Stocking Rates and Vegetation Structure, Heterogeneity, and Community in a Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie

摘要: Abstract Currently, livestock management in the North American Great Plains aims for even use of forage, which creates a homogenous landscape. Reintroducing heterogeneity, defined here as variation vegetation structure and composition, to native rangelands is imperative maintaining grassland biodiversity, using variety cattle stocking rates on landscape could accomplish this. We assessed effects northern mixed-grass prairie structure, structural plant species diversity. The study took place Grasslands National Park Saskatchewan, Canada, nine pastures (~ 300 ha) that were grazed at range from very low high this region. Three these ungrazed controls. used generalized linear mixed models describe rate over 4 years, following reintroduction grazing after 15 years without grazing. Mantel test determine whether communities changed with varying time. Effects many response variables cumulative Species richness uplands increased time, but decreased lowlands. Heterogeneity generally time upland not lowland habitats. While natural annual variability influenced variables, still apparent. A be maximize heterogeneity provide diversity habitat scale.