Recovery of big sagebrush communities after burning in south-western Montana

Wambolt, Carl L.; Walhof, K.S.; Frisina, Michael R.

doi:10.1006/jema.2000.0411

Cited by 79 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…We also determined whether each plot met all understory (i.e., grass and forb), all overstory (i.e., sagebrush), and all combined criteria for a particular season. This allowed us to separate grass and forb components from sagebrush, which regenerates more slowly after wildfire (Wambolt et al 2001). For each treatment (i.e., Aerial, Drill, Mixed, Burned, Unburned) we calculated the proportion of plots that met each guideline criterion for each season.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi‐scale habitat models: implications for sage‐grouse in the Great Basin

et al. 2014

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. 2014. Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi-scale habitat models: implications for sage-grouse in the Great Basin. Ecosphere 5(3):31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00278.1Abstract. A recurrent challenge in the conservation of wide-ranging, imperiled species is understanding which habitats to protect and whether we are capable of restoring degraded landscapes. For Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species of conservation concern in the western United States, we approached this problem by developing multi-scale empirical models of occupancy in 211 randomly located plots within a 40 million ha portion of the species' range. We then used these models to predict sage-grouse habitat quality at 826 plots associated with 101 post-wildfire seeding projects implemented from 1990 to 2003. We also compared conditions at restoration sites to published habitat guidelines. Sage-grouse occupancy was positively related to plot-and landscape-level dwarf sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula, A. nova, A. tripartita) and big sagebrush steppe prevalence, and negatively associated with non-native plants and human development. The predicted probability of sage-grouse occupancy at treated plots was low on average (0.09) and not substantially different from burned areas that had not been treated. Restoration sites with quality habitat tended to occur at higher elevation locations with low annual temperatures, high spring precipitation, and high plant diversity. Of 313 plots seeded after fire, none met all sagebrush guidelines for breeding habitats, but approximately 50% met understory guidelines, particularly for perennial grasses. This pattern was similar for summer habitat. Less than 2% of treated plots met winter habitat guidelines. Restoration actions did not increase the probability of burned areas meeting most guideline criteria. The probability of meeting guidelines was influenced by a latitudinal gradient, climate, and topography. Our results suggest that sage-grouse are relatively unlikely to use many burned areas within 20 years of fire, regardless of treatment. Understory habitat conditions are more likely to be adequate than overstory conditions, but in most climates, establishing forbs and reducing cheatgrass dominance is unlikely. Reestablishing sagebrush cover will require more than 20 years using past restoration methods. Given current fire frequencies and restoration capabilities, protection of landscapes containing a mix of dwarf sagebrush and big sagebrush steppe, minimal human development, and low non-native plant cover may provide the best opportunity for conservation of sage-grouse habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Artemisia spp. can be slow to reestablish dominance following disturbance, especially when seed sources are distant (Wambolt et al 2001, Hemstrom et al 2002, Lesica et al 2007, Beck et al 2009). However, despite up to 20 years since burning and Artemisia spp.…”

Section: Meeting Seasonal Habitat Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi‐scale habitat models: implications for sage‐grouse in the Great Basin

et al. 2014

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“…Current literature suggests that it takes at least three decades for the big sagebrush component of these plant communities to reach stable conditions after disturbance, depending on the subspecies, location, and type of disturbance (Wambolt et al 2001, Baker 2006, Lesica et al 2007, Sankey et al 2008). For example, Sankey et al (2008) investigated recovery of mountain big sagebrush using remote sensing, and showed that it took 27 years after a fire for communities to recover to undisturbed levels of big sagebrush cover.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sagebrush steppe recovery on 30–90‐year‐old abandoned oil and gas wells

Avirmed¹,

Lauenroth²,

Burke³

et al. 2015

Ecosphere

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Abstract. Oil and natural gas extraction is rapidly expanding in semiarid intermountain big sagebrush ecosystems of the western USA. Formerly covering over 60 million ha, this ecosystem has lost almost half its area due to land use changes. In this study, we measured the natural recovery of the big sagebrush plant community across a chronosequence of 29 oil and gas well sites that were abandoned without reclamation between 1923 and 1980. We measured big sagebrush cover and density with strip transects inside and outside of the well sites, and we estimated big sagebrush biomass using both canopy measurements and allometric equations. Cover of other shrubs, grasses, and forbs was estimated with line transects inside and outside of well sites. We estimated that it takes at least 87 years for Wyoming big sagebrush cover to recover naturally, although big sagebrush density recovered in fewer than 70 years. Grasses and nonsagebrush shrubs recovered rapidly, shown by the high cover of those groups in the youngest sites. We found none of the invasive plants that are common in disturbed big sagebrush communities in other parts of the big sagebrush range. The forbs that account for the largest portion of plant species richness in semiarid ecosystems and promote consumer diversity showed very little indication of recovery after 87 years. Our results suggest that reclamation efforts in disturbed big sagebrush plant communities in southwestern Wyoming should target big sagebrush and forbs.

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“…1988). While seedling establishment may begin immediately following a disturbance, it usually takes a decade or more before big sagebrush dominates a site (Welch and Criddle 2003), though some researchers argue that 25-45 years is typical (Watts and Wambolt 1996, Wambolt et. al.…”

Section: Recommendations 431 Interpretation Basismentioning

confidence: 99%

Fiscal Year 2009 Revegetation Assessment

Lewis¹

2009

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Recovery of big sagebrush communities after burning in south-western Montana

Cited by 79 publications

References 9 publications

Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi‐scale habitat models: implications for sage‐grouse in the Great Basin

Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi‐scale habitat models: implications for sage‐grouse in the Great Basin

Sagebrush steppe recovery on 30–90‐year‐old abandoned oil and gas wells

Fiscal Year 2009 Revegetation Assessment

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