Adler and Lauenroth recorded canopy cover, density, litter, bareground, soil texture, and small mammal activity on eight paired plots of moderately grazed pastures and ungrazed exclosures. Autocorrelation of individual species abundance was measured and the strength of spatial dependence in different treatments was compared using Moran's I. Bouteloua gracilis cover is lower in grazed areas; therefore, spatial heterogeneity increases with livestock exclusion; grazing increases randomness of spatial structure of ungrazed vegetation. The study found that spatial dependence is fine scale and has a subtle effect on ecosystem process.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.