A 6-year study was conducted in tallgrass prairie to assess the effects of grazing management on plant community composition and diversity. Native plant species diversity, species richness, and growth form diversity were significantly higher in grazed compared to ungrazed prairie, and diversity was greatest in the highest stocking density. There were no significant effects of grazing system on plant diversity, nor any significant stocking density x grazing system interactions, indicating that animal density is a key management variable influencing plant species diversity and composition in tallgrass prairie and that effects of animal density override effects of grazing systems. Increasing cattle stocking densities decreased the abundance of the dominant perennial tallgrasses, and increased abundance of the C4 perennial mid-grasses. In half of the years sampled, annual forbs showed the highest frequency under intermediate stocking density. This study suggests that large grazer densities, fire, and annual climatic variability interact to influence patterns of plant community composition and diversity in tallgrass prairie.
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.