24 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Habitat use and spatial interactions of cattle, wild horses, mule deer, and California bighorn sheep in the Owyhee breaks of southeast Oregon
The objectives of this study were to quantify and describe:
(1) the major plant communities and their distribution, (2) the
distribution and movement patterns of large herbivores relative to
water, topography, and plant communities, (3) the daily activity
patterns of each herbivore, and (4) the borne range size of wild
horse bands and studs on a 376 km² area in southeast Oregon.
Distribution of plant communities about the area was
indicative of a history of overgrazing and fire. Communities in
low ecologic condition were associated with relatively level terrain
and basin areas.
Wild horses and bighorn sheep were year-around study area residents.
Cattle occupancy was from April through October, and intensive
deer use occurred from October through April. Deer movement to
and from the area was correlated with, but probably not caused by
cattle activities. Deer, however, preferred cheatgrass communities
previously grazed by livestock.
Ellipse estimates of home ranges for bands and studs averaged
28.3 and 25.8 km², respectively. Polygon estates for band and
stud home ranges averaged 11.8 and 12.3 km², respectively. Home ranges of bands and studs overlapped substantially, and no territorial
behavior was observed. Home range size showed a significant,
but weak, negative correlation with water hole density.
With the exception of bighorn sheep, habitat use by large
herbivores was negatively correlated with increasing slope. Species
order for progressively greater use of slopes was cattle, horses,
deer, and bighorn sheep.
Of the 4 herbivores studied bighorn sheep were the most
restricted in distribution. Progressive rankings of greater spatial
distribution were: bighorn sheep, cattle, horses, and deer. Patterns
of resource use by large herbivores did not always conform to mathmatical expectations
Recommended from our members
Effects of grazing and drought on range grasses
Published June 1980. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo
Recommended from our members
Abundances of Coplanted Native Bunchgrasses and Crested Wheatgrass after 13 Years
Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L] Gaertm) has been seeded on more than 5 million hectares in western North America because it establishes more readily than native bunchgrasses. Currently, there is substantial interest in reestablishing native species in sagebrush steppe, but efforts to reintroduce native grasses into crested wheatgrass stands have been largely unsuccessful, and little is known about the long-term dynamics of crested wheatgrass/native species mixes. We examined the abundance of crested wheatgrass and seven native sagebrush steppe bunchgrasses planted concurrently at equal low densities in nongrazed and unburned plots. Thirteen years post establishment, crested wheatgrass was the dominant bunchgrass, with a 10-fold increase in density. Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer), Thurber’s needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth), basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus [Scribn. & Merr.] A. Löve), and Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl) maintained their low planting density, whereas bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. Löve), needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. & Rupr.] Barkworth), and squirreltail (Elymus elymoides [Raf.] Swezey) densities declined. Our results suggest that densities of native bunchgrasses planted with crested wheatgrass are unlikely to increase and that some species may only persist at low levels. The high recruitment of crested wheatgrass suggests that coplanting of some native bunchgrasses may be a viable way of avoiding crested wheatgrass monocultures when this species is necessary for rehabilitation or restoration.Keywords: Agropyron cristatum, Revegetation, Sagebrush steppe, Restoratio
Recommended from our members
Cheatgrass and its relationship to climate : a review
Published October 1979. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo
Recommended from our members
Prescribed fire effects on resource selection by cattle in mesic sagebrush steppe. Part 1: Spring grazing
Prescribed fire is commonly applied world-wide as a tool for enhancing habitats and altering resource-selection patterns of grazing animals. A scientific basis for this practice has been established in some ecosystems but its efficacy has not been rigorously evaluated on mesic sagebrush steppe. Beginning in 2003, resource-selection patterns of beef cows were investigated using global positioning system (GPS) collars for 2 years before and for 5 years after a fall prescribed burn was applied to mesic sagebrush steppe in the Owyhee Mountains of southwestern Idaho, USA. Resource-selection functions (RSF) developed from these data indicated cattle selected for lightly to moderately burned areas for all 5 postfire years. Cattle had been neutral towards these areas prior to the fire when their distribution was primarily affected by slope, sagebrush dominance, and distance to upland water. Resource-selection responses to the fire lasted 2-3 years longer than would be expected for fire-induced, forage-quality improvement effects. Although this is a case study and caution should be taken in extrapolating these results, if applied under conditions similar to this study, livestock producers and natural resource managers can likely use fall prescribed fire in the mesic sagebrush steppe to affect cattle resource-use patterns for 5 years postfire.KEYWORDS: Modeling, Livestock distribution, Habitat use, GPS tracking, Burning, Rangeland improvementThis is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-arid-environments
Recommended from our members
MapPlantCommunities.pdf
The objectives of this study were to quantify and describe:
(1) the major plant communities and their distribution, (2) the
distribution and movement patterns of large herbivores relative to
water, topography, and plant communities, (3) the daily activity
patterns of each herbivore, and (4) the borne range size of wild
horse bands and studs on a 376 km² area in southeast Oregon.
Distribution of plant communities about the area was
indicative of a history of overgrazing and fire. Communities in
low ecologic condition were associated with relatively level terrain
and basin areas.
Wild horses and bighorn sheep were year-around study area residents.
Cattle occupancy was from April through October, and intensive
deer use occurred from October through April. Deer movement to
and from the area was correlated with, but probably not caused by
cattle activities. Deer, however, preferred cheatgrass communities
previously grazed by livestock.
Ellipse estimates of home ranges for bands and studs averaged
28.3 and 25.8 km², respectively. Polygon estates for band and
stud home ranges averaged 11.8 and 12.3 km², respectively. Home ranges of bands and studs overlapped substantially, and no territorial
behavior was observed. Home range size showed a significant,
but weak, negative correlation with water hole density.
With the exception of bighorn sheep, habitat use by large
herbivores was negatively correlated with increasing slope. Species
order for progressively greater use of slopes was cattle, horses,
deer, and bighorn sheep.
Of the 4 herbivores studied bighorn sheep were the most
restricted in distribution. Progressive rankings of greater spatial
distribution were: bighorn sheep, cattle, horses, and deer. Patterns
of resource use by large herbivores did not always conform to mathmatical expectations
Recommended from our members
GanskoppDavidC1983.pdf
The objectives of this study were to quantify and describe:
(1) the major plant communities and their distribution, (2) the
distribution and movement patterns of large herbivores relative to
water, topography, and plant communities, (3) the daily activity
patterns of each herbivore, and (4) the borne range size of wild
horse bands and studs on a 376 km² area in southeast Oregon.
Distribution of plant communities about the area was
indicative of a history of overgrazing and fire. Communities in
low ecologic condition were associated with relatively level terrain
and basin areas.
Wild horses and bighorn sheep were year-around study area residents.
Cattle occupancy was from April through October, and intensive
deer use occurred from October through April. Deer movement to
and from the area was correlated with, but probably not caused by
cattle activities. Deer, however, preferred cheatgrass communities
previously grazed by livestock.
Ellipse estimates of home ranges for bands and studs averaged
28.3 and 25.8 km², respectively. Polygon estates for band and
stud home ranges averaged 11.8 and 12.3 km², respectively. Home ranges of bands and studs overlapped substantially, and no territorial
behavior was observed. Home range size showed a significant,
but weak, negative correlation with water hole density.
With the exception of bighorn sheep, habitat use by large
herbivores was negatively correlated with increasing slope. Species
order for progressively greater use of slopes was cattle, horses,
deer, and bighorn sheep.
Of the 4 herbivores studied bighorn sheep were the most
restricted in distribution. Progressive rankings of greater spatial
distribution were: bighorn sheep, cattle, horses, and deer. Patterns
of resource use by large herbivores did not always conform to mathmatical expectations
Recommended from our members
Ganskopp1979Fig7.jpg
The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify and map the
experimental area of Meadow Creek watershed by existing vegetation,
and 2) to identify and map the experimental area of Meadow Creek
watershed by habitat types. The classification system adopted for
this study was based on the habitat type concept of Rexford Daubenmire.
Frequency of herbaceous vegetation and cover of shrub species
were sampled in riparian communities. In upland communities density
and cover estimations were used to quantify herbaceous plants,
line intercepts were employed to sample shrub species, and belt
transects were used to quantify the overstory component via density
and basal area. Forty permanent transects were established in
riparian communities and 151 permanent transects were established
in upland communities.
An association table process was employed for separation of
plant communities and habitat types. Transects on the riparian
meadows proved to be insufficiently stratified for quantification of
plant communities. However, 44 riparian communities were delineated
by reconnaissance methods. Seventeen plant communities were detected
and mapped on upland areas. Habitat type classifications revealed
three grassland, one shrub, and six forest habitat types on the
area. Riparian meadows and a small portion of the upland area could
not be classified to habitat types
Recommended from our members
Ganskopp1979Fig4.jpg
The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify and map the
experimental area of Meadow Creek watershed by existing vegetation,
and 2) to identify and map the experimental area of Meadow Creek
watershed by habitat types. The classification system adopted for
this study was based on the habitat type concept of Rexford Daubenmire.
Frequency of herbaceous vegetation and cover of shrub species
were sampled in riparian communities. In upland communities density
and cover estimations were used to quantify herbaceous plants,
line intercepts were employed to sample shrub species, and belt
transects were used to quantify the overstory component via density
and basal area. Forty permanent transects were established in
riparian communities and 151 permanent transects were established
in upland communities.
An association table process was employed for separation of
plant communities and habitat types. Transects on the riparian
meadows proved to be insufficiently stratified for quantification of
plant communities. However, 44 riparian communities were delineated
by reconnaissance methods. Seventeen plant communities were detected
and mapped on upland areas. Habitat type classifications revealed
three grassland, one shrub, and six forest habitat types on the
area. Riparian meadows and a small portion of the upland area could
not be classified to habitat types
Recommended from our members
Plant communities and habitat types of the Meadow Creek experimental watershed
The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify and map the
experimental area of Meadow Creek watershed by existing vegetation,
and 2) to identify and map the experimental area of Meadow Creek
watershed by habitat types. The classification system adopted for
this study was based on the habitat type concept of Rexford Daubenmire.
Frequency of herbaceous vegetation and cover of shrub species
were sampled in riparian communities. In upland communities density
and cover estimations were used to quantify herbaceous plants,
line intercepts were employed to sample shrub species, and belt
transects were used to quantify the overstory component via density
and basal area. Forty permanent transects were established in
riparian communities and 151 permanent transects were established
in upland communities.
An association table process was employed for separation of
plant communities and habitat types. Transects on the riparian
meadows proved to be insufficiently stratified for quantification of
plant communities. However, 44 riparian communities were delineated
by reconnaissance methods. Seventeen plant communities were detected
and mapped on upland areas. Habitat type classifications revealed
three grassland, one shrub, and six forest habitat types on the
area. Riparian meadows and a small portion of the upland area could
not be classified to habitat types