Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2017
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V50
Höfundar / Authors: Bryndís Marteinsdóttir (1), Isabel C. Barrio (2, 3), Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir (2)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Landgræðsla ríkisins, 2. Háskóli Íslands, 3. Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands
Kynnir / Presenter: Bryndís Marteinsdóttir
The sustainability of sheep grazing in Iceland has been repeatedly questioned as in some areas high stocking rates have been associated with extensive soil erosion and ecosystem degradation. While the ecological impacts of sheep grazing have been well documented in ecosystems outside Iceland, it remains poorly evaluated to what extent these results apply to the particular conditions in Iceland.
In this study, we synthesized all available information on the effects of sheep grazing on soil properties, vegetation and other organisms in rangelands of Iceland, with special focus on the gray literature. We searched local databases and used expert knowledge to identify relevant studies; we compiled 347 documents, but only 44 contained extractable data, reporting on 16 studies. The scarcity of studies prevented us from drawing general conclusions for most ecological variables across environmental conditions but some consistent trends were found. Bare ground was significantly higher in grazed areas and grazing affected plant community structure. The potential for increased soil erosion in grazed areas remains a problem in Icelandic rangelands. A better understanding of the ecological impacts of sheep grazing is required to inform sustainable grazing practices adapted to the local conditions of this region.