The expansion of woody species is a worldwide concern for rangeland managers due to its impact on ecosystem services, including native diversity and forage production. In southern Alberta, wetlands created for waterfowl habitat have facilitated invasion by thorny buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea). We compared plant community composition and forage production in 30 paired-plots consisting of areas with and without shrubs, on a portion of the Mattheis Research Ranch in SE Alberta, Canada in 2013. Plots were sampled for shrub canopy presence, understory species composition (by cover), herbaceous biomass (by growth form), and soil characteristics (nutrient availability). In addition, each shrub encroached patch was further divided into areas with and without evidence of cattle occupancy during sampling. Results of this study will provide information on the impacts of shrub encroachment within these landscapes, including 1) changes in species composition that may have occurred, such as the presence of invasive herbs, 2) alterations in forage availability and quality for cattle, 3) impacts of shrub invasion on potential cattle use, and 4) changes to soil nutrient status associated with shrub encroachment and cattle grazing. Ultimately, the goal of this study is to develop an improved understanding of the influence of shrub encroachment on native biodiversity and livestock grazing in the region, and thereby assess the need for remedial action to shrub presence. Additionally, these results will be linked to spatial data on shrub encroachment in the landscape to assess the overall impact of shrub encroachment on this ecosystem.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.