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Williams B, Gardner W, Singh JP, Fraser L. Testing prescribed burning to shift an agronomic grass community to a diverse native plant community. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 356:120581. [PMID: 38518495 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Prescribed burning can be an effective land management tool. Here, we study changes in plant diversity and composition following experimental fire disturbance in microcosm units extracted from a twenty-five-year-old historically reclaimed grassland located at Highland Valley Copper mine in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. Experimental microcosm units were dominated by agronomic grass species Elymus lanceolatus, Thinopyrum intermedium and Bromus inermis. The disturbance treatment was fire intensity, represented by three levels (light, moderate, and heavy), replicated six times per treatment. Fire intensity was controlled by modifying the weight of dried litter applied to each microcosm unit (50 g,150 g, 200g), along with the time each grass turf was burned (10 s, 15 s, 20 s). One day after the fire treatment was applied, microcosm units were seeded with a native species mix consisting of six grassland species common to southern B.C. to examine effectiveness of plant establishment postburn. Disturbance treatments resulted in higher overall alpha diversity, richness, evenness, and beta diversity. Plant community changes included colonization of seeded native forbs, grasses, and legumes in response to disturbance. Aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) was net neutral within the light and moderate burning disturbance treatments but resulted in increased ANPP with heavy disturbance. Litter mass reduced plant diversity and ANPP, indicating that litter was a major factor in plant community dynamics. These results suggest disturbance by burning leads to short term positive plant community response towards increasing diversity of semi-arid grasslands, and aids in shifting plant communities to higher diversity composed of an increase in native plant species. Our results also suggest that without active management the gains observed in native species establishment might quickly be out shadowed and restricted by the previously dominant agronomic plant community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Williams
- Thompson Rivers University, 805 TRU Way, Kamloops British Columbia, Canada, V2C 0C8.
| | - Wendy Gardner
- Thompson Rivers University, 805 TRU Way, Kamloops British Columbia, Canada, V2C 0C8.
| | - Jay Prakash Singh
- Thompson Rivers University, 805 TRU Way, Kamloops British Columbia, Canada, V2C 0C8.
| | - Lauchlan Fraser
- Thompson Rivers University, 805 TRU Way, Kamloops British Columbia, Canada, V2C 0C8.
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Pringle RM, Abraham JO, Anderson TM, Coverdale TC, Davies AB, Dutton CL, Gaylard A, Goheen JR, Holdo RM, Hutchinson MC, Kimuyu DM, Long RA, Subalusky AL, Veldhuis MP. Impacts of large herbivores on terrestrial ecosystems. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R584-R610. [PMID: 37279691 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Large herbivores play unique ecological roles and are disproportionately imperiled by human activity. As many wild populations dwindle towards extinction, and as interest grows in restoring lost biodiversity, research on large herbivores and their ecological impacts has intensified. Yet, results are often conflicting or contingent on local conditions, and new findings have challenged conventional wisdom, making it hard to discern general principles. Here, we review what is known about the ecosystem impacts of large herbivores globally, identify key uncertainties, and suggest priorities to guide research. Many findings are generalizable across ecosystems: large herbivores consistently exert top-down control of plant demography, species composition, and biomass, thereby suppressing fires and the abundance of smaller animals. Other general patterns do not have clearly defined impacts: large herbivores respond to predation risk but the strength of trophic cascades is variable; large herbivores move vast quantities of seeds and nutrients but with poorly understood effects on vegetation and biogeochemistry. Questions of the greatest relevance for conservation and management are among the least certain, including effects on carbon storage and other ecosystem functions and the ability to predict outcomes of extinctions and reintroductions. A unifying theme is the role of body size in regulating ecological impact. Small herbivores cannot fully substitute for large ones, and large-herbivore species are not functionally redundant - losing any, especially the largest, will alter net impact, helping to explain why livestock are poor surrogates for wild species. We advocate leveraging a broad spectrum of techniques to mechanistically explain how large-herbivore traits and environmental context interactively govern the ecological impacts of these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Pringle
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Joel O Abraham
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - T Michael Anderson
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Tyler C Coverdale
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Andrew B Davies
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | - Jacob R Goheen
- Department of Zoology & Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82072, USA
| | - Ricardo M Holdo
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Matthew C Hutchinson
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Duncan M Kimuyu
- Department of Natural Resources, Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya
| | - Ryan A Long
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Amanda L Subalusky
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Michiel P Veldhuis
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Wasan JPM, Pyle LA, Bennett JA. Disturbance and nutrient availability drive absinthe ( Artemisia absinthium) invasion in a native rough fescue grassland. ECOSCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2023.2165283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John Paul M Wasan
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lysandra A. Pyle
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jonathan A. Bennett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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McMillan NA, Fuhlendorf SD, Luttbeg B, Goodman LE, Davis CA, Allred BW, Hamilton RG. Bison movements change with weather: Implications for their continued conservation in the Anthropocene. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9586. [PMID: 36514548 PMCID: PMC9731910 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal movement patterns are affected by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic landscape conditions, and these patterns are being altered by weather variability associated with a changing climate. Some animals, like the American plains bison (Bison bison L.; hereafter, plains bison), are considered keystone species, thus their response to weather variability may alter ecosystem structure and biodiversity patterns. Many movement studies of plains bison and other ungulates have focused on point-pattern analyses (e.g., resource-selection) that have provided information about where these animals move, but information about when or why these animals move is limited. For example, information surrounding the influence of weather on plains bison movement in response to weather is limited but has important implications for their conservation in a changing climate. To explore how movement distance is affected by weather patterns and drought, we utilized 12-min GPS data from two of the largest plains bison herds in North America to model their response to weather and drought parameters using generalized additive mixed models. Distance moved was best predicted by air temperature, wind speed, and rainfall. However, air temperature best explained the variation in distance moved compared to any other single parameter we measured, predicting a 48% decrease in movement rates above 28°C. Moreover, severe drought (as indicated by 25-cm depth soil moisture) better predicted movement distance than moderate drought. The strong influence of weather and drought on plains bison movements observed in our study suggest that shifting climate and weather will likely affect plains bison movement patterns, further complicating conservation efforts for this wide-ranging keystone species. Moreover, changes in plains bison movement patterns may have cascading effects for grassland ecosystem structure, function, and biodiversity. Plains bison and grassland conservation efforts need to be proactive and adaptive when considering the implications of a changing climate on bison movement patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. McMillan
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureSchool of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraskaUSA
| | - Samuel D. Fuhlendorf
- Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - Barney Luttbeg
- Integrative BiologyOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - Laura E. Goodman
- Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - Craig A. Davis
- Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - Brady W. Allred
- W.A. Franke College of Forestry & ConservationUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
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Dornbusch MJ, Limb RF, Bloom-Cornelius IV, Elmore RD, Weir JR, Fuhlendorf SD. Factors influencing the persistence of a fire-sensitive Artemisia species in a fire-dependent ecosystem. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2604. [PMID: 35365937 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fire refugia and patchiness are important to the persistence of fire-sensitive species and may facilitate biodiversity conservation in fire-dependent landscapes. Playing the role of ecosystem engineers, large herbivores alter vegetation structure and can reduce wildfire risk. However, herbivore effects on the spatial variability of fire and the persistence of fire-sensitive species are not clear. To examine the hypothesis that large herbivores support the persistence of fire-sensitive species through the creation of fire refugia in fire-prone landscapes, we examined the response of a fire-sensitive plant, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & Young]) to fire and grazing in the fire-dependent mixed-grass prairie of the northern Great Plains. We carried out a controlled burn in 2010 within pre-established exclosures that allowed differential access to wild and domestic herbivores and no record of fire in the previous 75 years due to fire suppression efforts. The experiment was set up with a split-plot design to also examine potential changes in plots that were not burned. Canopy cover of big sagebrush was recorded before the burn in 2010 and again in 2011 with percent area burned recorded within 1-month post-fire in the burned plots. Percentage area burned was the greatest in ungulate exclosures (92% ± 2%) and the least in open areas (55% ± 21%), suggesting that large herbivores influenced fire behavior (e.g., reducing fire intensity and rate of spread) and are likely to increase fire patchiness through their alterations to the fuel bed. Regression analysis indicated that the proportion of sagebrush cover lost was significantly correlated with the proportion of area burned (R2 = 0.76, p = 0.05). No differences in the non-burn plots were observed among grazing treatments or among years. Altogether, this illustrates the potential importance of large herbivores in creating biotic-driven fire refugia for fire-sensitive species to survive within the flammable fuel matrix of fire-dependent grassland ecosystems such as the mixed-grass prairie. Our findings also attest to the resiliency of the northern Great Plains to fire and herbivory and underscore the value of managing grasslands for heterogeneity with spatial and temporal variations in these historic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J Dornbusch
- School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Ryan F Limb
- School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Ilana V Bloom-Cornelius
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - R Dwayne Elmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - John R Weir
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Samuel D Fuhlendorf
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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Young TP, Kimuyu DN, LaMalfa EM, Werner CM, Jones C, Masudi P, Ang'ila R, Sensenig RL. Effects of large mammalian herbivory, previous fire, and year of burn on fire behavior in an African savanna. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Truman. P. Young
- Department of Plant Sciences University of California Davis California USA
- Mpala Research Centre Nanyuki Kenya
| | - Duncan N. Kimuyu
- Mpala Research Centre Nanyuki Kenya
- Department of Natural Resources Karatina University Karatina Kenya
| | - Eric M. LaMalfa
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah USA
| | - Chhaya M. Werner
- Department of Botany and Wyoming EPSCoR University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | | | - Phyllis Masudi
- Department of Animal Production University of Nairobi Kangemi Kenya
| | - Robert Ang'ila
- Department of Environmental Studies Karatina University Karatina Kenya
| | - Ryan L. Sensenig
- Department of Biological Sciences Goshen College Goshen Indiana USA
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