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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Agriculture Ecosyste...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment
Article . 2016 . Peer-reviewed
License: Elsevier TDM
Data sources: Crossref
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The impact of cattle grazing on cursorial spiders (Aranei) and true bugs (Heteroptera) in steppe gullies of northeastern Ukraine

Authors: Nina Polchaninova; Galina Savchenko; Alexander Drogvalenko; Vladimir Ronkin; Dmitry Shabanov;

The impact of cattle grazing on cursorial spiders (Aranei) and true bugs (Heteroptera) in steppe gullies of northeastern Ukraine

Abstract

Cattle grazing is a traditional agricultural activity and one of the obligatory factors for maintaining steppe ecosystems. The impact of grazing depends on its intensity, site area, soil, topography, and microclimatic conditions. Both intensive grazing and long-term cessation differently affect various components of the steppe biota. During the research, cursorial spiders and true bugs were collected in grazed and ungrazed gullies in northeastern Ukraine. Seventy true bug and 73 spider species were recovered from the ungrazed gully and 65 true bug and 50 spider species from the grazed one. More than a 20-year grazing cessation resulted in the partial overgrowth of the gully bottom by arboreal and shrub vegetation and the predominance of meadow herb species. Consequently, spider assemblages being the richest in species number and individuals lost their steppe traits. Ungrazed south-facing slope covered with typical steppe vegetation harbored the most steppe-like spider assemblage and maintained abundance of steppe specialists. Spider assemblages of the grazed gully were the poorest. Species richness, number of individuals and ecological groups of true bugs depended on orographic conditions, being more divers on the gully slopes (58–60 species vs. 42–44 species in the bottoms). The true bug individual numbers were the highest on the grazed slope while in the bottoms it did not change with grazing. In general, cursorial spiders were better indicators of the grazing pressure than true bugs. At the study site, no specific pastoral assemblages of both arthropod groups were indentified. Nevertheless, patched grazing was necessary for maintaining steppe-like vegetation and arthropod assemblages in the gully bottoms.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
15
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
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