Research Task: 9354CZ5.597.0
Task Manager: Timothy Assal
As the dominant disturbance factor throughout the sagebrush biome, livestock grazing affects habitat condition and trend, and, consequently, the distribution and abundance of sagebrush-obligate species. However, the effects of livestock activities on species such as sage-grouse are poorly understood, particularly when it comes to landscape-level effects on populations across the sagebrush biome. Assessing the impacts of stocking rates, timing, and duration of grazing in these fragile systems is necessary for understanding which grazing regimes allow for suitable recovery and establishment of vegetation communities as well as long-term persistence of sagebrush-obligate wildlife species. A great deal of information about grazing use, management regimes, and ecological condition exists in various agencies at the local level, but the location, status, type, and quality of these data are unknown. FORT scientists will conduct an assessment of existing data, then compile, map, and analyze quality data using models that can assess and spatially link the status of existing rangelands to wildlife populations. The results will be used to identify priority areas for conservation or restoration based on livestock grazing impacts and ecological condition. As a part of this work, investigators will develop a standard database and consistent framework for organizing and mapping grazing-related information. The framework will enable investigators to systematically evaluate and map grazing regimes and their effects at broad scales and correlate these effects with sagebrush-obligate species responses.
For more information contact Timothy Assal
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/Research/research_tasks.asp
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