Heterogeneity is fundamental to rangeland conservation because spatially and temporally-heterogeneous disturbance creates patchy vegetation and increase compositional dissimilarity. Ecological theory links compositional dissimilarity with beta diversity, but while heterogeneity has been associated with diversity-stability mechanisms, linkages between beta diversity and heterogeneity or stability have not been established. Meanwhile, questions about application remain: How many patches are sufficient to create spatial heterogeneity and reduce temporal variability? How frequently should patches burn? Does season of fire matter? To bring theory into applied practice, we studied a gradient of tallgrass prairie landscapes created by different sizes, seasons, and frequencies of fire, and used analyses sensitive to non-linear trends. Optimal heterogeneity, variability, and beta diversity occurred in landscapes with 3-4 patches and 3-4-year fire return intervals. Beta diversity had a positive association with spatial heterogeneity and negative relationship with temporal variability. Rather than prescribe that these results constitute best management practices, we emphasize the flexibility offered by interactions between patch number and fire frequency for matching rangeland productivity and offtake to specific management goals. As we saw no differences across season of fire, we recommend future research focus on fire frequency within a moderate number of patches and consider a wider seasonal burn window.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.