Journal article
The effect of small mammal exclusion on grassland recovery from disturbance in the Chihuahuan Desert
Journal of Arid Environments, Vol.166, pp.11-16
2019
Abstract
In many arid ecosystems, shrub encroachment is coupled to the loss of perennial grasses and associated ecosystem services. Increased native herbivore abundance associated with shrub encroachment can have negative effects on grass restoration. In the Chihuahuan Desert, native herbivore abundance can be two times greater in shrubland states dominated by Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) than in historical Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama) grasslands. We compared the recovery of B. eriopoda patches following disturbance in plots that were exposed to or protected from native herbivores in shrub-dominated, grass-dominated and ecotone (grass and shrub co-dominated) states. We created a disturbance in the center of B. eriopoda grass patches in each treatment quadrat in 2001. The disturbed areas were measured for recruitment and re-establishment of B. eriopoda in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Although mean rodent abundance was generally greater in shrub-dominated states than other states over the study period, reproductive potential of B. eriopoda was similar in shrub and grass dominated states. Additionally, there was no revegetation by B. eriopoda in any state in response to rodent exclusion. Because increased herbivore abundance in shrub-dominated states did not constrain grass revegetation, other factors are likely to be more important constraints on perennial grass recovery in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Details
- Title
- The effect of small mammal exclusion on grassland recovery from disturbance in the Chihuahuan Desert
- Authors/Creators
- L.N. Svejcar (Author/Creator) - New Mexico State UniversityB.T. Bestelmeyer (Author/Creator) - New Mexico State UniversityD.K. James (Author/Creator) - New Mexico State UniversityD.P.C. Peters (Author/Creator) - New Mexico State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of Arid Environments, Vol.166, pp.11-16
- Publisher
- Academic Press
- Identifiers
- 991005542037007891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.40 Forestry
- 3.40.838 Rangeland Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Environmental Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology