Download or read book Grazing effects and resource use by large herbivores in arid and semi arid rangelands Advancements of analysis through high resolution spatio temporally dynamic modelling written by Pascal Fust and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2022-01-01 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This research focused on the development of an agent-based model of livestock herds in semi-arid rangeland and its application in view of the sustainable use of natural resources and effects of climate change.
Download or read book Long Term Dynamics in Plant Abundance and Spatial Variation in Response to Grazing Systems Precipitation and Mesquite Cover written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Higher stocking density under seasonal-rotation grazing is expected to increase plant abundance because expanded animal distribution and reduced selective grazing on forage species will reduce the spatial variation and competitive advantage of non-forage species compared to yearlong grazing. Rangeland scientists struggle with how long rangeland experiments must continue in order to detect grazing treatment effects, particularly in semi-arid ecosystems with slow responses and high spatio-temporal variability. My first study investigated grazing system effects on plant abundance (cover and density) over the short-term (12yrs) or long-term (22 or 34yrs) after accounting for covariates (mesquite and precipitation gradients). My second study assessed how grazing systems affected spatial variation in grass abundance over 22 or 34 years after accounting for precipitation gradient. The first study was a course resolution approach, looking at grazing impacts on plant abundance. The second study was a finer resolution assessment of the underlying assumption that rotational grazing systems reduce selective grazing. Using split-plot analysis of variance, with year as the split, changes in mean plant abundance and variance in grass abundance were compared between two grazing systems (yearlong vs. seasonal rotation), after accounting for covariate(s). Variance of grass abundance among sample locations within an experimental pasture was the measure of spatial variability and was expected to increase with selective grazing. Grazing systems did not influence plant abundance or spatial variation of grasses. The absence of grazing effect may be due to overriding influences of grazing intensity, large pasture sizes, temporal variation in precipitation, and few replicates. Specific to spatial variation, the absence of grazing system effect may be due to discrepancies in transect representation across ecological sites and spatial variation of grasses occurring at scales different than the 30-m transect size. Like earlier research, my studies failed to substantiate the fundamental premise for implementing rotational grazing systems. This exposes challenges that confront rangeland scientists when implementing grazing studies in spatio-temporally heterogeneous ecosystems. I recommend that research shift from comparing rigid schedule-driven grazing systems to more adaptive management approach where there are comparisons between different levels or different designs of flexible systems.
Download or read book The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing written by Iain J. Gordon and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-09-14 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume investigates how large herbivores not only influence the structure and distribution of the vegetation, but also 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 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.
Download or read book Rangeland Health written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1994-02-01 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rangelands comprise between 40 and 50 percent of all U.S. land and serve the nation both as productive areas for wildlife, recreational use, and livestock grazing and as watersheds. The health and management of rangelands have been matters for scientific inquiry and public debate since the 1880s, when reports of widespread range degradation and livestock losses led to the first attempts to inventory and classify rangelands. Scientists are now questioning the utility of current methods of rangeland classification and inventory, as well as the data available to determine whether rangelands are being degraded. These experts, who are using the same methods and data, have come to different conclusions. This book examines the scientific basis of methods used by federal agencies to inventory, classify, and monitor rangelands; it assesses the success of these methods; and it recommends improvements. The book's findings and recommendations are of interest to the public; scientists; ranchers; and local, state, and federal policymakers.
Download or read book Resource Ecology written by Herbert H.T. Prins and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-01-21 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This multi-author book deals with ‘resource ecology’, which is the ecology of trophic interactions between consumers and their resources. All the chapters were subjected to intense group discussions; comments and critiques were subsequently used for writing new versions, which were peer-reviewed. Each chapter is followed by a comment. This makes the book ideal for teaching and course work, because it highlights the fact that ecology is a living and active research field.
Download or read book Rangeland Systems written by David D. Briske and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-04-12 with total page 664 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is open access under a CC BY-NC 2.5 license. This book provides an unprecedented synthesis of the current status of scientific and management knowledge regarding global rangelands and the major challenges that confront them. It has been organized around three major themes. The first summarizes the conceptual advances that have occurred in the rangeland profession. The second addresses the implications of these conceptual advances to management and policy. The third assesses several major challenges confronting global rangelands in the 21st century. This book will compliment applied range management textbooks by describing the conceptual foundation on which the rangeland profession is based. It has been written to be accessible to a broad audience, including ecosystem managers, educators, students and policy makers. The content is founded on the collective experience, knowledge and commitment of 80 authors who have worked in rangelands throughout the world. Their collective contributions indicate that a more comprehensive framework is necessary to address the complex challenges confronting global rangelands. Rangelands represent adaptive social-ecological systems, in which societal values, organizations and capacities are of equal importance to, and interact with, those of ecological processes. A more comprehensive framework for rangeland systems may enable management agencies, and educational, research and policy making organizations to more effectively assess complex problems and develop appropriate solutions.
Download or read book Modelling the spatial dynamics of a semi arid grazing system written by Kathryn Jane Koch and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Catastrophic Vegetation Dynamics and Soil Degradation in Semi arid Grazing Systems written by Max Rietkerk and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cum laude graduation (with distinction).
Download or read book Guidelines written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Soil Resources, Management, and Conservation Service and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 1991 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Responses of Plant Communities to Grazing in the Southwestern United States written by Daniel G. Milchunas and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grazing by wild and domestic mammals can have small to large effects on plant communities, depending on characteristics of the particular community and of the type and intensity of grazing. The broad objective of this report was to extensively review literature on the effects of grazing on 25 plant communities of the southwestern U.S. in terms of plant species composition, aboveground primary productivity, and root and soil attributes. Livestock grazing management and grazing systems are assessed, as are effects of small and large native mammals and feral species, when data are available. Emphasis is placed on the evolutionary history of grazing and productivity of the particular communities as determinants of response. After reviewing available studies for each community type, we compare changes in species composition with grazing among community types. Comparisons are also made between southwestern communities with a relatively short history of grazing and communities of the adjacent Great Plains with a long evolutionary history of grazing. Evidence for grazing as a factor in shifts from grasslands to shrublands is considered. An appendix outlines a new community classification system, which is followed in describing grazing impacts in prior sections.
Download or read book Grazing in Temperate Ecosystems written by R.J. Putman and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New Forest in southern England is an area of mixed vegetation set aside as a Royal Hunting Forest in the eleventh century and since that time subjected to heavy grazing pressure from large herbivores. The entire structure of the Forest and its various communities has been developed under this continued history ofheavy grazing, with the estab lishment of a series of vegetational systems unique within the whole of Europe. The effects of large herbivores in the structuring of this eco system in the past, and the pressure of grazing continuing to this day, have in turn a profound influence, indeed the dominating influence, on the whole ecological functioning of the Forest system. Because of its assemblage of unique vegetation types, the area is clearly of tremendous ecological interest in its own right. In addition, its long history of heavy grazing ani the continued intense herbivore pressure make the New Forest an ideal study-site for evaluation of both short-term and long term effects of grazing upon temperate ecosystems. The N ew Forest (some 37,500 ha in total area) currently supports a population of approximately 2,500 wild deer (red, roe, sika and fallow); in addition 3,500 ponies and 2,000 domestic cattle are pastured on the Forest under Common Rights.
Download or read book Drivers of Vegetation Response to Interactive Effects of Disturbance in a Sagebrush Steppe written by Lauren Cathleen Connell and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Globally, vegetation structure and patch variability in grasslands and savannas are strongly driven by natural disturbance regimes. These disturbances influence height and cover of herbaceous and woody plants, and often within a variable spatio-temporally regime that results in a heterogeneous landscape. In North America, semi-arid rangelands include grasslands and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-dominated shrublands that evolved with spatially and temporally variable disturbance regimes of wildfire, large ungulate herbivory, and colonial burrowing mammals. Moreover, interactions among multiple disturbances, including wildfire, herbivory by wild and domestic ungulates and colonial burrowing mammals, are driving forces of plant community structure and composition. The effects of these multiple, interactive disturbances are particularly less understood in shrubland-grassland ecotone regions, where divergent climate regimes, disturbance-sensitive vegetation communities, and historic disturbance regimes are juxtaposed and interact to create unique ecosystem responses. My study objectives were thus designed to investigate the effects of multiple, interactive disturbances and their implications for livestock and wildlife management. I addressed these topics in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in northeast Wyoming, U.S.A. In Chapter 1, I investigate the separate and interactive effects of livestock, native ungulates, fire, and small mammals on vegetation structure through a three-tiered, large-scale manipulative experiment. I used nested grazing exclosures to isolate the effects of herbivory from livestock, wild ungulates, or small mammals within areas affected by either historical wildfire, black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies, or neither disturbance. I replicated this sampling design four times. I evaluated the interactive effects of herbivory and historical disturbance on vegetation structure by quantifying vegetation height, visual obstruction, shrub density, shrub canopy, and shrub leader growth. The exclusion of wild ungulates and lightly-to-moderately stocked livestock for two years did not affect herbaceous vegetation structure, shrub density, or shrub canopy cover. Maximum vegetation height, visual obstruction, heights of grasses and forbs, and shrub density were all negatively affected by prairie dogs. Both wildfire and black-tailed prairie dogs had lower canopy cover of shrubs and Wyoming big sagebrush, when compared to undisturbed sites. Shrub leaders experienced over 3-times more browsing on prairie dog colonies, when compared to undisturbed areas and the combined presence of livestock and native ungulates on prairie dog colonies caused significantly more leader browsing than in the presence of native ungulates alone. In Chapter 2, I assessed the effects of prairie dog herbivory on forage in a northern mixed-grass prairie. Black-tailed prairie dogs have high dietary overlap with livestock, which can cause forage-centric conflicts between agriculture and conservation. Research suggests prairie dogs can enhance forage quality, but it remains unclear how the strength of trade-offs between quality and quantity varies throughout the growing season, or the degree to which increased forage quality is caused by altered species composition versus altered plant physiology. I collected samples on prairie dog colonies and at sites without prairie dogs during June, July, and August 2016 – 2017 for forage quality, and August 2015 – 2017 for biomass. I collected both composite samples of all herbaceous species and also samples of western wheatgrass ( Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb.] Á. Löve) to isolate mechanisms affecting forage quality. Across years and plant sample types, crude protein, phosphorus, and fat were greater and neutral detergent fiber was lower on prairie dog colonies than at sites without prairie dogs. The effects of prairie dogs on forage quality persisted throughout the season for western wheatgrass samples. Across years, aboveground biomass did not differ significantly between prairie dog colonies and sites without prairie dogs and the effects of prairie dogs on herbaceous biomass were significantly influenced by spring precipitation. My results demonstrate season-long enhanced forage quality on prairie dog colonies due to both compositional and phenological shifts associated with prairie dog herbivory. Across years, enhanced forage quality may help to offset reductions in forage quantity for agricultural producers. In Chapter 3, I evaluated the use of conspecific acoustic signals as a potential management tool for prairie dogs. Black-tailed prairie dogs are a major driver of vegetation structure and heterogeneity in northeastern Wyoming, in addition to being highly influential on forage quality and production. The management of prairie dogs in this region is a great priority by the U.S. Forest Service and private landowners and thus I sought to explore the influence of acoustic signals on prairie dog behavior and its fitness implications. Researchers have demonstrated cues of conspecifics including acoustic signals can be successfully used in the conservation and management of avian species but it has rarely, if ever, been applied to free-roaming small mammals. The black-tailed prairie dog is a colonial, small mammal whose gregarious vocalizations create fitness benefits of group vigilance against predation and increased foraging time.
Download or read book Livestock Grazing Management on National Resource Lands written by United States. Bureau of Land Management and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Environmental Effects of Conservation Practices on Grazing Lands written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Semi arid Rangeland Soil Health Forage and Grazing written by Timm Gergeni and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil scientists and rangeland ecologists are increasingly making range management decisions based upon projected impacts to soil health but disagreement persists regarding the direction, magnitude, and rate of potential soil health changes. According to the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS), soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Thus, it is important for soils to be managed sustainably for future generations. Soil health is complex and measured by its physical, chemical, and biotic properties all of which interact. Examples of these soils properties are: structure, nutrient content, and microbial activity. All are closely related to organic matter - an excellent indicator of soil health. Grazing lands represent ~40% of the earth’s terrestrial surface and have tremendous potential to sequester carbon while cattle, numbering ~1 billion head worldwide are one of the main grazers upon them. Within the state of Wyoming USA, cattle outnumber people 2.5:1 and anthropogenic management of their grazing likely has an effect on soil health. Unfortunately, the majority of research and data obtained from grazing studies have not occurred at working cattle ranches and may be hindering producer adoption. Furthermore, soil monitoring, soil health criteria, and expectations have generally been constrained to row cropping systems in mesic climates, not the semi-arid rangelands of the western US, and have been secondary to forage quality and animal performance. We conducted field research at two physical sites in Wyoming supplemented by systematically reviewed literature at the global scale to identify any research “gaps” with the intention of providing credible information and advice to regional producers seeking input. At our physical sites, located in McFadden and Lingle, Wyoming, different Animal Day pasture categories, grazing regimes, and densities are being utilized to understand the effects of cattle grazing on Wyoming’s native rangelands. The McFadden site is a working ranch located on a high-elevation steppe that rotationally grazes three herds of ~300 Angus/Simmental/Gelbvieh crossbred cows. Eleven native upland pastures of 167 to 367 acres (68 to 149 ha) were sampled in order to understand the relationship between grazing time per pasture and soil and plant quality. The Lingle site is a traditional research design at the University of Wyoming’s James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research Facility (UW SAREC) on a northern mixed-grass prairie, consisting of twelve 1 acre (0.405 ha) paddocks and three grazing densities; notably ‘not grazed’ (NG), ‘moderate rotationally grazed’ (MRG), and ‘ultra-high density rotationally grazed’ (UHD), replicated spatially four times each in a randomized complete block design. Our Chapter 1 global literature review resulted in 42 studies with an average publication date of 2010 from four continents. Cattle were utilized as the main grazer in North America while sheep were the main grazer in Asia. The majority of the research was conducted at research facilities, and organic matter’s response to grazing was generally neutral. Chapter 2 ranch-scale research conducted at Sims Ranch in McFadden, Wyoming determined that organic matter may be an indicator of time in pasture and established a soil health baseline for future research. Chapter 3 grazing density research at UWSAREC revealed time of sampling and environment interactions and established a soil health baseline for continued research.
Download or read book Grasping Complex Matter written by Michael Drescher and published by . This book was released on 2003* with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Tropentag 2016 written by Bernhard Freyer and published by Cuvillier Verlag. This book was released on 2016-08-25 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The theme of 2016 is ”Solidarity in a competing world - fair use of resources”. While on the one hand, one part of the world is profiting from natural resources, the other part of the world is suffering with hunger, malnutrition, human diseases, low income, violence and lately is also challenged through climate change. There is need to rethink and engage in a fair share of all resources between the continents and nations. This includes huge engagement into the management of natural resources to solve the long list of environmental threats expressed through ongoing erosion, loss of soil fertility and loss of biodiversity, and topped by climate change having strong impact on the productivity in agriculture, fishery and forestry, and the use and quality of water and of energy in the South.