Military Training Effects on Terrestrial and Aquatic Communities on a Grassland Military Installation

Abstract

Understanding the link between terrestrial and aquatic systems is important because disturbance to terrestrial systems may also influence stream processes. Military training lands provide a unique opportunity to examine the influence of large‐scale disturbance on terrestrial and aquatic communities in the absence of other anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of past mechanized infantry training on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem properties on Fort Riley Military Reservation in northeastern Kansas. We used a long‐term data set and supplemental study plots to determine the effects of military training use on terrestrial systems. Headwater and middle stream reaches were also sampled to determine the effects of watershed training use on habitat and fish community structure. High military training use was associated with increased bare soil, reduced total plant cover, and compositional shifts in plant communities. Reduced cover of perennial, matrix‐forming grasses and native species, and increased cover of annuals and introduced species were also associated with high training activity. High military training use in study watersheds was associated with increased sediment in pools and riffles and reduced abundance of benthic insectivores, herbivore–detritivores, and silt‐intolerant species. Sites in watersheds receiving high training use were also characterized by an abundance of trophic generalists and tolerant species. Our results suggest that military training activities had significant ecological effects on the properties of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, both with respect to recovery from past disturbance and resilience to future disturbance. Corresponding Editor: M. G. Turner.

Factors Influencing Survival of Female Elk in a Harvested Population

“…It is also possible that there is a relatively low probability of elk directly encountering live fire in the Impact Zone and that they simply habituate to military training activities (i.e., Telesco and Van Manen 2006). Although we observed no direct effects of military training on survival of elk, military training can influence the composition of forage plants and alter behavior and habitat use patterns of ungulates (Stephenson et al 1996;Quist et al 2003), which would indirectly influence survival rates and population dynamics.…”

Surface runoff contribution of nitrogen during storm events in a forested watershed

“…Watershed uplands in military settings typically are subject to maneuvers of large, tracked and wheeled vehicles, and foot traffic (Whitecotton et al 2000;Quist et al 2003). Heavy vehicles used in mechanized military training disturb soil's physical properties (Iverson et al 1981), which in turn affect multiple hydrological characteristics of the land (Thurow et al 1993).…”

Population viability analysis of the Endangered shortnose sturgeon

“…Roads and barren areas used for training were found to be associated with elevated TSS in two studies on Fort Benning (Maloney and others 2005a, b;Houser and others 2006), but a negative response in a third (Bhat 2006). Military training in headwater watersheds at Fort Benning was also linked with high silt levels and reduced abundances of less-tolerant benthic invertebrates (Quist andothers 2003, Maloney andFeminella 2006).…”