Vegetative and cryptogamic crust cover and biomass were measured at ungrazed, previously grazed and presently grazed sites, within and near Grand Canyon National Park. Cryptogamic crust cover and biomass were greatest on ungrazed sites and lowest on presently grazed sites, however, species composition of crusts were similar at all sites. Grazing also affected the composition of the plant community, with decreasing grass cover and increasing cover of weedy forbs and bare ground, compared to ungrazed and previously grazed sites. The data from previously grazed sites suggests that cryptogamic crust can slowly recover from the negative impacts of grazing, however, the authors caution that there is some threshold at which recovery will involve intensive time and management inputs after the removal of grazing pressure.
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