title: Qualification of rangeland degradation using plant life history strategies around watering points in southern Tunisia.
abstract: In this reserch we review the effects of animal activities on plant life history strategies (CRS) around watering points using phyto-ecological studies and vegetation cover data. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of disturbance degree simulated by distance from wells on CRS strategies (Grime types). The main results indicate that annualisation is a reality. We show the dominance of RS-species in the more disturbed sites (nearest transect from watering points), CRS- and CS-species at medium disturbance and CS- and S-species in lower disturbance sites (further from water). The floristic homogenisation is discernible at long period of exploitation. With lower grazing disturbance, Stipagrostis pungens can appropriately survive but it cannot tolerate the high degradation levels.
authors.affiliation: Range Ecology Laboratory, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarhouni
authors.forename: Azaiez Ouled
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Belgacem
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neffati
authors.forename: Belgacem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henchi
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D063245:Plant Development; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012987:Soil; D013045:Species Specificity; D014416:Tunisia; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D012987:Soil