Hall et al. determined the impacts of cattle grazing at different stocking rates and times of year on seedling survival and damage to blue oak (Quercus douglasii), a tree species whose recruitment may be limited by livestock grazing. Blue oak was browsed in all seasons, however, browsing damage was greatest in summer while trampling damage was greatest in the winter. Stocking density did not affect seedling survival in any season but survival was greatest for seedlings in winter grazed pastures. Although the results suggest that livestock impacted blue oak survival and recruitment, grazing damage was similar to grazed pastures in the control pasture, indicating that wildlife also damage and limit recruitment of blue oak and may have been responsible for some damage in the grazed pastures as well.
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