Ungulate regulation of ecosystem processes in Yellowstone National Park: Direct and feedback effects
-
-
Authors: D. A. Frank
Date: 1998
Journal: Wildlife Society Bulletin
Volume: 26
Number: 3
Pages: 410-418
Summary of Methods: This is a summary of 57 articles that illustrate the positive effects of ungulate grazing on grassland vegetation in Yellowstone National Park.
Article Summary / Main Points: Main points of this review include: 1) Ungulate migration is based on various nutrients found on seasonal ranges. 2) The amount of available forage is determined by the soil properties of that area. 3) There is a positive relationship between grazers and above ground plant production. 4) Ungulate grazing improves the quality of organic matter in the soil. 5) The positive ungulate-grassland relationships in Yellowstone National Park may not apply to other forested ecosystems.
Vegetation Types: Intermountain Grasslands (includes Palouse Prairie and Canyon Grasslands)
MLRA Ecoregions: 43B Central Rocky Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Ungulates Herbivory Rangelands
Article Review Type: Peer Reviewed
Article Type: Scientific Opinion
Keywords: bison, diet, elk, forage, grassland, herbivory, migration, nitrogen, ungulates, yellowstone national park
Annotation: This article is a scientific opinion and is only applicable to grassland grazing in Yellowstone National Park and caution should be used before applying these ideas on a broader scale. The article did not discuss problems of over grazing, such as elk over grazing aspen and willow riparian areas. As is true for all grazing research, the results are most directly applicable to areas with similar landscapes, type of ungulate, weather conditions and seasons of use.
-
Direct link not available.
-