Choosing Native Species for Restoring Crested Wheatgrass Fields on the Great Plains of Northeast Montana

2019 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lesica ◽  
Stephen V. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass

Ecology of Mammals of the Shortgrass Steppe

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Stapp ◽  
Beatrice Van Horne
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Shortgrass Steppe ◽  
Prairie Dogs ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
And Function

At first glance, the shortgrass steppe seems to offer little in the way of habitat for mammals. The expansive rolling plains, with little topographic relief or vegetative cover, provide minimal protection from predators or the harsh weather typical of the region. The short stature of the dominant native grasses prevents the development of any significant litter layer, and although snowfall can often be significant, too little accumulates to form the subnivean habitats that support small mammal populations in forests and more productive grasslands in winter. As a consequence, ecologists have typically considered the vertebrate fauna of the shortgrass steppe to be depauperate compared with other Great Plains grasslands, a hardy collection of generalists living in sparse populations. Although this characterization may generally be accurate, it has led mammalian ecologists to overlook the fauna of the shortgrass steppe in favor of that of other grasslands. It is precisely these circumstances, however, that suggest that a long-term approach may be necessary to understand the dynamics of mammal populations here. Relatively few such studies have been completed to date, but we can use the comparative and experimental results that are available to begin to determine what factors might be important. Here we review research on mammals in the shortgrass steppe, with the goal of identifying the general patterns and processes that contribute to them. Our review is roughly divided into four parts. We begin by describing the mammal communities and their broad habitat associations in shortgrass steppe environments. We then review the history of mammal research in the region to synthesize what these studies (many unpublished) have taught us about the most important determinants of the distribution and abundance of native species. Studies of mammal\ populations in the northern shortgrass steppe have spanned nearly 40 years, and we next describe some major patterns that have emerged from studies during this period. Much of this past research focused on the role of mammals in the structure and function of shortgrass steppe ecosystems, and we revisit this issue in some detail, with special emphasis on the important and sometimes controversial role of prairie dogs and other burrowing rodents. Finally, we end by considering how humans, and especially agriculture and its related activities, affect the diversity, abundance, and persistence of resident mammal populations.

PERFORMANCE OF SOME NATIVE AND INTRODUCED GRASSES IN A SEMIARID REGION OF WESTERN CANADA

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. LAWRENCE ◽  
C. D. RATZLAFF
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Management System ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Twelve strains of native grasses which had undergone selection prior to testing were compared with three introduced grasses under the same management system. On the basis of the 5-yr mean D M yield, crested wheatgrass and meadow bromegrass produced 79% more forage than the native species. Crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheat-grass produced 167% more seed on average than other species. The native species, especially slender wheatgrass and awned wheatgrass suffered considerable winter injury and winter killing. This study supports the belief that most native grasses are shortlived and low-yielding compared to introduced species and that breeders should concentrate their efforts on the introduced species which have an inheritantly higher yield potential.Key words: native grasses, introduced grasses, Agropyron, Bromus, Elymus, Thinopyrum, winter killing, breeding

Effect of Temperature and Moisture on Quinclorac Soil Half-life and Resulting Native Grass and Forb Establishment

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney G. Lym
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Native Grass

Quinclorac will control leafy spurge and not injure many established native grasses and forbs. Seeding of desirable species is often required to reestablish native vegetation after an invasive weed-management program, but quinclorac residue may inhibit the reestablishment of native species. Greenhouse studies were conducted to estimate quinclorac dissipation rates in Northern Great Plains soils and the effect of residue on establishment of some native grass and broadleaf plants. Quinclorac 50% dissipation time (DT50) ranged from > 21 to 112 d in four soils from the Northern Great Plains. The quinclorac DT50 was dependent on several factors including soil type, moisture content, temperature, and especially organic matter (OM). Across four different soil textures, quinclorac dissipation generally increased as soil moisture content increased, but moisture had less of an impact in low OM soils. Quinclorac dissipation also increased as temperature increased in the four soils. The most rapid dissipation occurred in soils with higher OM (> 6%), with an average DT50 of < 38 d, at 45% moisture content, held at 16 C. Wild bergamot, purple coneflower, blanketflower, and stiff goldenrod seedling growth were all reduced by quinclorac residue at 6 μg kg−1, the lowest concentration evaluated in the study. The native grass species big bluestem, intermediate wheatgrass, and switchgrass generally were tolerant of quinclorac, but green needlegrass was sensitive, and seedling growth declined as quinclorac residue increased from 6 to 375 μg kg−1. Based on a quinclorac application of 840 kg ha−1 and 150 frost-free d, seeding of sensitive forbs and grasses should be delayed at least 12 mo after herbicide application.

scholarly journals A floristic survey of the Boulder Mountain Park: with notes on its conservation and management (Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-314
Author(s):  
Tim Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Public Land Management ◽  
Montane Vegetation ◽  
The City

The City of Boulder Mountain Park sits in the eastern foothills of the northern Front Range of Colorado. Approximately 7000 acres (2800 ha) in extent, the study area is characterized by a foothills and montane vegetation and flora, predominantly of western North American distribution. Situated at the interface of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, the flora of the Mountain Park is distinguished by a wealth of species with eastern woodland affinities, as well as a number of southern Rocky Mountain species endemic to the Front Range. Six hundred and ninety-eight (698) species of vascular plants in 426 genera and 100 families are documented in this survey. Twenty (20) of the plants are listed as Species of Special Concern by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, with an additional 26 listed as sensitive by the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP). Introduced non-native species constitute 21% of the flora (147 species), a figure that exaggerates their ecological role in the Park; less than a dozen introduced species are of serious concern in their impact upon native diversity. The Mountain Park is viewed by many as the crown jewel of the City’s OSMP system, and serves as a model for public land management across other open spaces in urban areas nationwide. These forested foothills, with their prominent relief and associated diversity of habitats, serve as one of the last low-elevation nature refuges along the Colorado Front Range. With the increasing urbanization of the region and the loss of biological diversity worldwide, the wisdom of the Boulder community in protecting this landscape is becoming ever more apparent. This report presents a thoroughly revised checklist of the flora of the Boulder Mountain Parks since the area was last inventoried in 1993.

Revegetating Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland with Native Tallgrasses

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Masters ◽  
Scott J. Nissen
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Perennial Weed ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
No Till

Degradation of Great Plains rangelands can be linked to past management practices that reduced native species diversity and accelerated establishment and expansion of exotic weeds and less desirable native species. Leafy spurge is an exotic perennial weed that infests more than 1 million ha in the northern Great Plains and reduces rangeland carrying capacity by competing with desirable forages and causing infested areas to be undesirable to cattle and wildlife. Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of using herbicides to suppress leafy spurge and other resident vegetation, which facilitated planting and establishment of native tallgrasses. Four experiments were conducted where 0.28, 0.56, and 0.84 kg ai/ha imazapyr and 0.1 kg ai/ha sulfometuron were applied alone and in combination and 0.84 kg ai/ha glyphosate was applied to leafy spurge-infested range sites in fall 1991 near Ainsworth, NE, and in fall 1991, 1992, and 1993 near Ansley, NE. Research areas were burned about 200 d after herbicide application to reduce plant residue. Monoculture stands of big bluestem and switchgrass were then no-till planted in each experiment and indiangrass was no-till planted in experiments initiated at Ansley in 1992 and 1993. Yields of the planted grasses, leafy spurge, and other vegetation were measured in August at each location starting the year after planting. Imazapyr was an essential component of treatments applied before planting to facilitate establishment of highly productive stands of the tallgrasses. Generally, yields were maximized by fall treatments of 0.28 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for big bluestem, 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr for indiangrass, and 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for switchgrass. Yields of the planted grasses were frequently four times greater where these herbicides were applied compared to where glyphosate or no herbicide were applied. Leafy spurge yields were usually reduced in areas where tallgrass yields were greatest. The sequential combination of suppressing vegetation with fall-applied herbicides, burning standing dead plant residue, then no-till planting desirable native tallgrasses in the spring increased productivity of these leafy spurge-infested range sites.

Low-Dose Glyphosate Does Not Control Annual Bromes in the Northern Great Plains

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin K. Espeland ◽  
Robert Kilian
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Nontarget Effects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fall Application

AbstractAnnual bromes (downy brome and Japanese brome) have been shown to decrease perennial grass forage production and alter ecosystem functions in northern Great Plains rangelands. Large-scale chemical control might be a method for increasing rangeland forage production. Although fall application has been shown to be the most effective and least likely to impact co-occurring native species, spring germination of downy brome may reduce the efficacy of fall-only herbicide application. We assessed the impact of a low glyphosate dose rate (210 g ha−1) applied to rangelands in fall or in fall and spring on nontarget species and on annual brome abundance at two sites in eastern Montana over 2 yr. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) nontarget effects are greater with spring herbicide application, (2) fall and spring herbicide application are necessary for effective downy brome control, and (3) fall herbicide application is sufficient to control Japanese brome. Few nontarget effects occurred; two dicotyledonous species exhibited small increases in response to herbicide. We found that that a single fall application reduced downy brome cover and seed bank density, but after the second fall application in the following year, downy brome did not continue to show a response to herbicide. After 2 yr of fall herbicide application, Japanese brome had denser seed banks in plots where herbicide had been applied. Blanket glyphosate application on rangelands is an unreliable method for controlling annual brome invasions in the northern Great Plains.

Species composition and abundance of ants and other invertebrates in stands of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and native grasslands in the northern Great Plains

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M. Radtke ◽  
J.R.N. Glasier ◽  
S.D. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Agropyron Cristatum ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Native Grasslands

Habitat alteration by exotic plant species can have profound effects on vertebrates, but its effects on invertebrates are less well-known. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) is a perennial grass that has been planted on >106ha of the Great Plains. We tested the hypothesis that invertebrate communities (especially ants) differed between native grasslands and A. cristatum stands, using pitfall traps in Saskatchewan and Montana. Ant species composition differed significantly between native grasslands and A. cristatum stands, but there were no differences in total ant abundance, the abundance of functional groups, or species richness. Ant species richness was significantly greater in Montana than Saskatchewan. In Saskatchewan, bare ground was positively related to total ant abundance and the abundance of “cold-climate specialist” and “opportunist” functional groups of ants. In Montana, the cover of forbs was positively related to total ant abundance. The abundances of individual ant species were not predicted by any vegetation characteristics, except for Formica obscuripes Forel, 1886, which increased significantly with litter. The total abundance of other invertebrates was greater in native grasslands than in A. cristatum stands, although not significantly so. Within each vegetation type, variation in ant communities may depend either directly on the effects of vegetation species composition, or indirectly via the effect of vegetation on other factors such as temperature. The results suggest that ant community composition was influenced more by variation within grasslands and between locations than by differences between native and exotic grasslands.

Great Plains Yucca (Yucca glauca) Control on Shortgrass Rangelands

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-195
Author(s):  
Walter H. Fick ◽  
Keith Harmoney
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Individual Plant ◽  
Optimum Control ◽  
Single Application ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Forage Plants ◽  
Percent Mortality ◽  
Spray Volume

AbstractGreat Plains yucca is a native species that competes with forage plants for space and water and at high densities may warrant control. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of seven herbicides applied in the spring or fall for Great Plains yucca control. Six foliar herbicides applied by ground application at 187 L ha−1 spray volume, one herbicide applied to individual plant whorls, and a nontreated check were established in June and September of 2009 and 2011. Percent mortality was determined 12 to 16 mo after herbicide application. Most herbicides gave similar control between the 2 yr, with triclopyr in diesel applied to individual plant whorls at 10 g L−1 providing the greatest control at 83%. Most herbicides applied in June near the blooming stage of Great Plains yucca were more effective than September treatments. June treatments providing the greatest reduction in yucca densities were metsulfuron + dicamba + 2,4-D amine + 2,4-D low volatile ester (LVE) at 21 + 113 + 325 + 431 g ae ha−1, metsulfuron + aminopyralid + triclopyr at 49 + 9 + 227 g ha−1, metsulfuron + chlorsulfuron + 2,4-D LVE at 34 + 11 + 431 g ha−1, and metsulfuron + aminopyralid + 2,4-D LVE at 49 + 9 + 431 g ha−1. A single application of a foliar herbicide provided a maximum of 72% mortality of Great Plains yucca, suggesting that repeat application may be necessary to achieve optimum control.

Surface runoff response of native and introduced grasses under simulated rainfall in southern Alberta

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean R Murphy ◽  
Francis J Larney ◽  
Walter D Willms ◽  
Paul R DeMaere
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Simulated Rainfall ◽  
Total N ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Initial Abstraction ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Russian Wildrye

Introduced perennial grass-based pastures (e.g., crested wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum, and Russian wildrye, Elymus junceus) are promoted as desirable alternatives to natural grasslands (Stipa-Bouteloua-Agropyron spp.) for livestock production systems on the mixed-grass prairie of Alberta. A study was conducted on plots established in 1993 to examine the surface runoff response from natural grasslands, introduced grasses and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under simulated rainfall in response to pasture and soil characteristics. The grass plots were never grazed, but herbage growth was harvested on an annual basis, while wheat was seeded each year following tillage. Both wheat and crested wheatgrass were less able to retain applied water; with low initial abstraction (5.1–5.7mm), runoff peaked earlier (14–26 min) and with higher intensity (65.1–68.8mm h-1) giving larger values of the rising limb factor (0.61–1.10). Two grasslands dominated by native species showed more desirable runoff characteristics; with high initial abstraction (9.6–13.3mm), runoff peaked later (32–54 min) and with lower intensity (32.7–45.8mm h-1) giving smaller values of the rising limb factor (0.13–0.35). Russian wildrye had an intermediary response. A linear model identified that to reduce the rising limb factor and amount of runoff generated after 30 min, the antecedent conditions of ground cover (%), litter dry matter (DM) and dead herbage DM were singularly important variables and the native grasslands had significantly higher levels of these. Importantly, fine and medium litter fragments of natural grasslands had higher water-holding capacity (>3.0 g g-1) compared with litter of the introduced species (~2.5 g g-1). However, when variables were considered in combination runoff decreased with higher ground cover and increased with higher soil water content. Levels of total N and total P in surface runoff were generally low (< 2 mg N L-1, < 1 mg P L-1), but ammonium and reactive P export from the native species was greater than for the introduced species. Suspended sediment yield did not differ among the grassland treatments, but was significantly higher for wheat. Less runoff was generated on grasslands that had high amounts of litter, dead standing herbage and ground cover. Increasing the amount of litter in pastures by using grazing management may decrease the runoff response and so avoid loss of surface water and soil nutrients. Key words: Ground cover, litter, water quality, native grasses, nutrients

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