Cluster analysis followed by stepwise discriminant analysis was used to delineate ecological stages on a mixed grass prairie in western South Dakota. Forty-seven variables were analyzed for 48 sites ranging from potential vegetatlon to early seral stages. A cover-frequency index for western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) was the most valuable in identifying 4 different (P<0.0001) ecological stages. Ecological stage classification was estimated to be 95% accurate. The methods presented are quantitative, precise, easy, time-efficient, and meet the goals of resource managers with a minimum of bias. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. 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
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.