Plant biodiversity and evenness on shortgrass steppe range in Colorado were greater in light and moderately grazed pastures than ungrazed or heavily grazed pastures after 55 years of treatment. While preferred grasses western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) and needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) were present significantly only in the light and ungrazed pastures (0.8-7.2 % of biomass), plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) dominated the ungrazed pasture, contributing 43% of biomass. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) made up 34-41% of biomass in grazed pastures and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) contributed 22% in the heavily grazed treatment. Plant community structure and diversity were controlled by selective grazing by cattle and soil disturbance by cattle and rodents.
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.