GrassesComplex inter-relationships among environmental factors in mountain ecosystems structure plant primary productivity. We show that in the northern rangelands of Ardabil province, Iran, elevation is the ultimate driver of ANPP in our system. Elevation effects on precipitation and, secondarily, elevation impacts on soils, including organic matter content are the primary mechanisms linking elevation and ANPP.

Prioritisation of research in agriculture for funding is achieved through processes that vary in complexity. Following a standard comprehensive review with independent economic analyses, a technique of simplified economic analysis of research options by a target group with filtering for RD&E potential while minimising impacts of political agendas was tested to identify priorities to ameliorate calf loss in northern Australia. The aim of this relatively objective technique was to enhance ownership of research, thus subsequent uptake of research outcomes by the target group.

This study investigated how global warming could affect grassland foraging species in Mongolian drylands. Specifically, it explored how the forage quality at both the species and community level could alter under predicted climatic shifts. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature as previous studies have shown no uniform effects of warming on forage quality.

Natural rangelands have a variety of vegetation types, soil and topographic properties. Investigation on the relationship between vegetation and environmental factors requires a comprehensive knowledge of the environmental processes that influence vegetation. The effects of soil properties on above-ground biomass were higher than those of climatic properties, at a local scale. Structural equation modelling as a new technique can discern the complex relationships between vegetation and environment for a deeper managerial decision on fragile rangeland ecosystems in arid and semiarid areas.