Influences of Patch-burn Grazing and Riparian Protection on the Ecological Integrity of Tallgrass Prairie Headwater Streams PDF Download
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Author: Karen E. Jackson Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 172
Book Description
Conversion to agriculture, land fragmentation, and removal of native grazers have made tallgrass prairies and the streams that drain them one of the most imperiled systems on earth. Patch-burn grazing (PBG), an increasingly common management practice on remaining prairie parcels, has been shown to benefit cattle and grassland birds. However, potential influences of this practice on streams are unknown. To address this, we sampled stream macroinvertebrates and benthic organic matter two years before and three years during PBG on two watersheds with riparian fencing (fenced), two grazed watersheds without riparian fencing (unfenced), and two ungrazed (control) watersheds. Very fine benthic organic matter increased 51% in unfenced watersheds after implementation of PBG, accompanied by a threefold increase in fine organic sediments in the same watersheds. Contribution of fine inorganic sediments to total substrata increased 28% in unfenced watersheds during PBG, while fine inorganic sediments decreased in both the control (18%) and fenced (16%) watersheds. Increases in the contribution of Chironomidae to total macroinvertebrate abundance (18% before, 49% during PBG) and biomass (10% before, 19% during PBG) were evident in unfenced streams. In contrast, abundance of sensitive EPT taxa decreased an order of magnitude from 7,635 to 687 individuals m -2 in unfenced streams, but did not change in fenced and control streams. Increases in tolerant taxa and fine organic and inorganic sediments, along with reductions in metrics of biotic integrity, suggest PBG adversely impacts prairie streams. However, the absence of negative responses in fenced watersheds indicates that riparian fencing can mitigate these impacts by serving as a buffer to prevent excess sedimentation. In order to properly manage remaining tallgrass prairie parcels, it is important to consider both the aquatic and terrestrial components of these systems, as they are tightly linked. Results from this study provide a basis for management and policy decisions regarding remaining grassland watersheds.
Author: Karen E. Jackson Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 172
Book Description
Conversion to agriculture, land fragmentation, and removal of native grazers have made tallgrass prairies and the streams that drain them one of the most imperiled systems on earth. Patch-burn grazing (PBG), an increasingly common management practice on remaining prairie parcels, has been shown to benefit cattle and grassland birds. However, potential influences of this practice on streams are unknown. To address this, we sampled stream macroinvertebrates and benthic organic matter two years before and three years during PBG on two watersheds with riparian fencing (fenced), two grazed watersheds without riparian fencing (unfenced), and two ungrazed (control) watersheds. Very fine benthic organic matter increased 51% in unfenced watersheds after implementation of PBG, accompanied by a threefold increase in fine organic sediments in the same watersheds. Contribution of fine inorganic sediments to total substrata increased 28% in unfenced watersheds during PBG, while fine inorganic sediments decreased in both the control (18%) and fenced (16%) watersheds. Increases in the contribution of Chironomidae to total macroinvertebrate abundance (18% before, 49% during PBG) and biomass (10% before, 19% during PBG) were evident in unfenced streams. In contrast, abundance of sensitive EPT taxa decreased an order of magnitude from 7,635 to 687 individuals m -2 in unfenced streams, but did not change in fenced and control streams. Increases in tolerant taxa and fine organic and inorganic sediments, along with reductions in metrics of biotic integrity, suggest PBG adversely impacts prairie streams. However, the absence of negative responses in fenced watersheds indicates that riparian fencing can mitigate these impacts by serving as a buffer to prevent excess sedimentation. In order to properly manage remaining tallgrass prairie parcels, it is important to consider both the aquatic and terrestrial components of these systems, as they are tightly linked. Results from this study provide a basis for management and policy decisions regarding remaining grassland watersheds.
Author: Karen E. Jackson Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 98
Book Description
Conversion to agriculture, land fragmentation, and removal of native grazers have made tallgrass prairies and the streams that drain them one of the most imperiled systems on earth. Patch-burn grazing (PBG), an increasingly common management practice on remaining prairie parcels, has been shown to benefit cattle and grassland birds. However, potential influences of this practice on streams are unknown. To address this, we sampled stream macroinvertebrates and benthic organic matter two years before and three years during PBG on two watersheds with riparian fencing (fenced), two grazed watersheds without riparian fencing (unfenced), and two ungrazed (control) watersheds. Very fine benthic organic matter increased 51% in unfenced watersheds after implementation of PBG, accompanied by a threefold increase in fine organic sediments in the same watersheds. Contribution of fine inorganic sediments to total substrata increased 28% in unfenced watersheds during PBG, while fine inorganic sediments decreased in both the control (18%) and fenced (16%) watersheds. Increases in the contribution of Chironomidae to total macroinvertebrate abundance (18% before, 49% during PBG) and biomass (10% before, 19% during PBG) were evident in unfenced streams. In contrast, abundance of sensitive EPT taxa decreased an order of magnitude from 7,635 to 687 individuals m -2 in unfenced streams, but did not change in fenced and control streams. Increases in tolerant taxa and fine organic and inorganic sediments, along with reductions in metrics of biotic integrity, suggest PBG adversely impacts prairie streams. However, the absence of negative responses in fenced watersheds indicates that riparian fencing can mitigate these impacts by serving as a buffer to prevent excess sedimentation. In order to properly manage remaining tallgrass prairie parcels, it is important to consider both the aquatic and terrestrial components of these systems, as they are tightly linked. Results from this study provide a basis for management and policy decisions regarding remaining grassland watersheds.
Author: Danelle Marie Larson Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Tallgrass prairie evolved with fire-grazer interactions. Fire and grazing are vital processes for maintaining grasslands and cattle production, and therefore will be continued as land management schemes. The effects of fire and grazers on prairie streams are understudied, but may significantly influence stream ecology. This dissertation examined how prescribed burning, bison grazing, and patch-burn grazing (by cattle) influence water quality, stream biota, and riparian amphibians and reptiles at Konza Prairie, Kansas, or Osage Prairie, Missouri. Using Global Positioning System, we monitored bison and cattle distribution throughout watersheds. The immediate effects of prescribed burning were examined at both Konza and Osage Prairies. The impacts of bison on water quality were determined by using a long-term dataset from Konza Prairie and compared watersheds with and without bison. Amphibian and reptile assemblages were monitored for two years at Osage, and assemblage data were analyzed using redundancy analysis, permuted analysis of variance, and occupancy modeling. A patch-burn grazing experiment occurred for 5 years at Osage (2 years pretreatment data and 3 years of treatments) and was analyzed using a before-after, control-impact design. Prescribed burning had minimal effects on water chemistry. At Konza Prairie, bison did not alter water quality likely because they spent negligible time (
Author: Eric Behrens Publisher: ISBN: Category : Grassland restoration Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Humans have converted most of the tallgrass prairie into agriculture, which has disrupted historical disturbance regimes and increased species losses caused by ecosystem fragmentation. Efforts to recover tallgrass and mixed prairies have included both (1) restoration by reintroducing natural disturbances like fire and grazing to remnants and (2) expanding prairie habitat through prairie reconstructions to mitigate the effects of fragmentation. In the first of my two thesis research projects, I assessed the effects of two different methods of burning and grazing management (patch-burn-grazing (PBG) and uniform burning and grazing (UNI)) on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in an Oklahoma tallgrass prairie. I used biomass samples and multispectral imagery as parameters of vegetation heterogeneity. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that vegetation heterogeneity at the within-patch scale, measured at 10m2 resolution, was not significantly different between PBG and UNI at P [less than or equal to] 0.05. Mean forb biomass was significantly different between patches at the whole-plot treatment level (PBG= 20.7g UNI= 12.0g). My second research project assessed effects of edge locations on plant species composition and richness of adjacent remnant and reconstructed prairies at six tallgrass or mixed grass prairie sites. The central edge was the internal edge between the remnant prairie and the adjacent reconstructed prairie whereas the outer edge was the edge between the remnant or reconstructed prairie and the adjacent land or road external to the study area. Native and non-native species cover data were collected within a 1.0 m2 quadrat at 5 and 15 meters from each edge location (outer and center). I analyzed cover and richness data using a three-way ANOVA that examined interactions with edge location, distance from edge, and prairie type (remnant and reconstructed). Average native Species Richness (S), excluding native weedy generalists and tree species, was found to be significantly lower at the outer edge of reconstructions than in the center (Outer S=6.1, Center S=8.5).
Author: Harold Gardner Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 144197427X Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 291
Book Description
This work advocates the restoration of the North American tallgrass prairie, which is rapidly disappearing. Historical descriptions of prairie aesthetics are outlined. As we are experiencing a worldwide mixing of plant species, prairie restoration is particularly important. Plants alien to North America do not readily support insect populations, including all animal species higher on the food chain. Prairie restoration methods are described for amateurs, academics, and land managers. Some of the techniques described are growing crops for seed production, times of seed gathering for specific species, facile seed processing for amateurs, land preparation, segregation of seed into its preference for habitat, and required seed treatment for germination. Over 200 species are described that comprise the predominant species found in tallgrass prairie nature preserves, as well as degraded prairies. Some additional plants of especial interest are also described. The appendix tabulates all likely species found on prairies regardless of their scarcity. Safe fire management of prairies is described in detail. Finally, methods of controlling aggressive alien weeds by herbicides are detailed.
Author: Alyssa J. Riley Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Much of the North American tallgrass prairie ecosystem has been converted to cropland or urbanized. One threat to the remaining prairie ecosystems, and the streams within, is woody vegetation encroachment. Stream productivity, measured as metabolism, is a fundamental process comprised of gross primary production (GPP) and (CR) community respiration. Understanding GPP and CR is important because these processes are vital to ecosystem function and can be impacted by a change in canopy cover. First, I investigated improvements in existing methods for estimating whole-stream metabolism as estimated from diel patterns of oxygen (O2). I compared measured and modeled O2 and aeration (a physical parameter required for measurement of metabolism) rates to determine if direct measurement of aeration is necessary and the importance of temperature correction of metabolism. Modeling was moderately successful in determining aeration rates, and temperature correction of GPP and CR substantially improved model fits. Second, effects of woody vegetation encroachment on prairie stream function were investigated. Stream metabolism was measured for four years in duplicate reaches with varying canopy cover (closed canopy, naturally open canopy, and vegetation removal reaches). The removal reaches had closed canopy for the first two years and open canopy for the last two years. Canopy cover increased CR rates and had minimal effects on GPP. Third, the same experiment was used to determine the effects of woody vegetation encroachment on prairie stream ecosystem structure and food web interactions. Chlorophyll a and filamentous algal biomass were greater in naturally open and vegetation removal reaches, although the effects were stronger on filamentous algal biomass. As canopy cover decreased, the filamentous algal biomass to chlorophyll ratio increased, indicating a shift in algal community structure. Stable isotope analysis indicated some shift in pathways of nitrogen and carbon flux into the food web related to degree of canopy cover, but overlap in the signature of food sources made distinct food sources difficult to identify. The data indicate that riparian encroachment can influence ecosystem structure and function in prairie streams and restoration to remove woody riparian cover may restore some ecosystem features of naturally open canopy streams.
Author: Mark Andrew MacKay Publisher: ISBN: Category : Electronic dissertations Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
North America's tallgrass prairie region is one of the world's most endangered ecosystems. Recent management and research efforts have focused on the effects of anthropogenic change to upland components of the tallgrass prairie, however, little is known regarding change to riparian vegetation. Nevertheless, riparian vegetation habitat plays a significant role in the conservation of both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity; furthermore, anthropogenic modifications to this system have often occurred before the onset of modern ecological inventories. As a result, managers, planners, and policy makers often make decisions that impact riparian vegetation without sufficient information regarding presettlement vegetation. To provide data that can be used in the decision-making process, we developed and evaluated a technique to characterize historic and contemporary riparian vegetation, within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The methodology provides an objective, scientific approach to providing the necessary data to make informed management, planning, and restoration decisions regarding riparian systems. Our findings suggest that, contrary to previous research and speculation, historic riparian zones contained a significant amount of prairie, and that the extent varied among watersheds. We found no remaining riparian prairie today. This research contributes baseline data to facilitate the evaluation of vegetation change and the success of management and restoration efforts.
Author: 1978 FORUM - GRAZING AND RIPARIAN / STREAM ECOSYSTEMS (Denver, Colorado) Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 94
Book Description
The livestock producers viewpoint; Riparian habitat - the cattlemen's veiwpoint; Riparian and stream ecosystems, livestock grazing, and multiple-use management; Management and policy on federal lands; BLM management and policy for riparian/stream ecosystems; Controlling water pollution from grazing activities; Management and policy for grazing riparian ecosystems on national forest system lands; Managing grazing to benefit wildlife; Riparian zones in managed rangelands - their importance to wildlife; The mahogany creek watershed - with and without grazing; Evaluation the impacts of cattle grazing on riparian habitats; Livestock management approaches and the fisheries resource; Livestock grazing and riparian/stream ecosystems - an overview; Fish habitat changes in summit creek, idaho after fencing; Effects of livestock grazing upon rainbow trout in otter creek; Livestock/streamside management programs in eastern Oregon; Public users; The BLM and the NEPA process; Resources-use, abuse, and management; Public input in decision-making; Economics of improved livestock management approaches; Public user's perspective of the grazing issue; Welcome to second-day sessions; Summarization of sessions; Public forum; Closing remarks; Exhibits; Riparian habitat recovery on big creek, rich county, Utah; A methods for analyzing livestock impacts on stream and riparian habitats.
Author: Kasey E. Fralick Publisher: ISBN: Category : Grasslands Languages : en Pages : 200
Book Description
North American prairie headwater streams are highly threatened and relatively poorly studied. Most studies on prairie streams have occurred at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, a tallgrass prairie Long Term Ecological Research site in the Flint Hills ecoregion near Manhattan, KS. According to the Stream Biome Gradient Concept, several ecosystem factors vary along a gradient from more allochthonous forested streams to more autochthonous desert streams, with grassland streams often intermediate in several key ecological factors including litter inputs, primary production, and invertebrate abundance and biomass. However, few studies have examined the degree of variation that exists within prairie headwater streams, and whether this variation occurs along a longitudinal gradient as well, with more mesic tallgrass prairie streams differing from more xeric shortgrass prairie streams, and mixed-grass sites intermediate between the two. I examined thirteen prairie headwater stream sites in the central United States from 2014 to 2017. My objective was to determine whether basal resource composition - including standing stocks of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), fine particulate organic matter (FPOM), and very fine particulate organic matter (VFPOM), sestonic and benthic chlorophyll-a levels, and sources of CPOM - differed significantly among streams in tallgrass, mixed-grass, and shortgrass prairie regions. In addition, I examined whether invertebrate communities differed among tallgrass, mixed-grass, and shortgrass prairie regions, and whether this was reflected in the functional feeding group composition, habit composition, voltinism, and dispersal ability of invertebrate communities. There were no significant differences in total CPOM, FPOM, and VFPOM standing stocks among regions. However, CPOM composition did differ with region, with tallgrass sites having higher standing stocks of leaf litter, but lower standing stocks of grass litter and macrophyte litter than the other regions. Benthic chlorophyll-a did not differ significantly among regions, but there were lower sestonic chlorophyll-a levels in tallgrass sites. Given higher light availability and nutrient levels in shortgrass and mixed-grass streams, lack of stable substrata may be limiting benthic algae in these regions. Invertebrate abundance and biomass were highest in mixed-grass sites and lowest in tallgrass sites, with shortgrass sites intermediate. Mixed-grass sites also had significantly higher Shannon diversity and taxa richness than tallgrass sites. A NMDS revealed that sites differed in overall community structure. Functional feeding group composition did not differ significantly across regions, with collector-gatherers, followed by predators, dominating in all sites. High Predator-Prey Index (predator biomass: other invertebrate biomass) values in each region indicates strong top-down pressure and high turnover rates of prey taxa. While there was a weak correlation between leaf litter AFDM and invertebrate community structure, the correlation between latitude and longitude and invertebrate community structure was much higher, indicating that basal resources may not be the main drivers in these systems. Invertebrate habit composition did not differ with region; all regions were dominated by taxa preferring fine substrata (burrowers and sprawlers). All regions showed selection against semivoltine invertebrates and were dominated by high dispersing insect taxa, though the proportion of the insect community that consisted of high dispersers did not differ significantly with region. My results suggest that generalizing about prairie streams based on studies from one or a handful of sites may not be prudent, at least for some aspects. The higher proportion of autochthonous inputs in shortgrass and mixed-grass regions may drive increased invertebrate abundance, biomass, richness, and diversity, but the relative hydrologic stability of the mixed-grass sites might also explain these results or have an interactive or additive relationship with primary production. Overall, the link between basal resources and communities across prairie types was somewhat weak, and all regions were dominated by collector-gatherers with rapid life-cycles and high dispersal abilities, indicating that disturbance may be a more important community filter than basal resource composition. Streams in all three regions have highly variable hydrology, and this may be an overriding factor that results in similarity in communities.
Author: Karen E. Jackson
Author: Karen E. Jackson
Author: Karen E. Jackson
Author: Danelle Marie Larson
Author: Eric Behrens
Author: Harold Gardner
Author: Michelle C. Biodrowski
Author: Alyssa J. Riley
Author: Mark Andrew MacKay
Author: 1978 FORUM - GRAZING AND RIPARIAN / STREAM ECOSYSTEMS (Denver, Colorado)
Author: Kasey E. Fralick