Using resistance and resilience concepts to reduce impacts of invasive annual grasses and altered fire regimes on the sagebrush ecosystem and greater sage-grouse: A strategic multi-scale approach

Abstract

Using resistance and resilience concepts to reduce impacts of invasive annual grasses and altered fire regimes on the sagebrush ecosystem and greater sage-grouse: A strategic multi-scale approach.

Indaziflam: a new cellulose‐biosynthesis‐inhibiting herbicide provides long‐term control of invasive winter annual grasses

“…Depleting the invasive winter annual grass soil seed bank and reducing fine fuel ultimately allowed the invaded sites to be converted from an annual‐weed‐dominated plant community to one that was primarily perennial dominated by natives. Across both sites evaluated in this study, indaziflam treatments promoted (released) the remnant perennial grass and forb plant communities, and these sites are now more resistant and resilient to future invasions …”

“…). These fine fuel layers associated with invasive winter annual grasses have resulted in major changes in fire return intervals, dramatically increasing fire frequency and intensity, particularly in sagebrush ecosystems of the Great Basin . Additionally, many open spaces and natural areas infested with invasive winter annual grasses are bordered by houses or other structures and are at a high fire risk with these dense, highly flammable fine fuel layers.…”

“…Although land managers have been attempting for decades to recover these sites dominated by invasive winter annual grasses, few have been consistently successful . As these natural ecosystems continue to shift from perennial grass domination to invasive winter annual grass domination, the necessity for new management tools continues to increase …”

Microhabitat Selection for Nesting and Brood-Rearing by the Greater Sage-Grouse in Xeric Big Sagebrush

“…We found little support to suggest that annual grass, bare ground, and rock cover were predictive of nests within and outside Core Areas. Albeit, annual grasses are an important indicator of the resistance and resilience of sage-grouse habitats to respond to disturbance [50]. In addition, nest sites selected by sage-grouse in the Atlantic Rim and Stewart Creek of south-central Wyoming were negatively correlated with the presence of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), but positively correlated with greater perennial grass cover, litter, sagebrush cover, and visual obstruction [7].…”

Seasonal Distribution and Routes of Pronghorn in the Northern Great Basin

“…Habitat conversion for human purposes, energy and mineral development, and a long history of both dispersed and intensive uses such as off-highway vehicles, domestic livestock grazing, and wild horse and burro management have contributed to widespread loss and decline of habitat quality and associated wildlife populations (Manier et al 2013). As such, a large-scale conservation effort is currently underway across 11 western states to reduce threats to the sagebrush ecosystem, with specific focus on protecting the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; Chambers et al 2014). Pronghorn are also widely distributed throughout the sagebrush-steppe of the northern Great Basin and are highly valued for hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.…”