Cattle dung helps enrich degraded grasslands, but caution on spreading invasive species

Abstract Introduction Endozoochory by cattle has been identified as an important strategy of species dispersal in grasslands, but its role in restoration remains underexplored. Objectives Examine vegetation composition and seed availability at a donor site, assess seed dispersal via cattle dung, and evaluate the potential of dung seed banks to restore degraded grasslands. Methods Three approaches were conducted: characterization of a donor grassland (vegetation and seed offer); assessment of the dung seed bank in a greenhouse; and evaluation of cattle dung for restoring degraded grasslands by a field experiment. The restoration experiment was conducted in a receptor grassland degraded by tree invasion ( Ligustrum lucidum ) previously treated with herbicide, involving two degradation factors: biological invasion and woody encroachment. It consisted of two treatments ( n = 5): control and sown with cattle dung. Seasonal vegetation surveys were carried out during 36 months. The soil seed bank of the receptor site was assessed. Results At the donor site, 66 species (64% reproductive) and 481,107 seeds were recorded, among which the invasive Cynodon dactylon was abundant (20,007 seeds m −2 ). A total of 2,291 seedlings from 34 species germinated from the dung seed bank. Among these, C. dactylon represented 25% of seedlings, 22 species were shared with the reproductive species at the donor site, and 18% were new to the receptor site. Sown plots became richer from controls after 1 year, but this difference disappeared over time. Conclusions Cattle dung can transfer species to degraded areas; however, it requires well‐preserved donor grasslands and overcoming field constraints to seedling establishment.