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Effects of goat browsing on gambel oak communities in northern Utah
Author
Riggs, R. A.
Urness, P. J.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1989-09-01
Body

Replicated populations of 5 shrub species were monitored over a 3-year period to assess community responses to intensive browsing by Spanish-type goats. Response variables included stem density, stem-size distribution skewness, stem diameter-stem production relations, and sprout abundance and weight. No species exhibited a density change. Size distribution skewness increased only in browsed oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) populations. Sprout weights also increased in browsed oak populations, but declined in comparably browsed serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) populations. The only other significant sprouting response was an increase in sprout numbers in browsed snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus Gray) populations. Relationships between basal stem diameter and stem production of 4 species were altered by goat use. The slopes of these relations were consistently lower in browsed populations of oak and serviceberry than in adjacent control populations, indicating that browsing reduced productivity, especially of large stems. Conversely, slopes of rabbit-brush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus lanceolatus (Hook.) Nutt.) relations increased in goat-browsed pastures relative to those of control populations; rabbitbrush was avoided by goats. Similarly, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis Nutt.) was avoided and its stem production responded positively in communities subjected to goat browsing. Important cumulative effects of goat browsing included declines in productivity of serviceberry and oak, and an increase in that of sagebrush. 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

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3899537
Additional Information
Riggs, R. A., & Urness, P. J. (1989). Effects of goat browsing on Gambel oak communities in northern Utah. Journal of Range Management, 42(5), 354-360.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645007
Journal Volume
42
Journal Number
5
Journal Pages
354-360
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
productivity
goats
botanical composition
Utah