Characterizing the contribution of the seed bank and bud bank to vegetation composition will enhance our understanding of vegetation dynamics and grassland ecosystem resiliency associated with wildlife and livestock herbivory. Vegetation regeneration and resiliency following disturbance comes from seeds (seed bank) and/or vegetative propagules (bud bank). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ecological site (Clayey vs. Loamy), intensity of disturbance, and types of grazing (prairie dogs vs. cattle) on the presence, size, types, and viability of seed and vegetative propagule reserves. Within each ecological site, locations were selected in areas with no grazing, grazing by prairie dog only, and grazing by cattle only. At each location, two prairie dog burrows (on-town) or sampling points (off-town) at least 2m apart were randomly selected. Two soil cores were taken at 0.5m, 1.0m, and 2.0m from the center of each burrow or sampling point. One core was used to evaluate the seed bank while the other was examined for vegetative propagules. Vegetative reproductive structures were sifted out of the cores used to evaluate the seed bank and the remaining seed bank core sample was spread onto standard seed flats on top of potting soil. Each soil core used to determine vegetative propagules was placed intact into a 15cm X 15cm square plastic pot. The soil cores and seed flats were maintained in a greenhouse with ambient photoperiod during the 2014 growing season. Samples were misted daily and emergence was recorded weekly. Plants were identified as they emerged, counted and then removed. Species richness, abundance, and viability of seed bank and bud bank were determined. Similarity indices were calculated based on abundance to assess similarity of potential contribution of seed and bud bank to current and future plant community composition for each ecological site, type of herbviory and intensity of disturbance.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.