Rangeland Ecology & Management

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INFLUECES OF CATTLE GRAZING ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF THE BELDING'S GROUND SQUIRREL
Author
Allgier, Kendra R.
Johnson, Tracey N.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Livestock grazing is a predominant use of grasslands, and its effects on grassland-associated wildlife are still being investigated. Wildlife responses to grazing vary among species and a better understanding of these responses is needed to determine appropriate grazing management that accommodates wildlife habitat and the domestic livestock industry. Burrowing mammals, such as ground squirrels (Family: Sciuridae), provide numerous ecosystem services in grasslands. However, ground squirrels are often viewed as agricultural pests and a large amount of resources are devoted to managing them as such. To better understand the relationship between livestock grazing and ground squirrel populations, we describe the effect of livestock grazing on the Belding�s ground squirrel (Spermophilus beldingi) habitat. We evaluated vegetation and soil attributes at colony (n =��9) and non-colony (n = 6) sites within grazed (n = 12) and ungrazed (n = 4) pastures.� Soils at colony sites were deeper (x = 63.6 cm ���6.67) than at non-colony sites (x =55.8 cm � 15.36). �At colony sites, visual obstruction was x = 0.80 dm (� 1.2) and vegetation height was x = 35.02 cm (� 0.95). At non-colony sites, visual obstruction was 0.87 dm (� 0.63) and vegetation height was 50.20 cm (� 1.28).� We also evaluate soil and vegetation attributes at grazed and ungrazed study plots.� Our results will contribute to understanding this species� response to livestock grazing and will help inform sustainable grazing practices in a northwest bunchgrass prairie in Oregon.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV