Presence/absence of a keystone species as an indicator of rangeland health

Krogh, Sonya N; Zeisset, Michelle S; Jackson, Erik; Whitford, Walter G.

doi:10.1006/jare.2001.0900

Cited by 44 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This pattern has been well documented for grassland birds (Coppedge et al 2001;Cunningham and Johnson 2006;Winter et al 2006;Block and Morrison 2010), but has also been observed for mammals (Krogh et al 2002;Blaum et al 2007a) and reptiles (Mendelson and Jennings 1992;Pike et al 2011). When woody cover exceeds species-specific thresholds, which as yet have been poorly established, populations of grassland-associated species are displaced (Grant et al 2004;Sirami et al 2009) and animal communities shift from being dominated by grassland-associated species to shrubland-associated species (Igl and Ballard 1999;Rosenstock and Van Riper 2001;Skowno and Bond 2003;Sirami and Monadjem 2012).…”

Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Woody Plant Encroachment: Causes and Consequences

Archer

Andersen

Predick

et al. 2017

Springer Series on Environmental Management

370

379

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Woody vegetation in grasslands and savannas has increased worldwide over the past 100-200 years. This phenomenon of "woody plant encroachment" (WPE) has been documented to occur at different times but at comparable rates in rangelands of the Americas, Australia, and southern Africa. The objectives of this chapter are to review (1) the process of WPE and its causes, (2) consequences for ecosystem function and the provision of services, and (3) the effectiveness of management interventions aimed at reducing woody cover. Explanations for WPE require consideration of multiple interacting drivers and constraints and their variation through time at a given site. Mean annual precipitation sets an upper limit to woody plant cover, but local patterns of disturbance (fire, browsing) and soil properties (texture, depth) prevent the realization of this potential. In the absence of these constraints, seasonality, interannual variation, and intensity of precipitation events determine the rate and extent of woody plant expansion. Although probably not a triggering factor, rising atmospheric CO 2 levels may have favored C 3 woody plant growth. WPE coincided with the global intensification of livestock grazing that by reducing fine fuels, hence fire frequency and intensity, facilitated WPE. From a conservation perspective, WPE threatens the maintenance of grassland and savanna

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Section: Animalsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Woody Plant Encroachment: Causes and Consequences

Archer

Andersen

Predick

et al. 2017

Springer Series on Environmental Management

370

379

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…First, the site contains numerous abandoned Dipodomys spectabilis mounds (Chew and Whitford, 1992). D. spectabilis prefers open grassy habitats and rarely occurs when shrub cover exceeds about 20% (Hoffmeister, 1986;Chew and Whitford, 1992;Krogh et al, 2002;Waser and Ayers, 2003). Second are data from the US General Land Office which surveyed the site in 1884 (Valone et al, 2002).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of long-term cattle exclosure on vegetation and rodents at a desertified arid grassland site

Valone

Sauter

2005

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…For example, nutrient-laden sediment mobilized by wind or water after mound construction by banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) leads to a localized depletion of carbon and nitrogen in the vicinity of the mound. Caching of food by kangaroo rats within their subterranean larders and the breakdown of stored seed leads to patches of enhanced nutrients, 'safe sites' for germinating plants and hot spots of biological activity (Krogh et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%