Private landowners role in preventing ecosystem service losses due to exotic grass invasion in the northern Great Plains

Authors: Toledo, David; RAJALA, KIANDRA - Us Fish And Wildlife Service; SORICE, MICHAEL - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2023
Publication Date: 4/21/2023
Citation: Toledo, D.N., Rajala, K., Sorice, M. 2023. Private landowners role in preventing ecosystem service losses due to exotic grass invasion in the northern Great Plains. Meeting Abstract. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) a cool season invasive grass is now present in large extents of the northern Great Plains of the USA and continues to expand. This invasion has serious consequences on native plant species diversity and ecosystem services. Using a factorial vignette survey experiment, we explored private landowner perceptions about Kentucky bluegrass and their management intention to reduce/control the species in the US northern Great Plains. Each landowner evaluated multiple vignettes that randomly varied based on how a novel grass species expanding in rangelands would affect provisioning services (season of forage availability, forage quality, forage quantity), regulating services (floral resources for pollinators, water infiltration, and availability), and supporting services (grassland bird diversity, grass diversity). Landowner responses indicated little to no Kentucky bluegrass preventative action. Acceptability of invasives was strongly associated with landowners’ management intentions, and the status of all seven services was related to acceptability. Scenario modeling shows that landowners displayed greater sensitivity to losses in a suite of ecosystem services than to equivalent gains. Scenario results indicated that Kentucky bluegrass was considered slightly acceptable during the early stages of invasion. At later stages, when negative impacts are most severe for landowner livelihoods, bluegrass was rated as slightly unacceptable. Results suggest that ecological losses may need to be severe before individual landowners change their management practices to reduce/control the species. Engaging in extension and collaborative management efforts to reduce Kentucky bluegrass will be helpful in maintaining the flow of ecosystem services from northern Great Plains grasslands.