Does size matter?Vegetation quantity and quality responses to the exclusion of herbivore guilds from large ungulates to invertebrates

Although diverse herbivore communities utilise grasslands, many previous studies only exclude largest animals. Thus, little is known about how smaller herbivores, including invertebrates, affect grassland processes. We find that sequentially excluding different sized herbivores strongly impacts vegetation quantity/quality; depending on original grassland grazing pressures. This has implications for ecosystem nutrient cycling (e.g. C storage) and pattern reinforcing feedbacks.

This presentation was presented at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2012 on the 18th December.