Ecosystem Disturbance and Wildlife Conservation in Western Grasslands — a Symposium Proceedings

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Ecosystem Disturbance and Wildlife Conservation in Western Grasslands — a Symposium Proceedings United States Department of Ecosystem disturbance and Agriculture Forest Service wildlife conservation in Rocky Mountain western grasslands Forest and Range Experiment Station A symposium proceedings Fort Collins, Colorado 80526 General Technical Report RM-GTR-285 Finch, Deborah M., Editor. 1996. Ecosystem disturbance and wildlife conservation in western grasslands — A symposium proceedings. September 22-26, 1994; Albuquerque, NM. General Technical Report RM-GTR-285. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 82 p. Abstract: This publication is the result of a half-day symposium, “Ecology, management, and sustainability of western grassland ecosystems” held at The Wildlife Society’s First Annual Technical Conference, September 22-26, 1994 in Albuquerque, NM. The purpose of the symposium was to review and synthesize information about the structure, function, and components of steppe and desert grassland ecosystems in the western United States with special emphasis on the ecological roles and requirements of wildlife species. This work, designed to draw attention to some wildlife topics that have been particularly neglected for western grasslands, represents a cross-section of the papers orally presented at the symposium as well as some additional papers solicited afterwards. To provide a quality product, a minimum of two peer reviews were solicited for each manuscript, and authors were instructed to revise manuscripts based on editor's and referees' comments. Land managers, range conservationists, wildlife biologists, ecologists, and private citizens interested in sustaining the ecological health, productivity, and biological diversity of western grassland ecosystems should find this publication valuable. Keywords: steppe and desert grassland ecosystems, wildlife requirements, western grasslands, biological diversity, ecological health Acknowledgments: The editor thanks Bertie Weddell and Gale Wolters for helping to organize the original symposium session. The Wildlife Society (TWS) hosted the symposium, and the National Biological Service and the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station co-funded the publication. Appreciation is extended to Norm Scott for assistance in defraying the publication costs; Jim Fenwood for supplying the TWS working group charter; and Bertie Weddell, Chair (1994-95) of the working group, for ideas and inspiration. Editor’s note: Each manuscript received peer review. To deliver symposium proceedings to readers as quickly as possible, manuscripts did not undergo full editing. Views expressed in each paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the sponsoring organizations or the USDA Forest Service. Trade names are used for the information and convenience of the reader and do not imply endorsement or preferential treatment by the sponsoring organi- zations or the USDA Forest Service COVER PHOTOS: Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) blanketing a remnant of original Palouse prairie during a wet year near Pullman, Washington (by John Mitchell, USDA-FS). Insets: Pronghorn antelope (Antilocaptra americana) fawn, short-grass/sagebrush steppe, southeastern Wyoming (by Deborah Finch, USDA-FS) and Ornate box turtle (terrapene ornata), Rita Blanca National Grassland, near Clayton, NM (by Paulette Ford, USDA-FS). USDA Forest Service September 1996 General Technical Report RM-GTR-285 Ecosystem disturbance and wildlife conservation in western grasslands A symposium proceedings Editor: Deborah M. Finch, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station Albuquerque, New Mexico1 Sponsors: The Wildlife Society's Working Group on Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Resources The Wildlife Society National Biological Service, Piedras Bancas Research Station USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station 1 Headquarters is in Fort Collins, Colorado Contents Page Sustaining western grasslands and associated wildlife: An Introduction......................................................................................... 1 Deborah M. Finch Geographic overview: Climate, phenology, and disturbance regimes in steppe and desert communities ......................................... 3 B.J. Weddell Grazing effects on grassland ecosystems ................................................ 13 Linda L. Wallace and Mel I. Dyer Ecology of fire in shortgrass prairie of the southern Great Plains ....... 20 Paulette L. Ford and Guy R. McPherson Evolution and management of the North American grassland herpetofauna .......................................................................... 40 Norman J. Scott, Jr. Grassland bats and land management in the Southwest ....................... 54 Alice L. Chung-MacCoubrey Sparrow migration along a river corridor in desert grassland .............. 64 Deborah M. Finch and Wang Yong Integrating livestock production and wildlife in a sagebrush-grass ecosystem ................................................................... 73 Michael L. Wolfe, Gregg E. Simonds, Rick Danvir, and William J. Hopkin Charter of the Working Group on Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Resources of The Wildlife Society, Inc. ............................ 78 Approved by The Wildlife Society, March 25, 1995 iii Sustaining western grasslands and associated wildlife: An introduction Deborah M. Finch1 This publication is the result of a half-day aimed at improving plant productivity, increasing symposium, “Ecology, management, and livestock weight and numbers, and solving prob- sustainability of western grassland ecosystems,” lems that affect economic return. A scientific held at The Wildlife Society’s First Annual Techni- foundation for maintaining and monitoring popu- cal Conference, September 22-26, 1994 in Albu- lations and communities of grassland wildlife, querque, NM. The symposium was sponsored by especially nongame species, in concert with com- The Wildlife Society’s Working Group on Sustain- modity production is not well-established for most able Use of Ecosystem Resources and was orga- grassland ecosystems in western North America. nized by members Deborah Finch, Gale Wolters, This publication is designed to draw attention to and Bertie Weddell. The scope of this working some wildlife topics that have been particularly group is the assembly, study, and transfer of neglected for western grasslands. information pertaining to the conservation of The timing of this publication is especially wildlife through sustainable uses of ecosystem appropriate because: resources throughout the world. Its goals are to 1. Scientists are reporting ecosystem endanger- facilitate communication and exchange of informa- ment, species endangerment, and animal tion among members of The Wildlife Society population declines in many North American interested in applying the ecosystem management grasslands (Finch 1994;Knopf 1994; Flather et concept to wildlife conservation; enhance knowl- al. 1994; Noss et al. 1995; Samson and Knopf edge and technical capabilities of wildlife profes- 1996); sionals in the definition, assessment, and imple- mentation of sustainable uses of ecosystem re- 2. Land-managing agencies with an ecosystem sources; and increase public awareness and appre- management orientation such as Bureau of ciation of the effects of resource uses on wildlife Land Managment and U.S. Forest Service are and of the role of sustainable resource use in showing increasing interest, concern, and wildlife management. For more information about emphasis on nontraditional uses for grass- this working group, see its charter at the end of lands such as recreation, wildlife viewing, this volume. birdwatching, hunting, and fishing (e.g., Birds The purpose of the symposium was to review of Cimarron National Grassland, Cable et al. and synthesize information about the structure, 1996; USDA Forest Service 1996); function, and components of steppe and desert 3. Professional societies such as the Society of grassland ecosystems in the western United States Range Management as well as government with special emphasis on the ecological roles and and nongovernment organizations are flag- requirements of wildlife species. Western grass- ging rangeland health and rangeland wildlife lands under private and agency ownership have as topics of concern (USDA Forest Service, traditionally been managed primarily for livestock 1992; National Research Council 1994; and crop production. Applied scientific studies Krausmann 1996); and have heavily emphasized methods and analyses 4. Local ranching communities accustomed to using government lands for rearing livestock 1 Project Leader, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain are expressing uneasiness about tighter Forest and Range Experiment Station, 2205 Columbia SE, permit restrictions and perceived threats to Albuquerque, NM 87106. their stockraising traditions and livelihoods. 1 Monitoring data and syntheses of existing infor- LITERATURE CITED mation are needed to address these shifts in values and resolve conflicting problems. This publication represents a cross-section of the Cable, T.T., S. Seltman, and K.J. Cook. 1996. Birds papers orally presented at the symposium as well of Cimarron National Grassland. USDA Forest as some additional papers solicited afterwards. Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Each paper was reviewed by a minimum of two Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. General Technical Report RM-GTR-281. peer referees prior to editorial review and publica- Finch, D.M. 1992. 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