Wildlife numbers on late and mid seral Chihuahuan Desert rangelands
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Authors: T. Nelson, J. L. Holechek, R. Valdez, and M. Cardenas
Date: 1997
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 50
Number: 6
Pages: 593-599
Summary of Methods: For two years, the affect of grazing on wildlife numbers at 2 late-seral (near climax) and 2 mid-seral pastures in southcentral New Mexico were studied. Wildlife sightings were recorded in the morning in spring, summer, and fall of each year. Vegetation data were collected in the summer and fall of each year. Precipitation effects were also examined as the first year was a wet year compared to a drought in the second year.
Article Summary / Main Points: Wildlife diversity did not differ between pastures in late and mid-seral condition. However, total wildlife sightings, especially birds and mammals, were higher on mid-seral pastures. Wildlife sightings were less during the drought year.
Vegetation Types: Desert Grasslands
MLRA Ecoregions: 42 Southern Desertic Basins, Plains, and Mountains
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: grazing, arid lands, songbirds, jackrabbits, quail, pronghorn
Annotation: This replicated study was conducted over two years and the associated findings apply to desert rangelands that have had conservative to moderate cattle grazing on pastures in late and mid-seral ecological stages. However, no pastures in an early-seral stage were examined, so it is unclear how wildlife might respond to early-seral conditions. Since, the study was replicated across years experiencing both wet and drought conditions, the results would likely apply to a range of climatic conditions. Additionally, Joseph et al. (2003, West. North Amer. Natural. 63:43-49) found similar results as this study, at the same location on a variety of wildlife species, years later. Joseph et al. (2003, J. Range Manage. 56:314-318) specifically studied the number of scaled quail sighted at this location under the same conditions, and Joseph et al. (2004, J. Range Manage. 57:243-247) specifically studied mourning dove densities at the same location under the same conditions; all three articles available on the RSIS website.
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