Prescribed Fire Effects on Activity and Movement of Cattle in Mesic Sagebrush Steppe

Clark, Patrick E.; Nielson, Ryan M.; Lee, Jaechoul; Ko, Kyungduk; Johnson, Douglas E.; Ganskopp, David C.; Chigbrow, Joe; Pierson, Frederick B.; Hardegree, Stuart P.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2016.11.004

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…These changes included increased foraging efficiency by the altered characteristics of cattle activity and movement. Specifically, the foraging paths in burnt rangelands, despite possibly being longer, become less tortuous, allowing the animals to spend more time foraging and less time traveling between vegetation patches [72]. This was explained by the decrease in competition imposed on herbaceous vegetation by woody plants, with the resultant increase in forage production shortly after the fire [73].…”

Section: Post-fire Ungulate Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfires in Grasslands and Shrublands: A Review of Impacts on Vegetation, Soil, Hydrology, and Geomorphology

Stavi

2019

Water

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Wildfires are prevalent in grasslands and shrublands. The objective of this study is to provide land managers with a general overview, by assessing the main impacts of wildfire, including those on plant communities (e.g., secondary succession and species invasion), soil characteristics (e.g., water repellency (hydrophobicity), aggregation and structure stability, and contents of organic carbon and nutrients), and surface processes (e.g., ash deposition, ground surface clogging, water runoff, soil erosion, hillslope debris flow, and dry ravel). Additionally, the study discusses the effects of livestock grazing on the functioning of post-fire grasslands and shrublands. Although mesic regions are mentioned, this review focuses on drylands. The comparatively low-to-moderate fuel loads that characterize grasslands and shrublands generate wildfires of relatively moderate intensity, resulting in moderate burn severity. Yet, it seems that because of decreased soil aggregate stability following burning, the hoof action of livestock that access burnt lands shortly after the fire increases the shearing and detachment of mineral material from the ground surface; this increases soil erodibility, with the possible risk of accelerated land degradation. The review ends with an assessment of general implications for environmental sustainability and health, and provides recommendations on wildfire control in rangelands, and on restoration of burnt lands.

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Section: Post-fire Ungulate Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfires in Grasslands and Shrublands: A Review of Impacts on Vegetation, Soil, Hydrology, and Geomorphology

Stavi

2019

Water

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“…() found that barren‐ground caribou moved more slowly through areas burned at low compared with high severity, indicating that they were using the former more for foraging and the latter primarily as movement pathways. Whereas tortuous movements can arise when animals are dispersing through unknown areas (resulting in non‐oriented movements; Prevedello et al ., ; Clark et al ., ), such movements are less likely for individuals making maintenance movements within their home range. This is because these individuals should have acquired spatial memory to assist them in navigation within their home range (Fagan et al ., ).…”

Section: Frequent Movements Between Fire Historiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal movements in fire‐prone landscapes

et al. 2018

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Movement is a trait of fundamental importance in ecosystems subject to frequent disturbances, such as fire-prone ecosystems. Despite this, the role of movement in facilitating responses to fire has received little attention. Herein, we consider how animal movement interacts with fire history to shape species distributions. We consider how fire affects movement between habitat patches of differing fire histories that occur across a range of spatial and temporal scales, from daily foraging bouts to infrequent dispersal events, and annual migrations. We review animal movements in response to the immediate and abrupt impacts of fire, and the longer-term successional changes that fires set in train. We discuss how the novel threats of altered fire regimes, landscape fragmentation, and invasive species result in suboptimal movements that drive populations downwards. We then outline the types of data needed to study animal movements in relation to fire and novel threats, to hasten the integration of movement ecology and fire ecology. We conclude by outlining a research agenda for the integration of movement ecology and fire ecology by identifying key research questions that emerge from our synthesis of animal movements in fire-prone ecosystems.

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“…41 Previous studies indicate that fire can be used as a tool to alter grazing behavior, shifting grazing from a selective scale to a landscape scale because plants that previously were underutilized by herbivores become increasingly more palatable with fire. 17,41,46 Prior to prescribed burning in southwestern Idaho, U.S., cattle distributions tended to focus on foraging patches containing higher nutritional quality than surrounding areas. Following burning, there was an increase in the number and density of high-quality foraging patches relative to pre-fire 40,46 .…”

Section: Herbivore Attraction To Burned Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…17,41,46 Prior to prescribed burning in southwestern Idaho, U.S., cattle distributions tended to focus on foraging patches containing higher nutritional quality than surrounding areas. Following burning, there was an increase in the number and density of high-quality foraging patches relative to pre-fire 40,46 . Because of the increase in density of high-quality patches, herbivores exhibited longer foraging durations in burned sites as foraging activity was interrupted less frequently by traveling and searching activities.…”

Section: Herbivore Attraction To Burned Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of prescribed burning on gulf cordgrass, Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex Hitchc.

Rideout-Hanzak

Ortega-S.

Wester

et al. 2018

MOJES

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Gulf cordgrass is a perennial bunchgrass native to North and South America. In the United States and Mexico, it is found in coastal prairies and marshes along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and occasionally further inland in low-lying areas. In South America, it is found along the Caribbean coast and inland in Argentina and Paraguay. Gulf cordgrass can remain green year-round making it an important source of forage in dormant and dry seasons. However, it is coarse and unpalatable when mature. In this paper, we review effects of prescribed burning on gulf cordgrass forage production and quality as well as plant community dynamics. The literature indicates burning is an economical way to rejuvenate gulf cordgrass by improving its palatability and accessibility and by increasing its protein content. Grazing can be used after burning to prolong the effects of fire, preventing young forage from maturing quickly into senescence. Season of burning may be less important than rainfall received after burning for forage regrowth.

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Prescribed Fire Effects on Activity and Movement of Cattle in Mesic Sagebrush Steppe

Cited by 14 publications

References 65 publications

Wildfires in Grasslands and Shrublands: A Review of Impacts on Vegetation, Soil, Hydrology, and Geomorphology

Wildfires in Grasslands and Shrublands: A Review of Impacts on Vegetation, Soil, Hydrology, and Geomorphology

Animal movements in fire‐prone landscapes

Effects of prescribed burning on gulf cordgrass, Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex Hitchc.

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