Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher S. Jones, David H. Duncan, Libby Rumpff, Doug Robinson, Peter A. Vesk
Summary: Livestock grazing in riparian areas has both positive and negative effects on vegetation. While reserving riparian areas can benefit native vegetation, livestock grazing can reduce exotic vegetation cover at the cost of native vegetation and ground condition. Quantitative monitoring and evaluation of cost-benefit trade-offs are essential for guiding reservation decisions.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Remote Sensing
Spencer Dakin Kuiper, Nicholas C. Coops, Lukas R. Jarron, Piotr Tompalski, Joanne C. White
Summary: The accurate detection and mapping of instream wood is important for sustainable forest management. This study developed and tested a novel framework to use Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data to automatically detect and map instream wood. The results showed that the method had moderate overall accuracy and could be used for fish habitat modeling and assessing management practices.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Skerlep, S. Nehzati, R. A. Sponseller, P. Persson, H. Laudon, E. S. Kritzberg
Summary: Increasing iron concentrations in freshwaters across northern Europe have led to browning, affecting aquatic organisms and drinking water production. The contribution of different sources to stream iron concentrations is not well understood. This study investigated the role of riparian and mire soils in regulating iron patterns in a boreal stream network over 18 years. Results showed that riparian soils were major contributors to increasing freshwater iron concentrations, and drought events led to prolonged release of iron from organic soils, with potential long-term effects on stream iron concentrations.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2023)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Wolfgang J. Junk, Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade, Jochen Schongart, Catia Nunes da Cunha, Stela Rosa Amaral Goncalves, Karl Matthias Wantzen, Florian Wittmann
Summary: Low-order streams and riparian wetlands play important roles in the drainage network of landscapes. However, there has been limited research on these ecosystems in Brazil. In Brazil, riparian wetlands cover at least 25% of the forested part of the Amazon basin and about 10% of the Cerrado region. Large-scale agriculture and cattle ranching pose significant threats to these wetlands.
Article
Entomology
Ruric O. Bowman, Robert F. Smith
Summary: Stream insects play a crucial role in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This study focused on the vertical migration of adult stream insects into riparian forest canopies. The findings suggest that adult stream insects utilize canopy habitats, highlighting the importance of riparian forest conservation for stream insect populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Duarte Balata, Ivo Gama, Tiago Domingos, Vania Proenca
Summary: This study explores the use of satellite data to monitor the impact of grazing on vegetation phenology and productivity, and identifies the vegetation seasonal metrics most responsive to grazing disturbances. The results show that herbaceous vegetation is most responsive to moderate grazing disturbances, while shrubs and trees experience a decline in productivity. The techniques demonstrated in this study are highly important for large-scale monitoring of heterogeneous landscapes.
Article
Geography, Physical
Maria Pilar Rabanaque, Vanesa Martinez-Fernandez, Mikel Calle, Gerardo Benito
Summary: Sustainable river management now includes hydromorphological and fluvial habitat studies. A two-step approach involving river segmentation and landform mapping using satellite images was used to classify streams in eastern Spain, providing insights on erosion and deposition processes and the effects of large disruptive flood events.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ask Lykke Herrik, Niels Mogensen, Jens-Christian Svenning, Robert Buitenwerf
Summary: African wildlife populations are declining rapidly, and more areas for wildlife are needed to stop further declines and restore ecosystems. Community-based conservation with wildlife-livestock coexistence in African rangelands presents a major opportunity, but the efficacy of conservation efforts in mixed land-use areas is still uncertain.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lluis Gomez-Gener, Andre R. Siebers, Maria Isabel Arce, Shai Arnon, Susana Bernal, Rossano Bolpagni, Thibault Datry, Giulia Gionchetta, Hans-Peter Grossart, Clara Mendoza-Lera, Vivien Pohl, Ute Risse-Buhl, Oleksandra Shumilova, Ourania Tzoraki, Daniel von Schiller, Alexander Weigand, Gabriele Weigelhofer, Dominik Zak, Annamaria Zoppini
Summary: Surface-groundwater interactions in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams have significant impacts on biogeochemical processes, but further research is needed to understand the specific differences in various hydrological states.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Clayton A. Bradley, Morodoluwa Akin-Fajiye, Wendy C. Gardner, Lauchlan H. Fraser
Summary: Timber harvesting in riparian zones without leaving a buffer can increase the likelihood of livestock grazing along streams, negatively impacting vegetation and other ecosystem characteristics. This study examined the effectiveness of using coarse woody debris as a barrier to mitigate the effects of livestock grazing after timber harvesting on small stream ecosystems. The results showed that debris barriers improved some variables and reduced biomass utilization.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Philip R. Kaufmann, Robert M. Hughes, Steven G. Paulsen, David V. Peck, Curt W. Seeliger, Marc H. Weber, Richard M. Mitchell
Summary: Quantitative measures of physical habitat structure are important indicators of the impacts of human activities on stream and river condition.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Heikki Mykra, Mari Annala, Anu Hilli, Juha-Pekka Hotanen, Raili Hokajarvi, Pauli Jokikokko, Krister Karttunen, Mikko Kesala, Minna Kuoppala, Antti Leinonen, Hannu Marttila, Leo-Juhani Merio, Sirpa Piirainen, Petri Porvari, Aura Salmivaara, Asta Vaso
Summary: It was found that forested buffer zones designed based on varying-depth water table (DTW) index could better protect riparian plant communities, reduce soil erosion, and minimize nutrient leaching in managed forestry areas. This is in contrast to the widely used fixed-width buffer approach, which is adopted due to its simplicity. The cost of DTW-based buffer was also lower than fixed-width buffers, indicating its potential effectiveness and economic benefits.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xingzhong Wang, Jie Li, Xiang Tan, Weibo Wang, Ying Zheng
Summary: This research aims to investigate the effects of abiotic variables on the fatty acid composition of macroinvertebrate scrapers. The study found that the variation in fatty acids was mainly related to PUFA, SAFA, (1)3 PUFA, and u)6 PUFA. Multiple factor analysis showed a strong correlation between the fatty acid profiles and the physical variables of the scrapers.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oliver S. Schilling, Peter G. Cook, Pauline F. Grierson, Shawan Dogramaci, Craig T. Simmons
Summary: This study investigated the controls for SW-GW-vegetation interactions along intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams through numerical experiments. Results showed that infiltration is controlled by ephemerality and hydraulic conductivity (K), while transpiration is influenced by a complex interplay between ephemerality, hydraulic properties, and vegetation.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lijuan Miao, Zhanli Sun, Yanjun Ren, Florian Schierhorn, Daniel Mueller
Summary: The Mongolian Plateau experienced vegetation greening from 1982 to 2015, with precipitation and animal density being the most influential factors contributing to higher NDVI on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. The findings challenge the common belief that higher grazing pressure is the key driver for land degradation.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Neal J. Pastick, M. Torre Jorgenson, Scott J. Goetz, Benjamin M. Jones, Bruce K. Wylie, Burke J. Minsley, Helene Genet, Joseph F. Knight, David K. Swanson, Janet C. Jorgenson
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matthew Rigge, Collin Homer, Bruce Wylie, Yingxin Gu, Hua Shi, George Xian, Debra K. Meyer, Brett Bunde
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marketa Podebradska, Bruce K. Wylie, Michael J. Hayes, Brian D. Wardlow, Deborah J. Bathke, Norman B. Bliss, Devendra Dahal
Article
Ecology
Stephen P. Boyte, Bruce K. Wylie, Yingxin Gu, Donald J. Major
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Neal J. Pastick, Devendra Dahal, Bruce K. Wylie, Sujan Parajuli, Stephen P. Boyte, Zhouting Wu
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Rigge, Collin Homer, Lauren Cleeves, Debra K. Meyer, Brett Bunde, Hua Shi, George Xian, Spencer Schell, Matthew Bobo
Article
Ecology
Matthew Rigge, Collin Homer, Hua Shi, Bruce Wylie
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher E. Soulard, Matthew Rigge
Article
Ecology
Hua Shi, Collin Homer, Matthew Rigge, Kory Postma, George Xian
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Rigge, Collin Homer, Hua Shi, Debra Meyer, Brett Bunde, Brian Granneman, Kory Postma, Patrick Danielson, Adam Case, George Xian
Summary: Monitoring temporal dynamics of rangelands using remote sensing tools allows for the evaluation of both gradual and abrupt changes in vegetation cover and composition. The study on the National Land Cover Database Back in Time dataset from 1985 to 2018 in the western United States showed significant decreases in shrub, sagebrush, and litter cover, a significant increase in annual herbaceous cover, and non-significant changes in bare ground and herbaceous cover. The majority of changes observed were gradual and occurred outside of known disturbances, highlighting the importance of understanding long-term trends in rangeland management and sustainability.
Article
Ecology
Matthew Rigge, Hua Shi, Dory Postma
Summary: The study examines the impact of climate change on vegetation in western US rangelands over the past century, projecting potential changes in vegetation composition and cover through modeling approaches. The results indicate a shift towards more xeric vegetation under higher temperatures in the future.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marketa Podebradska, Bruce K. Wylie, Deborah J. Bathke, Yared A. Bayissa, Devendra Dahal, Justin D. Derner, Philip A. Fay, Michael J. Hayes, Walter H. Schacht, Jerry D. Volesky, Pradeep Wagle, Brian D. Wardlow
Summary: This study validates the applicability of the ecosystem performance approach for assessing climate impacts on forage production in semi-arid grasslands. By developing the Expected Ecosystem Performance (EEP) model, changes in seasonal climate and long-term growth variability can be captured, providing timely assessments of forage production.
Article
Geography, Physical
Hua Shi, Matthew Rigge, Kory Postma, Brett Bunde
Summary: This study assessed the condition and changes of rangelands in the western United States using Landsat data. The temporal patterns and breakpoints of rangeland components were analyzed using linear and structural change methods. The results showed that the structural change method was more accurate in detecting breakpoints, and the density of breakpoints had a strong relationship with aridity index.
GISCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
B. J. Minsley, N. J. Pastick, S. R. James, D. R. N. Brown, B. K. Wylie, M. A. Kass, V. E. Romanovsky
Summary: Warming temperatures and extreme weather events are causing changes in permafrost in northern latitudes. Electrical resistivity tomography surveys are used to measure and interpret the changes, along with point observations of permafrost depth, temperature, and water content.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Neal J. Pastick, Bruce K. Wylie, Matthew B. Rigge, Devendra Dahal, Stephen P. Boyte, Matthew O. Jones, Brady W. Allred, Sujan Parajuli, Zhuoting Wu
Summary: The research integrated various data and technologies to analyze the distribution and impact of exotic annual grasses in western North America, finding that invasion is more likely under warm and dry conditions, and factors such as long-term abundance, wildfire frequency play a key role in resisting invasions.
Article
Ecology
Joaquin Aldabe, Ana Ines Sanchez-Iriarte, Mercedes Rivas, Oscar Blumetto
Summary: Success in conserving biodiversity in rangelands depends on effectively managing the systems to achieve positive economic outcomes while preserving biodiversity. This study found that managing grass height can increase forage mass without replacing native vegetation. However, the impact on grassland bird populations remains unclear. The findings suggest that maintaining grassland bird specialists and potentially increasing livestock production is feasible, but longer time frames may be needed to support endangered tall grass specialists.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Timothy H. Parker, Alex Gerber, Erin Campbell, Molly Simonson, Robert K. Shriver, Lyman Persico
Summary: Many perennial plants in semiarid rangelands have experienced population declines. Solar radiation may be the primary factor causing high seedling mortality on south-facing slopes.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Amin Ghasemi, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Sorour Karimi, Majid Iravani, Josef Senn
Summary: Seed dispersal is of great importance in plant ecology. This study examines the role of the onager in the endozoochoric seed dispersal of various plant species in an Iranian national park. The findings highlight the significance of conserving this threatened subspecies to maintain seed dispersal in arid habitats.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Nicki Frey, Jeffrey L. Beck, Loretta Singletary, Laura Snell, Derek Scasta, Jessie Hadfield
Summary: This article presents a survey on public knowledge of wild free-roaming horse populations. The results indicate that the public has limited understanding of the ecology and management of these horses, which may affect their ability to support management efforts and distinguish fact from propaganda.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Seyedeh Khadijeh Mahdavi, Mohammadreza Shahraki, Mohsen Sharafatmandrad
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the impact of Turkmen pastoralists' participation in rangeland restoration practices in Aqqala County. The results showed that pastoralists' age, annual income, number of animals, and animal husbandry experience had positive relationships with participatory behavior. Pastoralists who were members of rangeland management cooperatives and participated in training courses performed better in implementation. By identifying the consequences of participatory behavior, barriers to participation in restoration practices can be overcome.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Corinna M. Holfus, Chad S. Boyd, Roxanne C. Rios, Kirk W. Davies, Stella M. Copeland, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez
Summary: The distribution of Wyoming big sagebrush has decreased due to its interaction with invasive annual grasses and increased wildfire frequency. Traditional seeding methods have low success rates, while transplanting sagebrush has a higher success rate. Planting younger transplants and controlling invasive annual grasses before planting can increase transplant survival and canopy volume.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2024)