Nonequilibrium dynamics of sedge meadows grazed by cattle in southern Wisconsin
-
-
Authors: B. Middleton
Date: 2002
Journal: Plant Ecology
Volume: 161
Number: 1
Pages: 89-110
Summary of Methods: The effects of cattle grazing and exclusion on the long-term structural characteristics of sedge meadows in the Lodi Wildlife Area, WI (43˚ 19’ N; 89˚ 37’ W) were examined to test the equilibrium theory from 1977-1997. Four sites (reference-very lightly grazed, lightly grazed, moderately to heavily grazed and recovering-no grazing since 1973) were examined. Four environmental factors including recovery time (years since grazing), tussock height, frequency of hoof prints, and water depth at base of tussock (if present) were calculated and measured.
Article Summary / Main Points: After 4 years without cattle grazing, structural properties of the plant community were more similar to that of the heavily grazed sedge meadow than a site with no history if livestock grazing. By the end of this 20-year study, plant cover and height on the site where grazing was removed more closely resembled reference plots with no history of grazing than heavily grazed meadow plots. Maximum tussock (i.e., clump or patch) height on the site where grazing was removed showed a similar trend with the initial measurements similar to the grazed meadows and final measurements resembling the ungrazed reference site. One exception where the removal if grazing caused the site to differ from the ungrazed reference site was an increase in the shrub redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea). An increase in shrub abundance was noted as a consequence of past cattle grazing history.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 95B Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Drift Plain
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: carex stricta, cattle grazing, cornus sericea, disturbance dynamics, fen, shrub carr, succession
Annotation: The results of this long-term grazing study may be applicable to many sedge meadows grazed by cattle. However, the study was not replicated across treatments which makes it unclear if observed effects were because of the site characteristics or the effects and history of grazing. Furthermore, the study was conducted in Wisconsin and results may not be applicable to western rangelands. The specific location of this study was published incorrectly and has been corrected in the summary of methods section.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-