DOCSLIB.ORG

Influence of Experimental Habitat Manipulations on a Desert Rodent Population in Southern Utah

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Influence of Experimental Habitat Manipulations on a Desert Rodent Population in Southern Utah Great Basin Naturalist Volume 49 Number 3 Article 14 7-31-1989 Influence of experimental habitat manipulations on a desert rodent population in southern Utah Jiping Zou Brigham Young University Jerran T. Flinders Brigham Young University Hal L. Black Brigham Young University Steven G. Whisenant Texas A&M University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn Recommended Citation Zou, Jiping; Flinders, Jerran T.; Black, Hal L.; and Whisenant, Steven G. (1989) "Influence of experimental habitat manipulations on a desert rodent population in southern Utah," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 49 : No. 3 , Article 14. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol49/iss3/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. INFLUENCE OF EXPERIMENTAL HABITAT MANIPULATIONS ON A DESERT RODENT POPULATION IN SOUTHERN UTAH 1 2 4 JipingZou , JerranT. Flinders . Hal L. Black', and Steven G. Whisenant Abstract. —This paper addresses how habitat manipulations in a black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) -dominated area, John s Valley of southern Utah, affected resident desert rodent populations. Rodents studied included the deer mouse {Peromyscus maniculatus), Great Basin pocket mouse (Perognatkus partus), sagebrush vole (Lagurus curtatus), Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii), and least chipmunk (Eutamias minimus). The experimental design involved analyses of treatment and control (nontreatment) plots rather than pre- and posttreatment of all plots. Habitat manipulations emphasized cutting of shrubs (rotobeating), treatment of plants with a herbicide (2,4-D), and reseeding with a mixture of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Posttreatment trapping indicated the deer mouse was the most abundant rodent in treatment and control plots. Data indicate the prescribed habitat treatments had no significant negative affects on the deer mouse demes on the control or treatment plots. Habitat treatments may have negatively impacted recruitment in pocket mice. Least chipmunks were not captured in plots treated by rotobeating. Our habitat manipulations may have contributed to interspecific competition in this rodent community through the reduction of both food and cover. Many ecological factors influence the dy- supplies and essential microhabitat (Taylor namics of a cold desert rodent population. 1963, Weckey 1963, Holbrook 1979). Alterna- When aspects of the vegetational habitat are tive conclusions resulting from Parmenter altered for management purposes, subse- and MacMahon's (1983) habitat manipulations quent responses can be expected in rodent within a shrub steppe ecosystem suggest that populations that reflect changes in inter- shrub architecture and other shrub-related specific relationships as well as changes in resources are unimportant to some rodents density, home range, reproduction, disper- (e.g., deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, sal, recruitment, body size, and food habits. It Great Basin pocket mouse, Perognatkus is difficult to relate measured responses to parvus; and northern grasshopper mouse, specific changes of components in the habitat. Onychomys leucogaster). Others have shown Reason suggests an interrelated hierarchy of that the vertical and horizontal complexity of limiting factors operating either individually, foliage do not correlate well with functional in an additive fashion, or synergistically to diversity of small mammals (MacMahon 1976, elicit a series of responses from the impacted Grenat and Serranos 1982). rodent population. Johnson and Hansen (1969) found that Previous studies of critical factors suggest 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) her- that bicide treatments did not eliminate cover pro- population density is a consequence of survival, repro- vided by stems and branches of shrubs killed duction, and dispersal of individuals. These processes by the treatment. They observed no signifi- are affected by the capacity to tolerate expressions of the physical environment, the availability of essential cant differences in deer mouse density be- resources and interactions with other individuals of the tween treated and untreated rangelands. same and different species (Brown and Munger 1985). The opportunity to further explore the rela- They have shown that limited food resources tionships between small rodents and distur- as well as interspecific competition within a bances in their habitats came as a companion guild of ecologically similar species play a ma- study of habitat alterations designed to benefit jor role in regulating the density of desert the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), a rodent populations. threatened species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Other studies have indicated that habitat Service, 49CFR2330). This suite of habitat- manipulations adversely affect rodent food disturbing treatments, along with control Department of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602. Wildlife and Range Resources Laboratory, 407 WIDB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah S4602. ^Department of Zoology. 167 WIDB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602. ^Department of Range Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843. 435 436 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 49, No. 3 200 cd c o 00 -100 2 o Q. Q. O E CD H Fig. 1. Climatic diagram representing weather variables (temperature, C; precipitation, mm) measured at Bryce Canyon, Utah, during 1986. areas, allowed examination and testing of the tional cold desert shrubland. Dispersion of following hypotheses relating to small mam- vegetation varies from open grassy areas to mals (excluding C. parvidens): stands of closely or widely spaced shrubs. 1. Population densities of small rodents on treated plots Dominant shrubs in this area are black sage- would be reduced by a combination of factors includ- brush {Artemisia nova), fringed sagebrush ing depressed reproduction, increased dispersal, and (Artemisia frigida), carpet phlox (Phlox increased mortality. hoodii), dwarf rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus 2. The size of home ranges of the various rodent species depressus), rubber rabbitbrush (Chryso- would generally increase on treated areas. thamnus nauseosus), winterfat (Ceratoides 3. indicator of body condi- Body weights of rodents, as an lanata), and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia tion, would be proportionately less on treated plots. sarothrae). Dominant grasses are western 4. species would decrease in rela- Diversity of rodent wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii) and squirrel- tionship to vegetational treatments; interspecific tail (Elymus elymoides). Prominent forbs are dominance by one or more species may be evidenced. pretty rockcress (Arahis pulchra), vernal 5. The effects of vegetational treatments can be quantita- daisy (Erigeron pumilus), and longleaf phlox tively measured and expressed in ways meaningful to resident rodent populations. (Phlox longifolia). Scientific names of plants are after Welsh et al.(1987). Average monthly precipitation was 39 in 1986 but is highly Study Area and Methods mm variable (0 to 130 mm) from month to month. The study site (2.56 square km) is just west The wettest months of the year are from July of Widtsoe Junction, Garfield County, near to September. Mean monthly temperatures Bryce Canyon National Park. It was estab- range from —2 C in January to 17 C in July lished on lands administered by the state of (Fig. 1). Utah in what is known as John's Valley. The Studies were conducted on 12 plots, average elevation at the study site is 2,290 m, each 165 x 165 m and located at least 0. 16 km and, although the terrain is relatively flat, the from adjacent plots. The experimental design northeast corner is dissected by a dry water- represented a randomized complete block course. Vegetation is primarily upper eleva- with three replications. Three treatments July 1989 Zou etal.: Rodent Habitat Manipulations 437 Fig. 2. The location of the study site in southern Utah and the spatial relationship of the treatment and control plots. (September and October 1985) included (1) Each plot contained a 10 x 10 station trap- mechanical shredding (rotobeating) followed ping grid with each trap 10 m apart; thus, 100 by reseeding; (2) spraying with 3.3 kg/ha live-capture traps (38 x 11 x 11 cm) were 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) per monitored in every plot each day of trapping. plot; and (3) spraying with 3.3 kg/ha 2,4-D per Trap stations were permanently marked with plot followed by reseeding (Fig. 2). The 12 a numbered stake. Traps were set on each plot study plots were divided into three blocks for five consecutive nights during three trap- with three treatment plots and one control ping periods (5-23 May, 23 June-11 July, plot in each block. All treated plots were en- 4-22 August 1986). Traps were baited with a closed with electrical wire fencing in May grain mixture after 6 p.m. and checked before 1986 to prevent grazing by livestock. 9 a.m. the next morning. This time interval 438 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 49, No. 3 allowed capture of diurnal as well as nocturnal Population dynamics of the deer mouse, rodents. Trapped mammals were identified pocket mouse, and other rodents were inves- and checked for sex, age (adult or juvenile), tigated between May and August 1986. Home weight, reproductive condition, and station range
Load more

Recommended publications
  • December 2012 Number 1
    Calochortiana December 2012 Number 1 December 2012 Number 1 CONTENTS Proceedings of the Fifth South- western Rare and Endangered Plant Conference Calochortiana, a new publication of the Utah Native Plant Society . 3 The Fifth Southwestern Rare and En- dangered Plant Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 2009 . 3 Abstracts of presentations and posters not submitted for the proceedings . 4 Southwestern cienegas: Rare habitats for endangered wetland plants. Robert Sivinski . 17 A new look at ranking plant rarity for conservation purposes, with an em- phasis on the flora of the American Southwest. John R. Spence . 25 The contribution of Cedar Breaks Na- tional Monument to the conservation of vascular plant diversity in Utah. Walter Fertig and Douglas N. Rey- nolds . 35 Studying the seed bank dynamics of rare plants. Susan Meyer . 46 East meets west: Rare desert Alliums in Arizona. John L. Anderson . 56 Calochortus nuttallii (Sego lily), Spatial patterns of endemic plant spe- state flower of Utah. By Kaye cies of the Colorado Plateau. Crystal Thorne. Krause . 63 Continued on page 2 Copyright 2012 Utah Native Plant Society. All Rights Reserved. Utah Native Plant Society Utah Native Plant Society, PO Box 520041, Salt Lake Copyright 2012 Utah Native Plant Society. All Rights City, Utah, 84152-0041. www.unps.org Reserved. Calochortiana is a publication of the Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organi- Editor: Walter Fertig ([email protected]), zation dedicated to conserving and promoting steward- Editorial Committee: Walter Fertig, Mindy Wheeler, ship of our native plants. Leila Shultz, and Susan Meyer CONTENTS, continued Biogeography of rare plants of the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada.
    [Show full text]
  • Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico." (2007)
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Special Publications Museum of Southwestern Biology 5-10-2007 Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi- arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico Andrew G. Hope Robert R. Parmenter Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/msb_special_publications Recommended Citation Hope, Andrew G. and Robert R. Parmenter. "Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico." (2007). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/msb_special_publications/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Publications by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MUSEUM OF SOUTHWESTERN BIOLOGY NUMBER 9, pp. 1–75 10 May 2007 Food Habits of Rodents Inhabiting Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems of Central New Mexico ANDREW G. HOPE AND ROBERT R. PARMENTER1 Special Publication of the Museum of Southwestern Biology 1 CONTENTS Abstract................................................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Study Sites ..........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Attachment a - Biological Review, Report of Site Visit & Species Inventory
    Attachment A - Biological Review, Report of Site Visit & Species Inventory From August 31 – September 2, 2014, Charles Britt conducted a pedestrian survey for all diurnal faunal and floral species along the proposed fiber optic line route for WNMT. Approximately 18 miles of cable to be placed. The project begins at milepost 28.28 on NM Highway 1, crosses NM Highway 1 at milepost 25.37, and crosses I-25 at milepost 116.572. It continues on State Route 107 at milepost 0 and ends at milepost 15.37. All three days had clear skies. Surveyor recorded all faunal and floral species observed within the Project Area/Action Area, taking photographs, and noting any features that may present potential impediments for the project The route traversed across six ecological sites. The Nolam gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 7 percent slopes (655) soil map unit is found in the R042XB035NM Gravelly Loam ecological site. This site usually occurs on nearly level to rolling piedmont slopes, hill slopes, fan remnants, or alluvial fans. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent and occasionally reach 30 percent but average 4 to 9 percent. Elevations range from 4,300 to 5,000 feet. This site is not influenced by water from wetlands or streams. This ecological site is frequently associated with gravelly ecological sites. The historic plant community type is assumed to have exhibited dominance by black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and secondarily by bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri), Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica) and/or cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodis). Creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) occur but are not co-dominants with grasses.
    [Show full text]
  • Population, Distríbutlon, Habitat Use and Natural History of Ord's Kangaroo Raf
    The Untuersity of Manftoba Population, distríbutlon, habitat use and natural history of Ord's kangaroo raf. (Dipodomys ordil in the sand hill areas of / south-western Saskatchewan and south-eastern Al berta. by Raymond J. L. Kenny A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in partlal fulfillment of the requirements for the degreee of Master of Science. Zoology Depar-tment Winnipeg, Manitoba March 1989 National Library Bibliothèque nationale w@w of Canada du Canada Canadian Theses Service Service des thèses canadiennes Ottawa, Canada t(1 A 0N4 The author has granted an irrevocable non- L'auteur a accordé une licence irrévocable et exclusive licence allowing the National Library non exclusive permettant à la Bibliothèque of Canada to reproduce, loan, distribute or sell nationale du Canada de reproduire, prêter, copies of his/her thesis by any means and in distribuer ou vendre des copies de sa thèse any form or format, mak¡ng this thesis available de quelque manière et sous quelque forme to interested persons. que ce soit pour mettre des exemplaires de cette thèse à la disposition des personnes intéressées. The author retains ownership of the copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur in his/her thesis. Neither the thesis nor qui protège sa thèse. Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantial extracts from it may be printed or substantiels de celle-ci ne doivent être otherwise reproduced without his/her per- imprimés ou autrement reproduits sans son mission. autorisation. rsBN 0-31-5-5168t-x CaNaadää POPULATION, DISTRIBUTION' HABITAT USE AND NATURAL HISTORY oF ORD'S KANGAROO RAT (Dipodoøys ordi) IN THE SAND HILL AREAS OF SOUTH-I,TESTERN SASKATCHEI4IAN AND SOUTH-EASTERN ALBERTA BY RAYMOND J.L.
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary Vegetation Classification of the Tombstone, Arizona, Vicinity
    AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF EDMUNDO GARCIA-MOYA for theDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Name) (Degree) ANIMAL SCIENCE in (RANGELAND RESOURCES) presented onfi,?,(2;2-01) / Yj) Qi (Major) (Date) Title: A PRELIMINARY VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION OF THE TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA, VICINITY Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: C. E. Poulton The need for classifying vegetation in a more precise wayis evident.Also, there is a need to provide a hierarchicalclassification scheme that will match changes in image characteristics as one moves through the scales from spaceto conventional aerial photo- graphy.Such refined classifications of vegetation are thefirst steps toward a better understanding of the potentialities andlimitations of a specified area which help in the detection of analogousenvironmental conditions for resource allocation and management purposes.These needs become more urgent as use and competitionfor natural resources and land increases.The first approximation of a classification scheme may meet these needs for a test site inthe Tombstone, Arizona, vicinity.This classification task was accomplished by the use of a "hierarchical- polythetic-agglomerative" package using presence-absence data and standardized cover esti- mates, The following tentative associations and a variant were found upon division of the original data into groups of convenient size to meet the limitations of the programs: Association A (Panicum hirticaule/Tidestromia lanuginosa- Boerhaavia coulteri) la (a variant of Association A) Association B (Rhus microphylla-Dalea formosa)
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Herbicide Use Within Authorized Power Line Rights-Of-Way on National Forest System Lands in Arizona
    United States Department of Agriculture Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Herbicide Use within Authorized Power Line Rights-of-Way on National Forest System Lands in Arizona Forest Service Southwestern Region Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, and Tonto National Forests December 2018 Page intentionally left blank For More Information Contact: Thomas Torres, P.E. Deputy Forest Supervisor Tonto National Forest 2324 East McDowell Road Phoenix, Arizona 85006 Phone: 602.225.5203 Email: [email protected] In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.
    [Show full text]
  • Stable Grassland Ecosystem
    This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. Chapter 5 Desert Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems Samuel R. Loftin, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Albuquerque, New Mexico Richard Aguilar, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico Alice L. Chung-MacCoubrey, USDA Forest Service, . Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Albuquerque, New MexIco Wayne A. Robbie, USDA Forest Service, Watershed an~ Air Management Staff, Region 3, Albuquerque, New MexIco INTRODUCTION taken from a review by Dick-Peddie (1993). The ex­ tensive grasslands and shrublands of North America The productivity, stability, and health of the Middle developed in response to climate change and the Rio Grande Basin, arid and semiarid grassland and uplifting of the western mountain ranges, includ.ing shrub land ecosystems depend upon complex inter­ the Rocky, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountains, actions. These relationships occur between factors which began in the early to mid-Tertiary period (65- such as climate, domestic livestock, and wildlife use, 26 million years ago). The vegetation of North and human activities such as urban development, ag­ America early in the Tertiary period has been riculture, and recreation. These grassland/ shrubland grouped into three major geoflora.s. The Artc~­ ecosystems are particularly sensitive to change because Tertiary Geoflora occupied cool, mOIst, upper latI­ they depend highly upon water availability. tudes, the Neotropical-Tertiary Geoflora occupied the Southwestern rangelands experienced heavy live­ warm, moist,lower latitudes, and the Madro-Tertiary stock grazing and human activities over the past cen­ Geoflora occupied intermediate, drier regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Snakeweed: Poisonous Properties, Livestock Losses, and Management Considerations
    J. Range Manage. 55: 277-284 May 2002 Snakeweed: Poisonous properties, livestock losses, and management considerations KIRK C. McDANIEL AND TIMOTHY T. ROSS Authors are Professors, Dept. of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, N.M. 88003. Abstract Resumen (broom, Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt & Snakeweeds (broom, Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt & "Snakeweeds" Rusby) "Threadleaf" (G. microcephala (DC.) Gray) caen den- Rusby); and threadleaf, G. microcephala (DC.) Gray) fall into y de la categoria de las malezas toxicas que raramente causan that class of poisonous weeds that seldom cause direct livestock tro perdidas directas de ganado porque ellas no le gustan al ganado losses because they are highly unpalatable and animals rarely consumen grandes cantidades de mate- consume large quantities of plant material. However, when y raramente los animales de estas plantas. Sin embargo, cuando el snakeweed becomes dominant on rangeland and retards growth rial vegetal llega a ser dominante en el pastizal retarda el of desirable forage, then indirectly it becomes a serious hazard to "Snakeweed" y de especies deseables, entonces se convierte en un animal health. Confined and rangeland feeding trials conducted crecimiento serio peligro para la salud animal. Estudios de alimentacion en at New Mexico State University with cattle and sheep have failed en pastizal realizados en la Universidad Estatal to elicit reproductive failure with elevated snakeweed dosages. confinamiento y Mexico con ovinos bovinos han fallado en lograr un was shown to impair certain reproductive functions de Nuevo y Snakeweed con dosis elevadas de "Snakeweed". such as pituitary responsiveness to luteinizing hormone, and fracaso reproductivo "Snakeweed" mostro deteriorar ciertas funciones reproductivas caused mild hepato-renal toxicity.
    [Show full text]
  • HOARY TANSYASTER Dieteria (Machaeranthera) Canescens (Pursh) Nutt
    HOARY TANSYASTER Dieteria (Machaeranthera) canescens (Pursh) Nutt. Asteraceae – Aster family Corey L. Gucker & Nancy L. Shaw | 2018 ORGANIZATION NOMENCLATURE Dieteria canescens (Pursh) Nutt. until recently Names, subtaxa, chromosome number(s), hybridization. (2010) was known as Machaeranthera canescens (Pursh) A. Gray (ITIS 2017; USDA NRCS 2017). This species belongs to the Astereae tribe of the Asteraceae family (Morgan Range, habitat, plant associations, elevation, soils. 2006) and will hereafter be referred to by its common name, hoary tansyaster. NRCS Plant Code. MACA2 (USDA NRCS 2017). Life form, morphology, distinguishing characteristics, reproduction. Subtaxa. The Flora of North America (Morgan 2006) recognizes ten varieties of hoary tansyaster: Dieteria canescens var. Growth rate, successional status, disturbance ecology, importance to canescens, ambigua, aristata, glabra, incana, animals/people. leucanthemifolia, nebraskana, sessiliflora, shastensis, and ziegleri. Current or potential uses in restoration. Synonyms (Morgan 2006). Dieteria canescens: Machaeranthera canescens (Pursh) A. Gray; Aster canescens Seed sourcing, wildland seed collection, seed cleaning, storage, Pursh testing and marketing standards. D. c. var. ambigua: M. canescens (Pursh) A. Gray var. ambigua B.L. Turner D. c. var. aristatus: A. canescens Pursh var. Recommendations/guidelines for producing seed. aristatus Eastwood; M. canescens (Pursh) A. Gray var. aristata (Eastwood) B.L. Turner; M. rigida Greene D. c. var. canescens: M. divaricata (Nuttall) Recommendations/guidelines for producing planting stock. Greene; M. laetevirens Greene; M. latifolia A. Nelson; M. pulverulenta (Nuttall) Greene; M. viscosa (Nuttall) Greene D. c. var. glabra: M. canescens (Pursh) A. Gray Recommendations/guidelines, wildland restoration successes/ var. glabra A. Gray; A. canescens Pursh var. failures. viridis A. Gray; M. linearis Greene D.
    [Show full text]
  • Cattle Grazing As a Biological Control for Broom Snakeweed: Vegetation Response Michael H
    Rangeland Ecol Manage 62:38–43 | January 2009 Cattle Grazing as a Biological Control for Broom Snakeweed: Vegetation Response Michael H. Ralphs1 and Jeffery E. Banks2 Authors are 1Rangeland Scientist, US Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Logan, UT, 84341, USA and 2Juab County Agent, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, Nephi, UT 84648, USA. Abstract Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae [Pursh] Britton & Rusby) increases and dominates rangelands following disturbances, such as overgrazing, fire, and drought. However, if cattle can be forced to graze broom snakeweed, they may be used as a biological tool to control it. Cattle grazed broom snakeweed in May and August 2004–2007. Narrow grazing lanes were fenced to restrict availability of herbaceous forage to force cattle to graze broom snakeweed. They used 50–85% of broom snakeweed biomass. Mature broom snakeweed plant density declined because of prolonged drought, but the decline was greater in grazed lanes. At the end of the study, density of mature plants in grazed lanes was 0.31 plants ? m22, compared with 0.79 plants ? m22 in ungrazed pastures. Spring precipitation in 2005 was 65% above average, and a new crop of seedlings established following the spring grazing trial. Seedling establishment was greater in the spring-grazed lanes in which the soil had been recently disturbed, compared with the ungrazed transects and summer-grazed lanes. The cattle were not able to use the large volume of new broom snakeweed plants in the spring-grazed pasture. They did reduce the number of seedlings and juvenile plants in the summer-grazed pasture.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory of Sensitive Species and Ecosystems in Utah, Endemic And
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
    [Show full text]
  • Vascular Flora and Vegetation of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
    Vascular Flora and Vegetation of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Kenneth D. Heil, J. Mark Porter, Rich Fleming, and William H. Romme Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTR-93/01 National Park Service Cooperative Park Studies Unit U.S. Department of the Interior at Northern Arizona University National Park Service Cooperative Park Studies Unit Northern Arizona University The National Park Service (NPS) Cooperative Park Studies Unit (CPSU) at Northern Arizona University (NAU) is unique in that it was conceptualized for operation on an ecosystem basis, rather than being restrained by state or NPS boundaries. The CPSU was established to provide research for the 33 NPS units located within the Colorado Plateau, an ecosystem that shares similar resources and their associated management problems. Utilizing the university's physical resources and faculty expertise, the CPSU facilitates multidisciplinary research in NPS units on the Colorado Plateau, which encompasses four states and three NPS regions—Rocky Mountain, Southwest, and Western. The CPSU provides scientific and technical guidance for effective management of natural and cultural resources within those NPS units. The National Park Service disseminates the results of biological, physical, and social science research through the Colorado Plateau Technical Report Series. Natural resources inventories and monitoring activities, scientific literature reviews, bibliographies, and proceedings of techni­ cal workshops and conferences are also disseminated through this series. Unit Staff Charles van Riper, III, Unit Leader Peter G. Rowlands, Research Scientist Henry E. McCutchen, Research Scientist Mark K. Sogge, Ecologist Charles Drost, Zoologist Elena T. Deshler, Biological Technician Paul R. Deshler, Technical Information Specialist Connie C. Cole, Editor Margaret Rasmussen, Administrative Clerk Jennifer Henderson, Secretary National Park Service Review Documents in this series contain information of a preliminary nature and are prepared primarily for internal use within the National Park Service.
    [Show full text]