The main objective of this study was to determine how bison's (Bison bison) digestive system affected the proportion of seed recovered, passage time, and germinability of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus), Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), needle and thread (Stipa comata), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea). Recovery of undamaged passed seeds peaked 2 days after ingestion and then decreased to the lowest level on day 5 of sample collection for all species used, but the pattern of seed passage through time significantly differed among species. After ingestion by bison, round-shaped and hard seed-coated Indian ricegrass was recovered most, and large-seeded arrowleaf balsamroot least, with intermediate and elongated-shaped seeds falling in-between. Germinability of bluebunch wheatgrassand basin wildrye in petri dishes decreased after ingestion and recovery, while Indian ricegrass, needle and thread grass, and arrowleaf balsamroot did not break dormancy.
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