Effects of jackrabbit grazing, clipping, and drought on crested wheatgrass seedlings
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Authors: B. A. Roundy, G. J. Cluff, J. K. McAdoo, and R. A. Evans
Date: 1985
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 38
Number: 6
Pages: 551-556
Summary of Methods: The authors observed the effects of jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) grazing on crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) seedling survival and establishment using exclosures at two locations in Nevada. Seedling survival was not significantly affected by jackrabbit grazing. Seedling survival on all sites was greater than 40%. The smaller seeded areas and the edge of the large seeded area had the greatest forage utilization by rabbits. An experiment on the effects of herbivory and drought was conducted using clipping and watering regimes. Seedlings grown in the smaller volume were more sensitive to clipping and drought than those grown in the larger soil volume. Seedlings watered less than weekly showed a trend toward higher survival when clipped every 3 or 4 weeks than when clipped more or less frequently. Clipping weekly and watering less than weekly greatly reduced root growth and seedling survival. The authors conclude that high populations of jackrabbits would probably not decrease establishment of crested wheatgrass seedlings in most years, but could destroy seedlings on a small seeded area in a very dry year, especially on a shallow soil where root growth and water holding capacity are limited.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: black-tailed jackrabbit, lepus californicus, crested wheatgrass, agropyron desertorum, big sagebrush, artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis, grazing, clipping, seedlings
Annotation: In the clipping experiment, treatments consisted of a control and clipping seedlings to ground level every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks. Jackrabbit densities were 1.4 to 2.9/ha and utilization was high.
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