Rangeland Ecology & Management

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MONITORING FOR INVASIVE PLANTS ON ALASKA REINDEER RANGE
Author
Robinette, Jennifer
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2015
Body

Invasive plants cause large problems on range lands around the world. However, little is known about the role invasive plants play on Alaska's reindeer range land. In 2012 University of Alaska Fairbanks Reindeer Research Program and Bureau Land Management developed a 25 year project to monitor changes in vegetation due to disturbances like grazing and climate change. This year I developed a monitoring protocol to survey for invasive plants at the existing study sites with the use of grazing exclosures to evaluate the interaction of grazing, climate change disturbance and invasive plants. I surveyed a total of 0.04 acre at each site. I use circular transects inside and outside of the grazing ex-closure. I have surveyed 0.02 acre that is undisturbed by both human and animal, 0.01 acre that is disturbed from construction activities and periodic monitoring of the site and 0.01 acre that is disturbed by grazers. No invasive plants were found when surveying one site in 2014. Conservation of natural ecosystems are critical. Monitoring range land for invasive plants will help alert land managers and owners to a problem that is pervasive to most rangelands of the world. Simply by monitoring I will raise awareness leading to mitigation that prevent infestations. 

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Sacramento, CA