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Vegetation Change After 65 Years of Grazing and Grazing Exclusion
Author
Courtois, Danielle R.
Perryman, Barry L.
Hussein, Hussein S.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2004-11-01
Body

The Nevada Plots exclosure system was constructed in 1937 following passage of the Taylor Grazing Act to assess long-term effects of livestock grazing on Nevada rangelands. A comparison of vegetation characteristics inside and outside exclosures was conducted during 2001 and 2002 at 16 sites. Data analysis was performed with a paired t test. Out of 238 cover and density comparisons between inside and outside exclosures at each site, 34 (14% of total) were different (P 0.05). Generally, where differences occurred, basal and canopy cover were greater inside exclosures and density was greater outside. Shrubs were taller inside exclosures at 3 sites grazed by sheep (Ovis aries). Perennial grasses showed no vertical height difference. Aboveground plant biomass production was different at only 1 site. Plant community diversity inside and outside exclosures were equal at 11 of 16 sites. Species richness was similar at all sites and never varied 4 species at any site. Few changes in species composition, cover, density, and production inside and outside exclosures have occurred in 65 years, indicating that recovery rates since pre-Taylor Grazing Act conditions were similar under moderate grazing and grazing exclusion on these exclosure sites. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2111/1551-5028(2004)057[0574:VCAYOG]2.0.CO;2
Additional Information
Courtois, D. R., Perryman, B. L., & Hussein, H. S. (2004). Vegetation change after 65 years of grazing and grazing exclusion. Journal of Range Management, 57(6), 574-582.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/643209
Journal Volume
57
Journal Number
6
Journal Pages
574-582
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
exclosures
diversity
succession
herbivory effects