The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing

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Extensive grazing and browsing by domestic and wild herbivores shape the vegetation composition, structure and dynamics of many terrestrial ecosystems.

This volume includes dozens of illustrations and investigates how large herbivores influence the structure and distribution of the vegetation. It also explores how these herbivores affect nutrient flows and the responses of associated fauna.

The mechanisms and processes underlying the herbivores' behavior, distribution, movement and direct impact on the vegetation, and the dynamics of nutrients, plant species, and vegetation composition in terrestrial ecosystems are discussed in detail. It is shown that an understanding of plant/animal interactions can inform the management of large herbivores to integrate production and conservation in terrestrial systems, particularly in the face of environmental and climate change.