Effects of fire, grazing, and the presence of shrubs on Chihuahuan desert grasslands
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Authors: P. B. Drewa, and K. M. Havstad
Date: 2001
Journal: Journal of Arid Environments
Volume: 48
Number:
Pages: 429-443
Summary of Methods: Drewa and Havstad examined the responses of herbaceous and suffrutescent species to fire, grazing, and presence of Prosopis glandulosa, in a Chihuahuan desert grassland in southcentral New Mexico. Following fires in June 1995, unfenced plots were exposed to livestock grazing over 4 years. Plots were established that either included or excluded P. glandulosa. Grazing did not increase species diversity, richness, or induce changes in evenness, neither did it interact with fire to effect these variables. Grazing generally decreased cover and frequency of perennial grasses, but increased frequency of perennial forbs (although not cover). Only frequency and not cover of perennial forbs and annual grasses increased more following grazing. Presence of P. glandulosa had no differential effect on responses of non-shrub species. Grazing affected individual species differently; Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama, the most important perennial forage) cover and frequency decreased, D. wislizenii increased, while S. flexuosus, G. sarothrae, and A. ramosissimus were unaffected. Precipitation immediately following fire may be critical for recovery of B. eriopoda-dominated desert grasslands; relationships between fire and post-fire precipitation patterns require future investigation.
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: honey mesquite, prosopis glandulosa, black grama, bouteloua eriopoda, population dynamics, livestock, diversity, drought, prescribed fires
Annotation: On average, this pasture was exposed to a stocking rate of 12.73 ha / AUM. Timeline of vegetation measurements, fire and livestock treatment applications:,May-June 1995= pre-treatment sample,June 1995=fire,December 1995-June 1996=grazing,August-September 1996=grazing,January-March 1997=grazing,August 1997 and 1998=grazing,January 1998 and 1999 =grazing,October 1999= post-treatment sample
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