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Palatability and Livestock Preferences of Restored Plants in Steppe Restoration Areas, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China

Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea / Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea, (P)2765-2203; (E)2765-2211
2021, v.2 no.3, pp.170-179
https://doi.org/10.22920/PNIE.2021.2.3.170
Jihee Kim (Department of Biological Sciences, Ajou University)
Seungse Choi (Division of Ecological Survey, National Institute of Ecology)
Injung An (Division of Ecological Information, National Institute of Ecology)
Seunghyuk Lee (Garden Business Support Division, Korea Institute of Arboretum Management)
Eun Ju Lee (School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University)
Young-Han You (Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University)
Baek-Jun Kim (Division of Ecosystem Assessment, National Institute of Ecology)
Donguk Han (PGA Eco & Bio Diversity Institute)
Sangkyu Park (Department of Biological Sciences, Ajou University)
Sungbae Joo (Division of Ecological Information, National Institute of Ecology)
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Abstract

Hulunbuir steppe, one of the four largest steppes in China, has experienced rapidly progressing desertification partly due to overgrazing by livestock. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of various vegetation recovery methods, including the selection of unpalatable plants less affected by grazing livestock. To determine livestock grazing preferences at Hulunbuir restoration sites, we used DNA barcoding methods to analyze fecal materials of horses and cattle grazing on four restored plants: two trees (Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica and Populus canadensis) and two shrubs (Caragana microphylla and Corethrodendron fruticosum). Neither of the two tree species were detected in livestock feces, whereas both shrub species were detected at low frequencies. There were no significant differences in compositions of species consumed by horses and cattle except that Asteraceae species were more often consumed by cattle. Our results showed that the four plants used for restoration may be classified as unpalatable or less palatable species in the Hulunbuir restoration area. Our results may help inform restoration strategies implemented in restoration areas, especially regarding negative effects of livestock grazing during the initial stage of restoration in Hulunbuir.

keywords
Desertification, Dietary analysis, DNA barcoding, Fecal material, Hulunbuir
Submission Date
2021-06-24
Revised Date
2021-07-07
Accepted Date
2021-07-08

Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea