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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321281
Title: Effects of short-term cattle exclusion on plant community composition: Prairie dog and ecological site influences

Author
item FIELD, AARON - North Dakota State University
item SEDIVEC, KEVIN - North Dakota State University
item Hendrickson, John
item JOHNSON, PATRICIA - South Dakota State University
item GEAUMONT, BENJAMIN - North Dakota State University
item LAN, XU - South Dakota State University
item GATES, ROGER - South Dakota State University
item LIMB, RYAN - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2015
Publication Date: 2/29/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63056
Citation: Field, A., Sedivec, K., Hendrickson, J.R., Johnson, P., Geaumont, B., Lan, X., Gates, R., Limb, R. 2016. Effects of short term cattle exclusion on plant community composition: Prairie dog and ecological site influences. Rangelands. 38(1):34-37.

Interpretive Summary: Plant community composition is an important indicator of healthy, proper functioning rangelands. However, the impact of prairie dog grazing and short term cattle exclusion on different ecological sites is less well known. Fifty permanent plots either grazed by cattle, or by prairie dogs or both, were randomly located on three different ecological sites on rangeland near McLaughlin, SD. Plant community composition was affected by both the presence of prairie dogs and ecological site. However, the relatively short-term cattle exclusion did not impact the vegetative community. Moderate grazing, based on a 50% removal of vegetation, was appropriate when vegetation removal was based on areas without prairie dogs.

Technical Abstract: Plant community composition is an important indicator of healthy, proper functioning rangelands. We evaluated the impacts prairie dog grazing, ecological site and short term cattle exclusion on Northern Mixed-Grass prairie near McLaughlin, SD. Modified Daubenmire frames provided canopy cover, litter and bare ground information on fifty permanent plots systematically located in 2012 on rangelands either grazed by cattle, inhabited by prairie dogs, or both. Of the 50 plots, 32 were located on a prairie dog town (on town), and 18 off towns (off town). Plots were distributed among three common ecological sites with 18 plots located on thin claypan, 18 on loamy, and 14 on shallow loamy ecological sites. Cattle grazing occurred from 1 June through 15 October or until 50% disappearance of vegetation was achieved off town, whichever came first. Canonical analysis of principle components was used to ordinate the community data. Both prairie dogs presence and ecological sites impacted vegetative community but short-term cattle exclusion didn’t. Moderate grazing did not alter the plant community compared to non-grazing during the study but managers should base stocking rate recommendations on 50% disappearance of vegetation off-town.