Rangeland Ecology & Management

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INCORPORATING RANGE DATA AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
Author
Morales-Nieto, Carlos
Melgoza-Castillo, Alicia
Rivero-Hernandez, Otilia
Martinez-Salvador, Martin
Jurado-Guerra, Pedro
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2014
Body

The quantification of habitat attributes and vegetation composition changes (range trend) on the 420,000 acres of rangeland within the Warm Springs Reservation is an important part of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon's (CTWSRO) Integrated Management Plan. Observers collected rangeland data at 504 plots (206 quantitative, 298 qualitative). Data attributes included species composition by weight, vegetation production, multi-level canopy and soil cover, percent cover, soil stability, canopy and basal gap, and rangeland health.  These attributes can be analyzed to provide multi-disciplinary management input. GIS analysis provided integration of percent cover, palatability factors, water availability, and slope, in order to determine livestock carrying capacity. CTWSRO wildlife biologists are able to use the same attribute data to determine carrying capacity for big game populations, design habitat improvement projects, and revise big game management plans. The Fuels Department utilizes the data as inputs to fire models.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Orlando, FL