Plants on alpine pastures have to be adapted to recurrent removal of above-ground biomass and the mechanical impact of livestock. They usually have a high proportion of below-ground biomass.

The vegetation structure on grazed alpine pastures is well-adapted to grazing. About 90% of the biomass is situated within the lower 5 cm, and cannot be used by cattle (though sheep and horses can graze more closely to the ground).

1 - Pasture, 1950 m, Biet, Schwyz, Switzerland (84K)
2 - Vegetation stratification in a grazed pasture and after abandonment (1912 m, Hohe Tauern, Austria)

29 August 2011
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