Broad-Scale Assessment of Rangeland Health, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, USA

Miller, Mark E.

doi:10.2111/07-107.1

Cited by 35 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 175 publications

(185 reference statements)

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“…This case study is unique for its incorporation of the biological crust functional group in an alternative state framework and for its documentation of a state characterized by high areal coverage of biological crust relative to vascular plants. Though underreported, the current or former existence of such a state is widespread among many forms of dryland ecosystems , Miller 2008, including at least five of the eight most common ecological sites sampled in our study area in conjunction with the current study (M. E. Miller, unpublished data). Biological crust effects on soil stability, nutrient cycling, hydrologic processes, and vascular plant establishment indicate a need for explicit consideration of this functional group in ecosystem analyses and management, particularly in systems characterized by a high degree of biological crust coverage and functionality relative to the vascular plant community.…”

Section: Relation To Resilience Theorymentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Common exotic annuals include the invasive C 3 grass Bromus tectorum L., the invasive C 4 forbs Salsola tragus L. and S. paulsenii Litvinov, and the C 3 forb Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Hertier. Biological crust (cyanobacterially dominated but containing lichens such as Collema and Placidium, and mosses such as Syntrichia) is an important functional group associated with the SDSL and many other ecological sites on the Colorado Plateau , Miller 2008.…”

Section: Study Area and Ecological Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Ecosystems can shift between alternative states characterized by persistent differences in structure, function, and capacity to provide ecosystem services valued by society. We examined empirical evidence for alternative states in a semiarid grassland ecosystem where topographic complexity and contrasting management regimes have led to spatial variations in levels of livestock grazing. Using an inventory data set, we found that plots (n ¼ 72) cluster into three groups corresponding to generalized alternative states identified in an a priori conceptual model. One cluster (biocrust) is notable for high coverage of a biological soil crust functional group in addition to vascular plants. Another (grass-bare) lacks biological crust but retains perennial grasses at levels similar to the biocrust cluster. A third (annualized-bare) is dominated by invasive annual plants. Occurrence of grass-bare and annualized-bare conditions in areas where livestock have been excluded for over 30 years demonstrates the persistence of these states. Significant differences among all three clusters were found for percent bare ground, percent total live cover, and functional group richness. Using data for vegetation structure and soil erodibility, we also found large among-cluster differences in average levels of dust emissions predicted by a wind-erosion model. Predicted emissions were highest for the annualized-bare cluster and lowest for the biocrust cluster, which was characterized by zero or minimal emissions even under conditions of extreme wind. Results illustrate potential trade-offs among ecosystem services including livestock production, soil retention, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. Improved understanding of these trade-offs may assist ecosystem managers when evaluating alternative management strategies.Key words: biological soil crusts; Bromus tectorum; Colorado Plateau; drylands; dust; ecosystem services; functional groups; livestock grazing; resilience; state and transition model; wind erosion.

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Section: Relation To Resilience Theorymentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Study Area and Ecological Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services

et al. 2011

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“…The indicators of rangeland health (IRH) are used to assess the integrity of rangeland ecosystem processes by evaluating structural attributes related to those processes in terms of their deviation from reference conditions (Pellant et al 2005). Miller (2008) and Herrick et al (2010) applied the IRH assessment process and found that it yielded valuable information about how ecosystem functions varied across large areas (Escalante National Monument, Utah and the USA, respectively). For example, bare ground is an indicator of soil and site stability, and it considers the size and connectedness of bare ground patches within a site.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, bare ground is an indicator of soil and site stability, and it considers the size and connectedness of bare ground patches within a site. This qualitative, fast survey technique is meant as an assessment tool and not to monitor change over time because it is not necessarily repeatable, but taking quantitative measurements related to indicators can ensure consistency (Pellant et al 2005). Miller (2008 and Herrick et al (2010) applied the IRH assessment process and found that it yielded valuable information about how ecosystem functions varied across large areas (Escalante National Monument, Utah and the USA, respectively).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indicators of ecosystem function identify alternate states in the sagebrush steppe

Kachergis

Rocca²,

Fernández‐Giménez³

2011

Ecological Applications

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Models of ecosystem change that incorporate nonlinear dynamics and thresholds, such as state-and-transition models (STMs), are increasingly popular tools for land management decision-making. However, few models are based on systematic collection and documentation of ecological data, and of these, most rely solely on structural indicators (species composition) to identify states and transitions. As STMs are adopted as an assessment framework throughout the United States, finding effective and efficient ways to create data-driven models that integrate ecosystem function and structure is vital. This study aims to (1) evaluate the utility of functional indicators (indicators of rangeland health, IRH) as proxies for more difficult ecosystem function measurements and (2) create a data-driven STM for the sagebrush steppe of Colorado, USA, that incorporates both ecosystem structure and function. We sampled soils, plant communities, and IRH at 41 plots with similar clayey soils but different site histories to identify potential states and infer the effects of management practices and disturbances on transitions. We found that many IRH were correlated with quantitative measures of functional indicators, suggesting that the IRH can be used to approximate ecosystem function. In addition to a reference state that functions as expected for this soil type, we identified four biotically and functionally distinct potential states, consistent with the theoretical concept of alternate states. Three potential states were related to management practices (chemical and mechanical shrub treatments and seeding history) while one was related only to ecosystem processes (erosion). IRH and potential states were also related to environmental variation (slope, soil texture), suggesting that there are environmental factors within areas with similar soils that affect ecosystem dynamics and should be noted within STMs. Our approach generated an objective, data-driven model of ecosystem dynamics for rangeland management. Our findings suggest that the IRH approximate ecosystem processes and can distinguish between alternate states and communities and identify transitions when building data-driven STMs. Functional indicators are a simple, efficient way to create data-driven models that are consistent with alternate state theory. Managers can use them to improve current model-building methods and thus apply state-and-transition models more broadly for land management decision-making.

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“…Increasingly, ecological site descriptions include reference sheets that describe the characteristics of the site relative to the 17 indicators of rangeland health. 7 As an example, Miller 8 used the IIRH protocol to assess the status of three ecosystem attributes (soil stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity) across the 760,000-ha Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. There were 50 ecological sites described for the monument; from a sample of 507 locations, 26 ecological sites had more than fi ve sample locations.…”

Section: Current Uses Of Ecological Sites For Monitoring and Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring and Assessment Based on Ecological Sites

Karl¹

2010

Rangelands

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Broad-Scale Assessment of Rangeland Health, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, USA

Cited by 35 publications

References 175 publications

Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services

Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services

Indicators of ecosystem function identify alternate states in the sagebrush steppe

Monitoring and Assessment Based on Ecological Sites

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