Heterogeneity as the Basis for Rangeland Management

Abstract

Rangeland management, like most disciplines of natural resource management, has been characterized by human efforts to reduce variability and increase predictability in natural systems (steady-state management often applied through a command-and-control paradigm). Examples of applications of traditional command and control in natural resource management include wildfire suppression, fences to control large ungulate movements, predator elimination programs, and watershed engineering for flood control and irrigation. Recently, a robust theoretical foundation has been developed that focuses on our understanding of the importance of variability in nature. This understanding is built upon the concept of heterogeneity, which originated from influential calls to consider spatial and temporal scaling in ecological research. Understanding rangeland ecosystems from a resilience perspective where we recognize that these systems are highly variable in space and time cannot be achieved without a focus on heterogeneity across multiple scales. Most people view averages as basic reality and variation as a device for calculating a meaningful measure of central tendency ……. Central tendency is a harmful abstraction and variation stands out as the only meaningful reality-Stephen Jay Gould-Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to DarwinWe highlight the broad importance of heterogeneity to rangelands and focus more specifically on (1) animal populations and production, (2) fire behavior and management, and (3) biodiversity and ecosystem function. Rangelands are complex, dynamic, and depend on the variability that humans often attempt to control to ensure long-term productivity and ecosystem health. We present an ecological perspective that targets variation in rangeland properties-including multiple ecosystem services-as an alternative to the myopic focus on maximizing agricultural output, which may expose managers to greater risk. Globally, rangeland science indicates that heterogeneity and diversity increase stability in ecosystem properties from fine to broad spatial scales and through time.

Applying a dryland degradation framework for rangelands: the case of Mongolia

“…These principles are now a major focus of research in grazing systems throughout the world (Fuhlendorf et al. ).…”

Recoupling fire and grazing reduces wildland fuel loads on rangelands

“…The pyric herbivory process is analogous to the interaction that occurred between fire and grazing prior to European settlement (Fuhlendorf and Engle , , Fuhlendorf et al. , , Allred et al. ).…”

“…However, such treatment frequency tends to reduce landscape heterogeneity inherent in this region, with an added consequence of reducing biodiversity (Fuhlendorf et al. , ).…”

Semi‐arid savanna herbaceous production and diversity responses to interactive effects of drought, nitrogen deposition, and fire

“…Our results should be interpreted with consideration of the scale of the study, as these small‐scale findings may not directly translate to the landscape scale (Fuhlendorf et al, ); rather, we seek to reveal processes that may become amplified under altered climate regimes. In addition, the precipitation pattern during the primary year of our study (2018) was highly atypical for the site.…”

“…Increased bare ground and subsequent soil erosion are both risks when conducting prescribed fires in semi‐arid and arid regions (Ludwig, Wilcox, Breshears, Tongway, & Imeson, ; Snyman, ). Savanna fires, however, are crucial to maintaining heterogeneous structure, diversity and herbaceous production (Fuhlendorf, Fynn, McGranahan, & Twidwell, ; Savadogo, Tiveau, Sawadogo, & Tigabu, ; Twidwell et al, ). Fires are able to increase diversity by suppressing a few dominant species (Brockway & Lewis, ).…”