Journal of Rangeland

Range managers need to consider the impacts of herbivores on vegetation characteristics for achieving a sound management for rangelands. This study compared some plant indices and life forms between two range sites under livestock and wildlife grazing in Kalmand-Bahadoran plain in Yazd province. Systematic random sampling was used to collect vegetation data in these range sites. Ten transects of 100 meters length were established in each site randomly, and 3 plots of 2 m² were placed on each transect systematically. Frequency and biomass of plant species as well as plant life forms and canopy cover percentages were measured in each plot and palatability of each plant emprically was recorded. According to the results, the percentage cover of Artemisia sieberi, frequancy of the species with moderate palatability (Class II) and shrub species were increased significantly (&alpha=0.01) in livestock grazed site. Grass species were also increased in this site significantly (&alpha=0.05). Total biomass of the dominant species and percentage cover of the plants with low palatability (Class III) and forbs were increased significantly in the sites under wildlife grazing. In range site grazed by wildlife, the production and density of forb species such as Stachys inflata and Scorzonera sp. were increased significantly (&alpha=0.01) compared with livestock grazed site. The Stipa barbata and Boissiera squarrosa production and density were also significantly higher in wildlife grazed site. Therefore it can be concluded that wildlife grazing improve vegetation condition with their positive impacts on rangelands vegetation.