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Geologic Grazing Refuges and Grassland Diversity: a Shortgrass Steppe Study

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Geologic Grazing Refuges and Grassland Diversity: a Shortgrass Steppe Study J. Range Manage. 57:141 -147 March 2004 Geologic grazing refuges and grassland diversity: A shortgrass steppe study DANIEL G. MILCHUNAS, AND IMANUEL NOY -MEIR Authors are Research Scientist, Forest, Range, and Watershed Stewardship Department and Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. 80523, USA; and Professor, Department of Agricultural Botany, Institute of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B. 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Abstract Resumen Geologically isolated, natural grazing refuges that have never Geológicamente aislados, los refugios naturales frente al pas- been grazed by domestic livestock can be foci of diversity for rare toreo que no han sido nunca pastados por el ganado domÈstico species. This study compared refuges protected from grazing by pueden ser focos de diversidad de especies raras. Este estudio ravines to adjacent grazed sites in an uncommon grassland type comparó refugios protegidos frente al pastoreo debido a barran- in eastern Colorado. We also tested whether differences between cos con lugares adyacentes pastados en un pastizal poco com. n refuge and grazed sites were due to protection from grazing ver- en el Este de Colorado. sus abiotic conditions, based on temporary caging of little También comprobamos si las diferencias entre los refugios y bluestem plants (Schizachyrium scoparium [Michaux] Nash). los lugares pastados fueron debidas a la protección del pastoreo Regionally rare species were not exclusive to refuges, buto a las condiciones abióticas, utilizando para ello la protección occurred also on adjacent grazed sites. However, refuges showedtemporal de plantas de "little bluestem" Schizachyrium scopari- greater species richness, as well as greater abundance of several um [ Michaux] Nash). Las plantas raras a una escala regional no tall stature species that are uncommon in the surrounding short - fueron exclusivas de los refugios, sino que aparecieron también grass steppe. Temporary protection of little bluestem plants in en los lugares adyacentes pastados. Sin embargo, los refugios grazed sites resulted in significant changes in growth and repro- mostraron una mayor riqueza de especies, así como una mayor ductive output, in the direction of refuge plants. Though this geo- abundancia de varias especies de porte alto que son poco logical refuge did not manifest an exclusive set of rare species as comunes en la pradera de gramÌneas cortas circundante. La pro- reported from other systems, it does preserve strong source popu- tección temporal de las plantas de "little bluestem" en los lugares lations of uncommon species that are sensitive to grazing and pastados produjo cambios significativos en el crecimiento y thereby contributes to regional grassland diversity. rendimiento reproductivo, en la dirección de las plantas de los refugios. Estos refugios de origen geológico no presentaron un grupo exclusivo de plantas raras como ha sido documentado en Key Words: refugia, relict, diversity, herbivory, rare species, otros sistemas; no obstante, preservan importantes livestock grazing, rock bluffs and outcrops, drought poblaciones fuente de especies poco comunes que son sensibles al pastoreo y de este modo contribuyen a la diversidad regional de los pastizales. Natural refuges from grazing herbivores occur throughout the world in both geologic and biotic forms (buttes, rock outcrops, spiny plants, etc.). Both forms of physical protection can be reviews of experimental exclosures (Milchunas and Lauenroth important in structuring landscape diversity or in maintaining 1993) indicates relatively few studies of geologic refuges. undisturbed relict communities amidst a surrounding disturbed Communities with a short evolutionary history of grazing are landscape (Clements 1934, Fenner et al. 1993, Callaway et al. generally more sensitive to grazing (Milchunas et al. 1988, 2000, Milchunas and Noy -Meir 2002). Natural grazing refuges Milchunas and Lauenroth 1993) and refuges may more likely be may be different from experimental grazing exclosures because unique (Milchunas and Noy -Meir 2002). Rare plant species have they often existed before the introduction of domesticated ani-been found mainly confined to cliffs of grazed islands off the mals, thereby potentially better representing `pristine' conditionsCalifornia coast (Moran 1967), cliff ledges in alpine communities and more likely to harbor remnant plant populations. A review of(Lee and Lavers 1990), rocky bluffs in grasslands (Fenner et al. studies of refuges (Milchunas and Noy -Meir 2002) compared to 1993) and forest cliffs (Sykes 1969) in New Zealand. However, refuges can also be important in systems with a long evolutionary This work was funded through the US- Israel Bi- national Science Foundation history of grazing. The numerous rock outcrops of northern Israel (BSF 96- 00112), NSF (DEB 00- 87255), and the Shortgrass Steppe LTER (NSF harbor genetically important wild ancestors to our current -day DEB 9632852. DEB 021653). We thank Don Hazlett for taxonomic consultation and accomplishing the floristic survey, Cheryl Danz for additional help in data col- wheats and barleys, as well as a variety of other tall, grazing sen- lection, and Mark Ball of the USDA - Forest Service, Pawnee National Grassland, sitive species (Zohary and Brick 1961, Noy -Meir 1990, Noy for logistical support. Meir et al. 1991a, 1991b). This suggests that refuges can play an Correspondence: Daniel G Milchunas, Daniel.Milchunas @colostate.edu phone: important role in conserving plant diversity even in systems with (970) 491 -6691, FAX (970) 491 -2156 Manuscript accepted 27 May 03. a long evolutionary history of grazing. JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 57(2) March 2004 141 Our objectives were to characterize geo-region. This community -type is not recog- because they graded smoothly out into the logic refuges in the shortgrass steppe, with nized by the Natural Heritage Program; anusual shortgrass steppe community with a long history of grazing by native bison,organization that maps and classifies plantno border opposite the bluff border. Soils and to assess if refuge effects were due to communities throughout the U.S. Threefrom the base of the bluff wall are chalky the lack of grazing, or to other environ- other communities recognized in Coloradowhite siltstone (Keota series), a weakly mental differences in the refuge. Thethat have little bluestem as a co- dominant developed Ustic Torriorthent. This unusu- physical structure of buttes, mesas, and are considered imperiled and rare globallyal soil supports a plant community unlike outcrops may have an effect on environ- and in Colorado (Colorado Naturalthat of the surrounding open plains; some- mental conditions, and a review of studiesHeritage Program 1997). Therefore, it can times referred to as siltstone barrens showed that none attempted to control forbe assumed that the community that our(Hazlett 1998). This study was not con- this additional factor that may also influ-study sites were in is rare. Visually, the ducted in the barrens plant community that ence plant growth and the presence of par- community is strikingly much more pro-is located very close to the bluffs, but in a ticular plant species (Milchunas and Noy -ductive aboveground and comprised of acommunity intermediate between the silt Meir 2002). greater proportion of tall species than thestone barrens and shortgrass steppe. This We studied productive, unique tallgrass surrounding shortgrass steppe, possiblycommunity is dominated by little communities disjunct and isolated by the due to soils and/or winter snow accumula-bluestem, while the 3 recognized commu- surrounding shortgrass steppe region.tion along the steep -sided bluffs that bor-nities in Colorado with little bluestem Because of the isolated nature of theder the north side. have it as a co- dominant and associated refuges in this area with a long history of Grazing in this area was relatively lightwith species not common in this commu- grazing, we did not expect to find rare or compared to much of the shortgrass steppe nity. Analyses of 1937 compared to 1995 unusual plant species more abundant inof the National Grassland; removal ofaerial photos indicated no detectable ero- the refuges compared to the grazed sites,standing biomass at the end of the grazing sional changes over that period, suggest- as often observed in other situationsseason in mid October was visually esti- ing a very long period of isolation from (Milchunas and Noy -Meir 2002). Becausemated at about 30 -35 %. This compares toherbivores. tall species are generally less grazing toler- about 50 -60% average removal in most We first conducted a floristic survey to ant than short species, we expected thatneighboring shortgrass steppe areasdetermine richness and the occurrence of grazing would result in homogeneity of( Milchunas et al. 1989, M. Marston USFS any rare species. Rare species were classi- landscape diversity (beta diversity) by pro- personal commun.). The light grazingfied and identified by a taxonomist that has ducing communities more similar to theintensities in the study area reflect man- done extensive collecting in the Pawnee shortgrass steppe community, both compo- agement considerations for the recreation- National Grasslands and surrounding areas sitionally and structurally. Growth mea- al use of the bluff and butte area. Annual (Hazlett 1998). A triangular plot of 0.1 ha surements were made of a target
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