PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: Grassland-livestock balance is an important principle of sustainable development of grassland livestock production and grassland ecosystem health. Grassland degradation becomes more serious at global scales and especially at the area that is sensitive to climate change and human activities. Decreases in pasture biomass and shifts in plant community composition in degraded grasslands can largely affect grazing behaviors of livestock. Up to date, however, it is unclear that whether livestock behaviors change across spatial and temporal scales and what key factors are to shape observed behavioral patterns of livestock.
UNASSIGNED: Here, yak behaviors including grazing, rumination and walking on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) were monitored by a continuous visual observation, to investigate temporal and spatial variations of grazing behavior of yaks (Bos grunniens); based on the data from public database in the past 18 years, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the main factors that affect grazing behaviors and intake of yaks.
UNASSIGNED: We showed that grazing behaviors of yaks differed significantly within hours, among hours of each day and among days as well as across different observation sites. Intake rate of yaks was higher in the morning than in the afternoon, but walking speed showed an inverse trend compared with intake rate. Resting, altitude, the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the mean annual temperature (MAT), forage ash, yak age and season were the main predictors for yak intake, and forage and yak individual characteristics had direct effects on grazing behaviors and intake of yaks.
UNASSIGNED: The findings confirm that grazing behaviors of yaks can vary even at small temporal scales and regional scales, which is closely related to the shift in forage quality and biomass caused by environmental changes. The study suggests that multiple factors can be responsible for the variation in livestock behaviors and shifts in behavioral patterns may consequently lead to positive or negative feedback to grassland ecosystems through plant-animal interactions.
UNASSIGNED: Here, yak behaviors including grazing, rumination and walking on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) were monitored by a continuous visual observation, to investigate temporal and spatial variations of grazing behavior of yaks (Bos grunniens); based on the data from public database in the past 18 years, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the main factors that affect grazing behaviors and intake of yaks.
UNASSIGNED: We showed that grazing behaviors of yaks differed significantly within hours, among hours of each day and among days as well as across different observation sites. Intake rate of yaks was higher in the morning than in the afternoon, but walking speed showed an inverse trend compared with intake rate. Resting, altitude, the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the mean annual temperature (MAT), forage ash, yak age and season were the main predictors for yak intake, and forage and yak individual characteristics had direct effects on grazing behaviors and intake of yaks.
UNASSIGNED: The findings confirm that grazing behaviors of yaks can vary even at small temporal scales and regional scales, which is closely related to the shift in forage quality and biomass caused by environmental changes. The study suggests that multiple factors can be responsible for the variation in livestock behaviors and shifts in behavioral patterns may consequently lead to positive or negative feedback to grassland ecosystems through plant-animal interactions.
摘要：
■草畜平衡是草畜生产可持续发展和草地生态系统健康的重要原则。在全球范围内，尤其是在对气候变化和人类活动敏感的地区，草地退化变得更加严重。退化草地中牧场生物量的减少和植物群落组成的变化会在很大程度上影响牲畜的放牧行为。到目前为止,然而,目前尚不清楚牲畜行为是否在空间和时间尺度上发生变化，以及形成观察到的牲畜行为模式的关键因素是什么。
■这里，牦牛的行为包括放牧,通过连续的视觉观察来监测青藏高原东部的沉思和行走（QTP），调查牦牛(Bosgrunniens)放牧行为的时空变化；基于过去18年公共数据库的数据，进行了荟萃分析，以研究影响放牧行为和牦牛摄取量的主要因素。
■我们发现牦牛的放牧行为在数小时内差异显著，在每天的小时数和天数之间以及不同的观察点之间。早上牦牛的采食率高于下午，但步行速度与摄入率呈相反趋势。休息,高度,年平均降水量(MAP)，年平均气温(MAT)，牧草灰,牦牛的年龄和季节是牦牛摄入量的主要预测因素，牧草和牦牛个体特征对牦牛的放牧行为和采食量有直接影响。
■研究结果证实，即使在小的时间尺度和区域尺度上，牦牛的放牧行为也会有所不同，这与环境变化引起的牧草质量和生物量的变化密切相关。研究表明，多种因素可能导致牲畜行为的变化，因此行为模式的变化可能会通过动植物相互作用导致对草地生态系统的正反馈或负反馈。
■这里，牦牛的行为包括放牧,通过连续的视觉观察来监测青藏高原东部的沉思和行走（QTP），调查牦牛(Bosgrunniens)放牧行为的时空变化；基于过去18年公共数据库的数据，进行了荟萃分析，以研究影响放牧行为和牦牛摄取量的主要因素。
■我们发现牦牛的放牧行为在数小时内差异显著，在每天的小时数和天数之间以及不同的观察点之间。早上牦牛的采食率高于下午，但步行速度与摄入率呈相反趋势。休息,高度,年平均降水量(MAP)，年平均气温(MAT)，牧草灰,牦牛的年龄和季节是牦牛摄入量的主要预测因素，牧草和牦牛个体特征对牦牛的放牧行为和采食量有直接影响。
■研究结果证实，即使在小的时间尺度和区域尺度上，牦牛的放牧行为也会有所不同，这与环境变化引起的牧草质量和生物量的变化密切相关。研究表明，多种因素可能导致牲畜行为的变化，因此行为模式的变化可能会通过动植物相互作用导致对草地生态系统的正反馈或负反馈。
