Gender-related differences of shrubs in stands of Atriplex canescens with different histories of grazing by cattle
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Authors: A. F. Cibils, D. M. Swift, and R. H. Hart
Date: 2000
Journal: Journal of the Arid Environment
Volume: 46
Number:
Pages: 383-396
Summary of Methods: In this study, Cibils et al. determined Atriplex canescens sizes, ages and sex ratios in pastures that were summer grazed, winter grazed, or ungrazed for 20 years. Ungrazed shrubs were the largest and oldest, and shrubs in winter grazed pastures were the smallest and youngest, most likely because shrub use was greatest during the winter. Grazed shrub communities had fewer female plants, that were smaller and younger than female plants inside exclosures. Females may be more susceptible to grazing damage or may be more likely to be grazed than male plants. Based on these results, the authors suggest that cattle grazing can alter the age, size and sex-ratio of A. canescens communities in the Colorado shortgrass steppe.
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: atriplex canescens, shrub sex ratios, shrub ages, cattle grazing
Annotation: Evidence of rabbit browsing was only found on thin stems of young shrubs in grazed pastures. It was assumed any hypothetical impact of rabbits on shrubs in exclosures would be minimal. In a 3-5 year period, authors only observed pronghorn twice in the study area.
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