Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Impacts of mule deer and horse grazing on transplanted shrubs for revegetation.
Author
Austin, Dennis D.
Urness, Philip J.
Durham, Susan L.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1994
Body

Revegetation success on foothill ranges in northern Utah using big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. spp. wyomingensis Beetle and Young) and rubber rabbitbrush brush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus Britt. spp. albicaulis H. and C.) was determined as influenced by winter mule deer browsing and spring horse grazing. Treatment areas of 0.1 ha with 3 replications included a protected control, use by deer only, use by horses only, use by deer and horses, and use by deer with horse grazing delayed for 3 years after seedling transplant. Results from the first 6 growing seasons following transplanting of seedlings showed grazing by horses only tripled the available, per-plant browse production of big sagebrush compared to protected plots, whereas browsing by deer only resulted in a 40% decrease in browse production. Seedling survival of big sagebrush differed between treatments during the first 3 growing seasons but was not affected by grazing after the third growing season. Rubber rabbitbrush was not affected by treatments.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Journal Volume
47
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
p. 8-11.
Collection
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
horses
winter
spring
Artemisia tridentata
Odocoileus hemionus
Utah
grazing
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
land restoration
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