Ballinger et al. looked at the effects of cattle removal from a sandhills prairie site on lizard abundance in western Nebraska. Cattle were removed from the study site 25 years prior to Ballinger et al. data collection. Quantitative data on only two species of lizards were taken due to the extreme rarity of the other two species present in the area. In 1979, 74 Holbrookia maculata were found, while only three were found in 1993. Sceloporus undulatus went from 56 in 1979 to 30 residents in 1993. Ballinger et al. quantified that the increase in forage production on the site took away the prime open habitat that the lizards thrive in. These lizard species have evolved with large ungulate grazing and have adapted to patchy habitats. The removal of cattle grazing seems to have had a negative effect on the lizard abundance of this area.
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.