Sagebrush response to ungulate browsing in Yellowstone
Wambolt CL and Sherwood HW. 1999. Sagebrush response to ungulate browsing in Yellowstone. Journal of Range Management. 52(4):363-369
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) has decreased as a result of ungulate (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus, Antilocapra americana americana and Cervus elaphus nelsoni) browsing during the first half of the twentieth century on the Northern Yellowstone Winter Range, Wyoming, USA. The shrub characteristics of Northern Yellowstone Winter Range sagebrush habitat types continually browsed were compared with those protected for 32-37 years. Measurements were taken in and out of exclosures for 19 environmentally paired, protected, and browsed sites. There were significant differences in development between protected and browsed shrubs. Big sagebrush canopy cover at the 19 sites averaged 19.7% with protection and 6.5% where browsed and plants were twice as numerous under protection. Winter forage production of individual big sagebrush plants was also greater under protection at 16 of the 19 paired sites. Subdominant sprouting shrubs generally responded the same as big sagebrush.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Wambolt, Carl; Sherwood, Harrie
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Browsing, Exclosures, Plant Studies, Sagebrush (Artemisia), Ungulates