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Ecosystem services in Montado pastures: insights from mesocosms experiments
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
Montados are one of the most significant agroforestry systems in Portugal and serve as an exemplar of
sustainable land management. Traditional practices, including extensive livestock grazing, play a crucial
role in supporting a wide range of ecosystem services (ES). However, the vitality of the Montado is
increasingly threatened by rising temperatures and aridification, as the Mediterranean region is a major
climate change hotspot. With nearly half of Portugal’s livestock production relying on Montado
pastures, there is an urgent need for evidence-based management practices that promote the system's
socioeconomic viability under low-intensity management.
To assess the impact of alternative management practices on ecosystem service provision in
Montado pastures, two mesocosm experiments were conducted. These experiments simulated Montado
pasture conditions, testing the effects of pasture composition (grass-dominated vs. mixed pastures) and
the application of a commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum under stress conditions
of grazing and drought. We hypothesized that mixed pastures would enhance the provision of ecosystem
services and that commercial AMF inoculation would further amplify these benefits.
The ecosystem services assessed included Erosion prevention, Carbon sequestration,
Livestock forage production, Livestock nutrition, and Soil fertility enhancement. These services were
evaluated both individually and collectively, considering multifunctionality. Results indicated that: i)
mixed pastures provided more stable ecosystem services than grass-dominated pastures across
conditions, and showed a tendency to be more effective than grass-dominated pastures under combined
grazing and drought stress, partially supporting our hypothesis; and ii) contrary to our expectations,
commercial AMF inoculation often had negative effects, suggesting that the native AMF community
was more effective in mitigating the impacts of stress factors than the introduced AMF. Despite the
limitations of our mesocosms experiments, we encourage the use of this work as a baseline for further
research in the field, accounting for important variables that were not included here.
Descrição
Tese de mestrado, Ecologia e Gestão Ambiental, 2024, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências
Palavras-chave
Montado serviços de ecossistema pastagens biodiversas fungos micorrízicos arbusculares Teses de mestrado - 2024