scotland | Sheep | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence | Species richness; Shannon index; Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Euclidean, Raup-Curtis, multivariate methods) |
Neutral | NA | Birds | There was no significant effect of any management objective or practice, or percentage of burnt ground on avian species richness. Differences in Shannon-Wiener index of species diversity, between management objective and practices were small. Composition of bird species varied between management objective and practices. | Nr of species Dimensionless |
Empirical | The results indicate that, in relation to dominant management type, the composition of bird species varies but measures of diversity and species richness do not. Enhanced biodiversity at the landscape level is likely to be achieved by maintaining heterogeneity in land management among land management units. | Landscape/Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 90 | Sabatier R.; Teillard F.; Rossing W.A.H.; Doyen L.; Tichit M. | Trade-offs between pasture production and farmland bird conservation: Exploration of options using a dynamic farm model | 2015 | 10.1017/S175173111400281X | Y | SCOPUS | English | France | Cattle | 1 | Extensive and intensive | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Population growth rate | Positive | Negative | Birds | As expected, Ecology-oriented grazing (EOG) provided the best habitat, with very low levels of trampling. Mowing and Production-oriented grazing (POG) on intensive farms led to the lowest reproductive success (Grazing best than Mowing). At the farm level, the proportion of EOG was a stronger driver of population growth rates than the farm type, especially for lapwings. In most cases, without EOG, bird populations had strong negative growth rates, and these rates were positive only when EOG was above a specific threshold. Extensive farms had better ecological performance than intensive farms. |
% | Modeling | The model simulation results indicated that wader bird population growth rates (ecological performance) and harvested grass (production performance) could not be maximised simultaneously. These results were outcomes of interactions between productionoriented and ecology-oriented land uses within the farming system. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | Lovász L.; Korner-Nievergelt F.; Amrhein V. | Natural grazing by horses and cattle promotes bird diversity in a restored European alluvial grassland | 2024 | 10.7717/peerj.17777 | Y | SCOPUS | English | France | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Species abundance; Species richness |
Positive | Positive and Neutral | Birds | The non-grazed control site had a lower species abundance and richness than the grazed area. Within the grazed area, the abundance of open-area foraging birds increased with increasing grazer density. The number of woodland-foraging birds was also positively correlated with grazer density but less so than open-area foraging birds. The number of individuals in the aerial and wetland bird guilds was not correlated with the density of grazers. | Nr of individuals; Nr of species |
Empirical | Low-intensity grazing represents a potentially important management tool in creating heterogeneity in alluvial grasslands, thereby promoting suitable habitat for a diverse assemblage of bird species. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 92 | Torres-Miralles M, Särkelä K, Koppelmäki K, Lamminen M, Tuomisto HL, Herzon I. | Contribution of High Nature Value farming systems to sustainable livestock production: A case from Finland | 2022 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156267 | Y | PubMed | English | Finland | Multiple | 1 | 1 | Unassisted | Farming system | Semi-natural grassland area | NA | NA | Ecosystem | Unique biodiversity values of the HNV farms averaged 48% (range 23% to 83%). (Only farms that manage semi-natural grasslands have the potential to have what the study calls “unique biodiversity”, the others had 0% unique biodiversity values.) |
% of Utilised Agricultural Area | Empirical | When producing animal-derived food, HNV systems, by including semi-natural grasslands in production, also maintain unique biodiversity. The study contributes to growing evidence that HNV farming systems can support sustainable production by minimising arable land occupation, reducing nutrient loses, and increasing carbon storage while maintaining unique biodiversity. | Landscape/Region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 93 | Schmitt, E; Keech, D; Maye, D; Barjolle, D; Kirwan, J | Comparing the Sustainability of Local and Global Food Chains: A Case Study of Cheese Products in Switzerland and the UK | 2016 | 10.3390/su8050419 | Y | WoS | English | Multiple (Switzerland, UK) | Cattle | 1 | Unspecified | Livestock product | Scoring system on land management practices; Scoring system on diversity of production |
NA | NA | Ecosystem | Landscape mangement practices scored higher on global production on Switzerland and had the same score on global and local production on the UK. Diversity of Production scored scored higher on local production on Switzerland and scores had the same score on global and local production on the UK. |
Points | Empirical | The approach was useful for identifying trade-offs between sustainability goals in cheese chains and in revealing links between localness and sustainability. However, no scale of food chain can outperform all others in all dimensions and be considered the most sustainable scale. The sustainability performance of global and local chains is therefore relative and depends ultimately on actors’ strategies rather than on their degree of localness or globalness. | National/Supranational | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 94 | Moinardeau, C; Mesléard, F; Ramone, H; Dutoit, T | Extensive horse grazing improves grassland vegetation diversity, seed bank and forage quality of artificial embankments (Rhone River - southern France) Influence of extensive horse grazing on artificial embankments | 2020 | 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125865 | Y | WoS | English | France | Horses | 1 | Extensive | Livestock presence; Livestock intensity | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Species richness; Mean vegetation height |
Positive and Negative | Positive and Negative | Plants | The most heavily grazed grasslands - open (OG) and short (SG) - were not differentiated by species composition, both being dominated by the same annual species. These patches differed in composition from the tall grasslands (TG) still present in the grazed areas and from the control (C) without grazing. Five years of monitoring revealed that the species richness of OG and SG was significantly higher in 2018 than in 2014. Bray-Curtis index was significantly higher on OG than on the remaining patches and control. Average vegetation height followed the opposite trend, with lower heights in OG and SG than in the other patches and control. Increased grazing pressure in 2016 due to the arrival of three new mares resulted in a drop in mean height and a parallel increase in species-richness, including in the tallest grass patches. |
Nr of species/4m2; cm |
Empirical | Extensive horse grazing appears to be a relevant management tool to preserve the diversity and the forage quality of the most open and short grasslands. Nevertheless, grazing pressure remained too low to allow restoration of grasslands already colonised by woody species | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 95 | Cosentino C.; Freschi P.; Fascetti S.; Paolino R.; Musto M. | Growth control of herbaceous ground cover and egg quality from an integrated poultry-hazelnut orchard system | 2020 | 10.4081/ija.2020.1594 | Y | SCOPUS | English | Italy | Chicken | 1 | Unspecified | Livestock presence | Communities dissimilarity/similarity (Bray-Curtis, Jaccard, Sorensen, Morisita-Horn); Species richness; Shannon index; Species evenness |
Negative and Neutral | NA | Plants | There was a significant difference in composition between the two vegetation sampling periods in site A, but not in site B. Species richness and Shannon diversity decreased after hens introduction in site A.The difference was not significant on site B. Speceis evenness did not differ significantly in any of the sites. High values of Morisita-Horn and Sørensen similarity indices indicate a high overlap between the two vegetation sampling periods (being higher in site B). |
Nr of species | Empirical | Findings showed that the use of hens influenced the herbaceous stratum of the study sites. Alpha diversity analysis (species richness, diversity and evenness) as well as beta diversity analysis (Morisita-Horn and Sørensen indices) confirmed that hen grazing played a role in controlling vegetation growth. | Local | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 96 | Diakité, ZR; Mosnier, C; Brunschwig, G; Corson, MS; Baumont, R | Environmental assessment of mountain grassland farms with mixed cattle systems: use of bioeconomic simulations | 2023 | 10.1016/j.indic.2023.100259 | Y | WoS | English | France | Cattle | 1 | 1 | Extensive and Intensive | Farming system | Floristic richness (as ES) SR flowering plants - Contribution to the maintenance of pollinating insects (as ES) |
NA | NA | Plants; Invertebrates |
Maintenance of pollinating insects decreased as the percentage of dairy cattle decreased (from 100D to 0D) because dairy cattle rely more on mowing, which allows more grassland plants to bloom for pollinators, whereas suckler cattle rely more on grazing. In contrast, scores for floristic richness increased as the percentage of dairy cattle decreased, because the increased grazing favours floristic richness and diversity. Thus, replacing dairy cattle with suckler cattle created a trade-off, which improved floristic richness and diversity but decreased maintenance of pollinating insects. | Scoring system | Modelling | No single system configuration outperformed the others for all indicators. Thus, systems with the best trade-offs among levels of ES, GHG emissions and non-renewable energy use cannot be identified without also considering production objectives. The influence of the percentage of dairy cattle in the herd on ES depends on the percentage of grassland areas grazed or mowed. The relative advantage depends on the ES considered, but systems dominated by suckler cows tend to favour more sustainable grass use and better trade-offs for livestock production among the main ESs. | Local |