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Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Title Index - Click on title to view abstract Weed-Suppressive Bacteria in Rangeland Restoration Ann C. Kennedy*, Jeremy C. Hansen, Tami L. Stubbs, Reneé E. Schultheis ¿Is it profitable to control mesquite infestations in Short Grasslands of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico? Martha Martín-Rivera*, Fernando Ibarra-Flores, Salomon Moreno-Medina, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros, Rodolfo GarzaOrtega, Rafael Retes-López, Emanuel Hurtado-Ramirez, Ernesto Gerlach-Barrera, Fernando Ibarra-Martín A 70 year comparison of California range landscapes: Collaborating with F.G. Renner, A.L. Hormay and M.W. Talbot Melvin George*, Neil McDougald, Ralph Phillips, Enid Phillips, Dennis Dudley, Kerry Arroues, David Lile A Comparison of Stream Morphology and Vegetation of Cottonwood-Dominated and Open Reaches Within a Riparian Ecological Site in NW Colorado Kira Puntenney*, Emily Kachergis A decision support model for buffelgrass in southern Arizona Tracey Holcombe*, Leonardo Frid, Aaryn Olsson, Jeff Morisette A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Analyze Suitability of Nesting Habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse Khodabakhsh Zabihi*, Ginger B. Paige, Scott N. Miller, Ann L. Hild, Amarina E. Wuenschel, Matthew J. Holloran A GIS Modeling Method for Predicting the extent of Land Resource Unit Subdivisions to assist with the Development of Ecological Site Descriptions Bill Drummond*, Tamra DeCock A naturally occurring seed pathogen eliminates the cheatgrass carryover seed bank in the field Julie Beckstead*, Susan Meyer, Phil Allen A proto-type laser/optical system for measurement of vegetation height and cover in quadrats Joseph M. Kleinhenz, Sara C. Norman*, Patrick E. Clark, Mounir Louhaichi, Robert M. Johnson, Norman R. Harris, Douglas E. Johnson A provincial perspective on policy, regulations and management of feral horses in Alberta, Canada Michael Alexander*, Kevin France, Rob Kesseler A Rangeland Energy Position Statement: Rangeland Assessment Committee Viewpoint D. Terrance Booth* A Remote Sensing Approach for Evaluating Brush Management Caused Transitions Between Vegetation States Sapana Lohani*, Chandra Holifield Collins, Philip Heilman, Ronald L. Tiller A State-and-Transition Approach to Evaluating Trade-offs among Ecosystem Services John Ritten*, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Emily Kachergis, Willow Hibbs A Technique for Estimating Rangeland Canopy-Gap Size Distributions from High-Resolution Digital Imagery Jason W. Karl*, Michael C. Duniway, T. Scott Schrader A vegetation survey and soil seed bank analysis at the Lubbock Lake Landmark during the drought of 2011 Matthew McEwen*, Robert Cox, Eileen Johnson A Working Ranch with an Effective Medusahead Management Program Brenda Smith*, Roger Sheley, Ben McGough, Barbara McGough Abundance Relationships Between Geyer's Larkspur and Other Coexisting Plant Species J. D. Schroeder*, P. J. Meiman, J. E. Brummer, J. Vaad Adaptive Grazing Management: A Case Study Grady Grissom* An assisted succession model using sainfoin? Daniel Mummey*, Lauren Stoffel, Philip Ramsey, Ylva Lekberg Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Applications of Molecular Tools for Rangeland Ecology and Management Melanie Murphy*, Chris Funk, Erin Muths Applications of remote sensing technology to assess landscape structure of pygmy rabbit habitat selection at multiple scales Virginia Harris*, Eva K. Strand, Janet L. Rachlow Applying Patch-Burn Grazing in Tallgrass Prairie Rangeland Invaded by an Exotic Cool Season Grass John D. Scasta*, Dave M. Engle, Diane M. Debinski Are cheatgrass die-offs in the Great Basin an opportunity for long-term control? Susan Meyer* Aspen crown dieback and mortality on the southwestern edge of its range T. Zegler*, M. Moore, K. Ireland, M. Fairweather, P. Fulé, C. Sieg Aspen Restoration Efforts on the Fishlake National Forest: Lessons Learned Robert Campbell*, Allen Henningson, Dale Bartos Assessing Greater Sage-Grouse Breeding Habitat with Aerial and Ground Imagery Jeffrey Beck*, Terrance Booth, Carmen Kennedy Assessing Resilience: What is the potential for a state change and how might we assess it? David Pyke*, Paul Doescher, Eugene Schupp, Jeanne Chambers, Jeff Burnham, Andrew Lindgren Assessing the Relationship between Remotely-Sensed Variables and Field-Based Vegetation Variables at Multiple Spatial Scales April Hulet*, Bruce A Roundy, Steven L Petersen, Stephen Bunting, Ryan Jensen Atmospheric nitrogen deposition affects harvester ants in the Colorado Desert, California Benjamin Wissinger*, Beth Newingham Attracting High School Students to Rangeland Careers -- The Western National Rangeland Career Development Event Lovina Roselle*, Karen Launchbaugh, Kelly Crane, Gretchen Hyde, Mindy Pratt, Tracy Shane Australian wild horse science and management David Berman* Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Open Access Rangeland Knowledge Resources Merrita Fraker-Marble*, Rachel Frost, Gary McCuin Babacomari River Riparian Protection Project Dan Robinett* BARRIERS TO COLLABORATIVE GRAZING PLANNING ACROSS MULTIPLE OWNERSHIPS TO MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT IN WASHINGTON SHRUB-STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS Tipton Hudson* Best Management Practices on Rangelands to Influence Ecosystem Services Stephanie Larson*, Sheila Barry, Theresa Becchetti, Morgan Doran, Larry Forero, Holly George, Mel George, Roger Ingram, Valerie Eviner Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Community Restoration in Utah - 50 Years of Lessons Learned Danny Summers*, Jason Vernon Big sky small acres: rural living in montana Tracy Mosley*, Toby Day, Virginia Knerr, Jeffrey Mosley, Jodi Powell, Adam Sigler, Lori Valadez Biological and ecological aspects of big sagebrush subspecies: influences on planting success and community restoration Monsen Stephen* Biomass production in Mongolia's desert-steppe: relationship to grazing and community based rangeland managment Chantsallkham Jamsranjav*, Robin Reid, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Black greasewood community response to aminocyclopyrachlor application Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Jordana J. LaFantasie, Brian A. Mealor*, Andrew R. Kniss BLM's Early Detection Rapid Response Program - An Overview Christina Ramos* Blueprint for Development of National Early Detection and Rapid Response Systems for Invasive Plants in the United States and Canada Randy G. Westbrooks*, Charles T. Bargeron Brush Management Effects on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Sagebrush-Dominated Rangelands Justin Derner*, George Vance, Gerald (Jerry) Schuman, Ronald Follett Brush management in Arizona with MAT 28 (aminocyclopyrachlor) John Brock* Bunchgrass community structure as a factor influencing resilience of sagebrush steppe ecosystems Michael Reisner*, David Pyke, Paul Doescher Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Update on Wild Horse and Burro Populations and Management Strategies Implemented by the BLM Presenter TBD Presenter TBD* Burning on the hot end: balancing ecological objectives of prescribed fire in sage-steppe with risk of annual grass invasion Jay Kerby*, Nathan Rudd Can Biological Control and Targeted Grazing Be Integrated to Suppress Spotted Knapweed? Rachel Frost*, Jeffrey Mosley, Brent Roeder, Tracy Mosley, Gerald Marks Can seedling facilitation increase plant emergence and establishment? Lauren Stoffel*, Dan Mummey Cattle Selection for Aspen and Meadow Forage: Implications for Restoration Bobette Jones*, David Lile, Kenneth Tate Challenges Associated with Commercialization of Biopesticides Chris Wend* Challenges of Early Detection and Rapid Response to Weed Invasion in the Western United States Corey Ransom*, Kim Edvarchuk, Ralph Whitesides Cheatgrass Invasion "Engineers" the Soil to Facilitate Its Growth Robert Blank, Tye Morgan* Classifying Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Patterns in Mojave Landscapes Using 40-Year Precipitation Composites Janelle Downs*, Jerry Tagestad, Valerie Cullnan Climate Change and North American Rangelands: Evidence, Implications, and Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies David Briske*, Wayne Polley, Jack Morgan Comparing Surface Cover Change Detection in Semi-arid Shrub-steppe With Land EKG® and LinePoint Intercept Tipton Hudson* Comparison of initial seeding mixtures to existing botanical composition on roadsides in Nebraska Jonathan Soper*, Walter Schacht, Carol Wienhold Comparison of two methods for estimating shrub canopy cover Katie Santini*, Stephen Bunting Comparison of visual obstruction and maximum grass height for estimating standing biomass in Northeastern California Melissa Merrill-Davies*, Daniel Marcum Competition between cattle and black-tailed prairie dogs in the western Great Plains: assessing tradeoffs between forage quality and quantity David Augustine*, Tim Springer Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Condition of the mountain steppe grassland in the core area and buffer zone in Hustai National Park of Mongolia Kh. Oyunbileg*, Ts. Tserendulam Continental-scale characterization of molecular variation in quaking aspen Colin M. Callahan*, Karen E. Mock Contract Grazing on Public Lands - Responsibilities and Opportunities for Grazers Ray Holes* Correlation among rainfall and cattle inventories during the last 20 years in Sonora, Mexico Salomon Moreno-Medina*, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros, Fernando Ibarra-Flores, Martha Martín-Rivera, Rafael RetesLopez, Cyrenne Moreno-Alvarez Cultivation Legacies Can Affect Rangeland Seeding Success Lesley Morris*, Thomas Monaco Data support for a state-and-transition model: what have we learned? Brandon Bestelmeyer*, David Briske, Maria Fernandez Gimenez, X. Ben Wu Defining factors that influence performance of CBRM institutions and their resilience to climate change Tungalag Ulambayar*, Maria Fernandes Gimenez, Batkhishig Baival Deriving Shrub Heights from High Resolution Stereo-Pair Aerial Imagery: An Application for BroadScale Rangeland Monitoring Jeffrey Gillan*, Jason Karl, Michael Duniway Determining Plant Growth Stages and Leaf Moisture Content in PHYGROW Using Daily Leaf Growth and Leaf Turnover William Shaw*, Jay Angerer, Edward Rhodes, R. Loren Naylor, Tim Brown, Wayne Hamilton, J. Richard Conner Development and Implementation of Landscape Scale Projects on the Burns BLM District Jeff Rose* Development of a Smoke Modeling Prediction Tool in Support of the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan Tom Gross*, Douglas Watson Development of Great Plains Fire Science Exchange Planning Consortium Sherry Leis*, David Engle, Ryan Harr, Terrie Becerra Differential Relationships of Livestock Production and Seasonal Precipitation for Three Grazing Intensities in Shortgrass Steppe Justin Derner*, David Augustine, Daniel Milchunas Diorhabda elongata and Saltcedar Control: 10 Years Later Charlie D. Clements*, Dan N. Harmon, James A. Young, Jeff Knight Directing Succession Using Grazing in an EBIPM Program Brenda Smith*, Roger Sheley, Tony Svejcar Directing succession using herbicides in an EBIPM program Joseph DiTomaso* Distribution and behavior of cattle grazing riparian pastures in northeastern Oregon M. Wilson*, K. Wilson, L. Larson, J. Williams, P. Clark, D. Johnson Distribution and Habitat Requirements of Desert Yellowhead (Yermo xanthocephalus), Fremont County, Wyoming Bonnie Heidel, Joy Handley*, Mark Andersen Distribution and maintenance of biological soil crusts in the Columbia Basin Eva Dettweiler-Robinson, Jonathan D. Bakker* Divide and Conquer: Developing riparian complex ecological site descriptions for southern Utah Sarah Quistberg* Does conservation management have to reduce productivity: Pyric-herbivory and cattle performance in grassland ecosystems Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Ryan Limb*, Samuel Fuhlendorf, David Engle Does invasion by non-native Old World Bluestems reduce habitat for soil microfaunal groups? Richard Packauskas, Jordana Lafantasie, Jessica Casey* Drought-Year Vegetation Does Not Respond to Conifer Removal but Does to Ungulate Exclusion Dave Kramer*, Robert Cox Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) providing real time tracking of invasive species occurrences nationwide Charles Bargeron*, David Moorhead, Rebekah Wallace, Karan Rawlins Ecohydrology of Invasive Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Adam Gebauer*, Suzanne Schwab, Rebecca Brown, Camille McNeely, Carmen Nezat Ecological and Medicinal Trait of Some Trees and Shrubs in Rangelands (Case study: Mazandaran, Iran) Seyed Zeynalabedin Hosseini*, Samaneh Alsadat Hejaziyan Yazdi Ecological genetics of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Bryce Richardson*, Joshua Udall, Nancy Shaw Ecological Restoration Using EBIPM: Making the Best Decisions Jane Mangold* Ecological site characteristics related to the formation of post-fire soil water repellency within piñonjuniper woodlands Daniel Zvirzdin*, Matthew Madsen, Bruce Roundy Ecological Site Description workshop Pat Shaver*, Homer Sanchez, George Peacock Ecological Site Development Technical Workshop Jamin Johanson* Ecological Trade-offs in Western Aspen- Differences in Resistance and Tolerence between Aspen Clones Richard S. Gardner*, R. Justin. DeRose, Rick Lindroth, Karen E. Mock Economic Analysis of Wintering Cattle in California's Sacramento Valley Larry Forero*, Steve Blank, Jim Oltjen, Norman Taylor Ecosystem Phenology on the Shortgrass Steppe Lynn M. Moore*, William K. Lauenroth EDRR and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth Project John Madsen*, Victor Maddox, Gary Ervin EDRR from the ground up - Wyoming's Early Detection Rapid Response System Travis Ziehl*, Brian A. Mealor, Ruth Richards, Julie Kraft, J.D. Sheehan Education in the Field: The Making of the High Desert Youth Range Camp Anna-Marie Chamberlain*, Brenda Smith, Dustin Johnson, Barbara Brody, Chad Boyd, Kirk Davies Effect of Aminopyralid and Clopyralid on Native Forbs and Grasses Pat Green*, Vanelle Peterson, Carl Crabtree, John Wallace, Tim Prather Effect of climate/vegetation zone and plant part on n-alkanes in Arizona range grasses Doug Tolleson*, David Forbes, John Kava, Carrie Hensarling Effect of GPS collar sampling interval on measures of free-roaming horse activity and resource use Craig Carr*, Steven Petersen, Laci Bristow, Douglas Johnson, Gail Collins, Pat Clark Effect of pinyon and juniper slash on surface hydrology following a prescribed cut-and-limb treatment in central Nevada Sarah M. Noelle*, Craig A. Carr, Tamzen K. Stringham, Mark A. Weltz Effect of Seed Scarification and Seeding Depth on Greenhouse Seedling Emergence in Western Prairie Clover, Searls Prairie Clover, and Basalt Milkvetch Douglas A. Johnson*, B. Shaun Bushman, Thomas A. Jones, Kevin J. Connors Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Effectiveness of sagebrush steppe post-fire rehabilitation projects: Short and long-term responses David Pyke*, Troy Wirth, Kevin Knutson, Jan Beyers, David Pilliod, Jeanne Chambers, Matt Brooks Effects of fuel treatment disturbances on soil water availability and potential resilience and resistance to weed invasion of sagebrush communities Bruce Roundy*, April Hulet, Kert Young Effects of grazing intensity on plant biodiversity and vegetation structure in a northern mixed-grass prairie Tonya Lwiwski*, Nicola Koper Effects of Herbivory on Seedling Survival in a Riparian Forest of the Middle Sheyenne River Watershed Sarah Braaten*, Shawn DeKeyser, Joseph Zeleznik Effects of integrating mowing and imazapyr on African rue (Peganum harmala L.) and native bunchgrasses Dustin Johnson*, Kirk Davies Effects of Planting Date and Climatic Conditions on Germination of Forage Kochia Accessions Cody Creech*, Blair Waldron, Corey Ransom, Dale ZoBell Effects of Selected Techniques for Grassland Restoration in the Semi-arid Region in the Northern Plains Brandon Elkins*, Kevin Sedivec, Dennis Whitted, Kris Ringwall Effects of Stocking and Supplementation Rates on Cattle Performance and Return When Grazing Mixed-Grass Prairie in Northwest Oklahoma Stacey Gunter*, Rob Hogan Effects of Sugar Beet Pulp on Cheatgrass and Bluebunch Wheatgrass Growth Under Controlled Conditions Clayton Marlow*, Charles Sloane Effects of the Maternal Environment on Cheatgrass Seed Dormancy Dan N. Harmon*, Charlie D. Clements, James A. Young Efficacy of Using Supplementation and Herding to Reduce Fine Fuels in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona Retta Bruegger*, Larry Howery, Derek Bailey, Chuck Duncan, Sean Lockwood Equipment and strategies to enhance post-wildfire establishment of Great Basin native plants Nancy Shaw*, Robert Cox, Mike Pellant, Loren St.John, Jim Truax, Amy Ganguli, Ann Hild Estimating age of mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) using morphological characteristics Melissa L. Landeen*, Steven L. Petersen, Stanley G. Kitchen, Loreen Allphin Evaluating historic seeding treatments in western grasslands and shrublands using the Land Treatment Digital Library David Pilliod* Evaluating post-fire seeding techniques on soil erosion in the Great Basin Beth A. Newingham*, Amy C. Ganguli Evaluating prescribed fire effects on wildlife habitat used as a restoration tool Elise Suronen*, Beth Newingham Evaluating Sagebrush Establishment Techniques on Reclaimed Bentonite Lands in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin Lyle King* Evaluating Sheep and Goat Grazing Strategies in Controling Prunus spinosa Encroachment into Historic Grasslands on the Hohenfels Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Germany Peter Schreder*, Scott Holbrook, Albert Boehm, Steve Warren Evaluating the Sensitivity of Basal Gap Intercept for Evaluation of Rangeland Health in the DesertSteppe of Mongolia Retta Bruegger*, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Evaluating Wyoming Big Sagebrush Transplant Establishment in Grass-Dominated Sites Kent McAdoo*, Chad Boyd, John Swanson Evaluation of an adaptive management approach for evaluating effects of wolf reintroduction on an agro-ecological system John Williams*, Neil Rimbey, Pat Clark, Larry Larson, Douglas Johnson Evolving Perspectives Towards Aspen Management in Grazed Rangelands of Alberta Edward Bork*, Barry Irving Expected-Use Grazing Maps Andrew Brischke*, James Heitholt eXtension and the Rangeland Stewardship and Health Community of Practice John Tanaka*, Rachel Frost, Lovina Roselle, Mindy Pratt Fall and winter forage characteristics of 15 perennial range grass species Kevin Jensen*, Justin Derner, Jack Staub, Craig Rigby, Blair Waldron Feral Horse Diet Selection and Forage Availability Megan Nordquist*, Steven Petersen, Todd Robinson Feral horse (Equus caballus) impacts on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) use of watering holes on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada Amy Gooch*, Steven Petersen, Gail Collins, Tom Smith, Brock McMillan Feral Horse Habitat Preferences in Alberta Edward Bork*, Michael Alexander Feral horse research and management on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Gail Collins* festuca rubra evaluation for potential use in green stripping for wildfire control Matthew Robbins*, Jack Staub, Paul Johnson Field Response of Seed Agglomerate Technology: First Year Evaluation Matthew Madsen*, Kirk Davies, Tony Svejcar Finding the Information You Need: Hands-on Practice Using the Global Rangelands and Rangelands West Portals Barbara Hutchinson*, George Ruyle Fire and nitrogen effects on purple threeawn-invaded plant communities Dustin J. Strong*, Lance T. Vermeire, Amy C. Ganguli Fire and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Purple Threeawn in vitro fermentation and gas production Nickolas Dufek*, Lance Vermeire, Richard Waterman, Amy Ganguli Fire and wildlife habitat in dry forests Marty Vavra*, Patricia L. Kennedy Fire Management to Prevent and Control Exotic Annual Grass Invasion Kirk Davies* Fire Regime Condition Class: Concepts, Methods, and Applications Stephen Barrett*, Doug Havlina, Wendel Hann, and others. Fire Season and Frequency Effects on Native Grass Bud Banks in the Northern Great Plains Morgan Russell*, Lance Vermeire, John Hendrickson, Amy Ganguli Forest Restoration Strategy for the eastern slopes of the Cascades Richy Harrod*, William Gaines, Paul Hessburg, Sr., James Dickinson, Rachel Lipsky Fuel consumption in native and old growth upland pine savannahs of the southeastern US Angela Reid*, Kevin Robertson Genecology and Seed Zones for Indian Ricegrass Across the Southwest USA R.C. Johnson*, M. J. Cashman, Ken Vance-Borland Geology and landforms can affect riparian water availability Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Dustin Anderson*, Clayton Marlow, Brian McGlynn, Neto Garcia Germination of red bromegrass as affected by aminocyclopyrachlor John Brock*, Antonio Lopez, Corey Ertl, Eddie Alford Germination prediction from soil moisture and temperature in the Great Basin Nathan L. Cline*, Bruce A. Roundy, Stuart P. Hardegree GF-2791, a new herbicide containing aminopyralid and clopyralid, for honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) control in southwestern rangelands D Chad Cummings*, Vernon Langston, Pat Burch Grazing and Fire Interactions in Sagebrush Plant Communities Kirk Davies* Grazing Conflict and the National Park Service: Range Histories in Two Arizona National Monuments Robin Pinto* Grazing in the Rough: Range Management History in the Badlands and National Grasslands of the U.S./Canadian Northern Plains Sterling Evans* Grazing Management - A Tool for Invasive Species Management Rachel Frost* Grazing spatial behavior of Awassi sheep in small paddocks Mounir Louhaichi*, Tomoki Kojima, Laci Bristow, Barbara Rischkowsky, Douglas E. Johnson Greater Prairie-Chicken Nest and Brood Site Selection in the Eastern Nebraska Sandhills Lars Anderson*, Walter Schacht, Larkin Powell, Jeffrey Lusk, William Vodehnal Herbaceous plant diversity and productivity relationships across multiple states of an oak woodlandannual grassland system D.J. Eastburn*, Leslie M. Roche, Kenneth W. Tate Hesperostipa comata and Pascopyrum smithii response to defoliation and moisture: a test of rotational grazing’s suitability in the Dry Mixedgrass prairie Tanner Broadbent*, Edward Bork, Walter Willms Historical Development and Application of the Parker 3-Step Method for Rangeland Monitoring George Ruyle*, Judith Dyess, Dave Stewart Historical Overview of the Sagebrush Seed Industry Richard Stevens* Historical Roots of the Rangeland Conflict: Overcoming Structural and Intellectual Anachronisms Nathan Sayre* How cultivation history affects EBIPM success Lesley Morris*, Thomas Monaco How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Rachel Frost*, Karen Launchbaugh, John Walker Human behavior as a factor in ecosystem resilience Mark Brunson*, Hilary Whitcomb, Bruce Shindler Hydrologic function of native and exotic grasses in the Chuviscar River Basin in Chihuahua, Mexico Alfredo Rangel-Rodríguez*, Carlos Ortega-Ochoa, Victor M. Reyes-Gómez, Oscar A. Viramontes-Olivas, Javier CamarilloAcosta Hydrologic response of sagebrush steppe to woodland encroachment and subsequent tree removal: Implications for assessing sagebrush steppe hydrologic stability and resiliency Fred Pierson*, Jason Williams, Patrick Kormos, Osama Al-Hamdan Identifying cheatgrass dieoff in the Great Basin by integrating eMODIS NDVI data with ecological models Stephen Boyte*, Bruce Wylie, Donald Major, Robert Burton Impact of grasshopper herbivory on rangeland production and species composition in northern mixed Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA prairie: Results from a long term experiment David Branson* Impact of Patch-Burn Grazing Management on Fly Pressure on Range Cattle in the Great Plains John D. Scasta*, Dave M. Engle, Diane M. Debinski Impact of soil type on vegetation response to prairie dog herbivory John Hendrickson*, Mark Liebig, Cory Barth, Kevin Sedivec Impacts of Feral Horse Use on Rangelands and Riparian Areas Kirk Davies*, Chad Boyd, Gail Collins, Steve Petersen Impacts of Grazing on Spatial Heterogeneity of Vegetation in Sandhills Range Robert Vavala*, Walter Schacht, Jerry Volesky, Jordan Johnson Impermanence Factors and Rangeland Management in the Desert Southwest Samuel Parry*, Rhonda Skaggs Implementing EBIPM to direct the establishment of desired species Jeremy James*, Roger Sheley, Brenda Smith Incorporating Technology in Plant Materials Collecting Tasks Scott Jensen*, Jason Stettler Individual Grazing Distribution Patterns of Cattle in the Winchester Mountains of Southeastern Arizona Steven Lunt*, Derek Bailey, Milton Thomas, Adrienne Lipka Influence of Annual Grass Control Treatments on Plant-Soil Relationships in Salt Desert Shrublands Merilynn Hirsch*, Thomas Monaco Influence of post-fire soil water repellency on soil nitrogen, soil moisture, and seedling growth Kaitlynn Fernelius*, Matthew Madsen Influences of soil and spatial properties on Bromus tectorum distribution after fire Shawn D. Taylor*, Beth A. Newingham Information Exchange and Social Networks in Pyrenean Pastoral Communities Maria Fernandez-Gimenez*, Federico Fillat Informing wildfire transitions for state and transition modeling with a 25 year wildfire record Leonardo Frid*, Joshua S. Halofsky, Miles A. Hemstrom, Megan Creutzburg, Michael Polly Innovations in demand-driven and student-centered learning John Taylor* Innovative Outreach Methods for Educating the General Public Rachel Mealor*, Rachel Frost Insects With An Attitude: Biocontrol Agents For Noxious Weeds Larry Skillestad* Integrated crop-livestock systems in the shortgrass prairie Cody J. Zilverberg*, C. Philip Brown, Paul Green, Vivien G. Allen Intensive rotational grazing results in low species selectivity and low repeat defoliation of grass tillers Ben Norton*, Matthew Barnes, Motoko Maeno (deceased) Introduction to the Mongolian Society for Range Management Ts. Sukhtulga*, D. Dorligsuren Investigating the potential for piñon and juniper mastication to influence soil health and invasibility Deborah Rigby*, Zachary Aanderud, Bruce Roundy Is Artificial Seeding Needed After Roller Chopping Mixed-Brush Plant Communities? Felix Ayala-A.*, J. Alfonso Ortega-S., Timothy E. Fulbright, G. Allen Rasmussen, D. Lynn Drawe Is semi-intensive livestock farming an alternative to livestock herding? The case of peri-urban dairy farming Erdenebolor Baast* LANDFORMS RELATED TO GRAZING PREFERENCE BY A SEMI-WILD BISON (Bison bison) HERD Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA AT NATIONAL BISON RANGE, MOIESE, MT Narciso Garcia Neto*, Clayton Marlow, Dustin Anderson, Kelsey Guffey Landscape occupancy by free-ranging cattle in northeastern Oregon K. Wilson*, M. Wilson, L. Larson, J. Williams, P. Clark, D. Johnson Landscape Use and Movement Patterns of Beef Cows and Bulls During the Breeding Season Adrienne Lipka*, Derek Bailey, Steven Lunt, Milton Thomas, Shad Cox, Richard Dunlap Landscape Use of Cattle Used to Manage Fine Fuels in Southeastern Arizona through Targeted Grazing Retta Bruegger, Larry Howery, Derek Bailey*, Chuck Duncan, Sean Lockwood, Mitchell Stevenson Learing in Government Agencies: Bureau of Land Management, National Training Center Marlo Draper*, Philip Cooley Learn by doing: Adaptive management and EBIPM A. Joshua Leffler* Learning and Teaching: An Ecological Perspective Chris Call* Learning EBIPM: Using the Learn by Doing Curriculum Chris Call* Learning to Predict Vegetation Change: a Step-wise Progression for Acquiring State and Transition Modeling Skills Colleen Ryan, Eva Strand* Legal and regulatory framework for pastureland management in Mongolia D. Dulamsuren*, S. Manibadar Legume tolerance and recovery in northern temperate pastures following variable application rates of broadleaf residual herbicide Amanda Miller*, Edward Bork, Linda Hall, Patrick Forsythe, Bill Summers LIGHT INTERCEPTION BY ROTATIONALLY-GRAZED ORCHARDGRASS (DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L.) CANOPIES Glenn Shewmaker*, Laura Hooper Linking ecological principles to management tools Roger Sheley* Linking Metrics of Sage-grouse Habitat Suitability to Ecological Site Descriptions Amarina Wuenschel*, Ann Hild, Ginger Paige, Khoda Zabihia Litter Accumulation and Decomposition in Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Pastures John Guretzky*, Terry Klopfenstein, Walter Schacht Long Term Recovery of Native Prairie from Industrial Disturbance: Express Pipeline Revegetation Monitoring Project 2010 Jane Lancaster*, Marilyn Neville, Laura Hickman, Barry Adams Long term vegetation change in California Park: evidence for alternate states? Emily Kachergis*, Monique Rocca, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Long-term Monitoring of Aspen within the NPS Upper Columbia Basin Network Eva Strand*, Stephen Bunting, Lisa Garrett, Gordon Dicus Making Cents: Economic benefits of implementing an EBIPM Program Kimberly Rollins* Managing soil nitrogen to restore annual grass infested plant communities: An effective strategy or incomplete framework? Jeremy James* Managing wildlife on private lands through collaboration and outreach Laura Applegate-Heinse*, James Huckabay Measurement of Vegetation using Smartphone Technologies Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Alex J. Pearson, Bechir Hamdaoui, Mounir Louhaichi, Michael D. Johnson, Douglas E. Johnson* Measuring the Potential Benefits of Using Targeted Cattle Grazing to Alter Fire Behavior L.A. Varelas*, L.A. Torell, D.W. Bailey, L.D. Howery, Retta Bruegger Mechanically shredding Utah juniper and soil characteristics Kert Young*, Bruce Roundy Medusahead spread along vector pathways and random transects Aleta Nafus*, Kirk Davies Microhabitat use by northern Idaho ground squirrels in response to prescribed fire Christina Sullivan*, Elise Suronen, Beth Newingham Modeling cover and grazing effects on runoff and erosion in a Pacific Northwest grassland Hussin Alshantiri*, Linda H. Hardesty, William J. Elliot, Joan Q. Wu Modeling Erosion in a Southern New Mexico Watershed Using Agwa: Sensitivity to Variations of Input Precision and Scale Sarah Burnett*, Jason Karl, Laurie B. Abbott Modeling Grazing Utilization on Fort Hood Texas Using Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation Edward Rhodes*, Will Shaw, R. Loren Naylor, Tim Brown, Wayne Hamilton, J Richard Conner, Jay Angerer Multi-trophic effects of Russian olive removal and restoration: getting information from weed eradication Erin Espeland*, Mark Petersen, Jennifer Muscha MYCORRHIZATION RATES OF TWO GRASSES FOLLOWING ALTERATIONS IN MOISTURE INPUTS IN SOUTHERN MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE Heath Owens, Jordana LaFantasie*, Peter Adler Navigating NEPA for Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Chris French* New Research Themes After a Century of Rangeland Science Kris Havstad*, Nathan Sayre, Brandon Bestlemeyer, William deBuys Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Smooth Bromegrass Pasture under Nitrogen Fertilizer and Bovine Urine Application in Eastern Nebraska Laura Snell*, John Guretzky, Virginia Jin, Rhae Drijber, Martha Mamo Opportunities for Grazing as an Ecological Tool on Public Land Dave Bradford* Overview – Building Decision Tools for Invasive Plant Management Timothy Prather*, Woodam Chung, Bahman Shafii, Tyron Venn, Lawrence Lass, John Wallace, Pablo Aracena Overview and Goals of the Free-Roaming, Wild and Feral Horse Symposium Erica Freese* Painted into a corner: Rich County CRM Bill Hopkin* PARKER MOUNTAIN: WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND WHEN THE TALKING IS OVER Terry Messmer*, Ron Torgerson Perceptions of forest health among stakeholders in an adaptive management project in the Sierra Nevada of California Adriana Sulak, Lynn Huntsinger* Piñon and juniper summer water source partitioning: stemflow vs. groundwater Amira Dittrich*, Keirith Snyder, Samuel Lossing, Tamzen Stringham Piñon and juniper tree mastication effects in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau Jordan Bybee*, Bruce Roundy, Leann Crook Plant community preference by cattle on BC bunchgrass range Donald Thompson*, Barbara Wheatley, John Church, Melissa McLeod Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Plant Community Response to Rotational Grazing in a Noxious Weed Dominated System Alexis Robertson*, Leslie Roche, Josh Davy, Dennis Nay, Kenneth Tate Plant Material Testing and Cheatgrass Suppression: A 10-Year-Old Case Study Charlie D. Clements*, James A. Young, Dan N. Harmon Plant Materials: Bridging the Great Divide between Cultivars and Local Sources with Pooled Materials from Provisional Seed Zones Scott Jensen*, Jason Stettler Plant species composition following removal of juniper from a tallgrass prairie ecosystem: A test of successional thresholds Ryan Limb*, David Engle Plant succession on sites disturbed by Mongolian gers Ankhtsetseg Batturl*, Boldgiv Bazartseren Planting of Elymus dahuricus and E. sibiricus in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Mongolia P. Sukhbaatar* Planting seedlings to regenerate critical shrub components in shrub-steppe; a viable tool for land managers Heidi Newsome* Population Age Structure for Sickle Saltbush and Winterfat in the Catlow Valley of Oregon Casey Matney* Post-fire cattle grazing in ponderosa pine forests Becky K. Kerns*, Michelle Buonopane, Walter G. Thies, Christine Niwa Post-fire Native Seeding Strategies: Results from a Wyoming Big Sagebrush Site in Northern Nevada Matthew Fisk*, Erin Denney, Robert Cox, Nancy Shaw Predation on Feral Horses by Mountain Lions in Nevada Alyson Andreasen*, Kelley Stewart, Jon Beckmann, William Longland, Carl Lackey Presence and reproductive status of Federally threatened Silene spaldingii relative to temperature and precipitation Laura Applegate-Heinse*, Linda Hardesty, Taryn Clark Principles for ecologically-based invasive plant management Jeremy James* Proactive EBIPM: Establishing Weed Prevention Areas Corey Ransom*, Ralph Whitesides Profitability of Pastar® herbicide for brush control on buffelgrass pastures at Sonora, Mexico Fernando Ibarra-Flores*, Martha Martín-Rivera, Salomon Moreno-Medina, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros, Julio ChavarinPalacios, Rafael Retes-López, Ana Bertha Martínez-Durán, Ramses Ortega-Reyna, Fernando Ibarra-Martín Projected changes in hayfield riparian communities following cessation of flood irrigation Clayton B. Marlow*, Sarah Summerford, Dustin Anderson, Neto Garcia, Kelly McCloseky Protocols for Sagebrush Seed Processing and Seedling Production at the Lucky Peak Nursery Clark Fleege* Quantifying Degradation on Coterminous US Rangelands Matt Reeves* Radial growth in aspen: influence of ploidy and climate on the Pando clone Justin DeRose*, Karen Mock, Jim Long Rainfall interception by Pinus monophylla and Juniperus osteosperma in central Nevada Samuel Lossing*, Tamzen Stringham, Mark Weltz Ranch Level Economic Impacts of Western Juniper Encroachment in Owyhee County, Idaho Ashley McClain*, Neil Rimbey Ranchers subsidize public lands through stewardship Sheila Barry*, Larry Forero, Lynn Huntsinger, Josh Davy, Stephanie Larson, Glenn Nader Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Range Rocks!: An outdoor experiential learning program for high school students John Kava*, Doug Tolleson Rangeland Education Programs for K-12 Classrooms Karen Launchbaugh* Rangeland management for multiple outcomes: Explicitly integrating ecosystem services into management models Leslie M. Roche*, Anthony T. O'Geen, Valerie T. Eviner, Justin D. Derner, Kenneth W. Tate Rangeland Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study of Scale and Resolution in Measuring Plant Community Structure Ammon Boswell*, Steven Petersen, Ryan Jensen, Danny Summers, Jason Vernon Rangeland productivity in the face of a changing climate: What can we expect? Matt Reeves* Rangeland restoration using mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) management in combination with moon phases Pedro Angel Calderon-Domínguez*, Carlos Ortega-Ochoa, Eduardo Santellano-Estrada, Carlos Villalobos, Pedro Jurado-Guerra Rangelands at Risk: A geogrpahic perspective Matt Reeves* Reestablishing Wyoming big sagebrush on restored bentonite mines in the Big Horn Basin, Wyoming Catherine Tarasoff*, Dan Close Refining the Rough Fescue Ecological Site Description for the Montane Natural Subregion of Alberta Ron McNeil*, Craig DeMaere, Mike Alexander Regionalization of ranching by hidrographic basins and some factors related to beef production in Sonora, Mexico Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros*, Salomon Moreno-Medina, Fernando Ibarra-Flores, Martha Martín-Rivera, Rafael Retes-Lopez Regrowth of three key forage species in the Southern Interior of British Columbia Vanessa Volpatti* Rehabilitation seeding and soil dynamics associated with invasive species in a semi-desert sagebrush shrubland Megan M. Taylor*, Ann L. Hild, Nancy L. Shaw, Erin K. Denney, Matthew R. Fisk Repairing ecological processes to direct vegetation changes Thomas Monaco*, Christopher Call Reproductive strategies in western aspen: sex happens Karen E. Mock*, Carol A. Rowe, Richard S. Gardner, Mary Lou Fairweather Resistance and resilience of bird communities to pinyon-juniper removal by prescribed fire Steve Hanser*, Steve Knick, Matthias Leu Responses of a Pacific Northwest Bunchgrass Food Web to Experimental Manipulations of Stocking Rate Patricia Kennedy*, Timothy DelCurto, Sandra DeBano, Robert Taylor, Tracey Johnson, Sam Wyffels, Chiho Kimoto, Heidi Schmalz, Ryan Limb Restoring Natives Species: Practical experiences Mel Asher*, Jerry Benson Retrospective Analysis of Vegetation Recovery Following Grazing in a Ponderosa Pine-Bunchgrass Ecosystem Robert Strahan*, Jonathan Bakker, Daniel Laughlin, Margaret Moore Reusable Teaching and Learning Objects for Range Science Education Mevin R. George*, Cody Sheehy RSIS (Range Science Information System): An Annotated Bibliography Tool for All Rangeland Managers Merrita Fraker-Marble*, Rachel Mealor, John Tanaka, Karen Launchbaugh Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Sagebrush recruitment following juniper mastication in western Utah Brad Jessop* Sagebrush-steppe wetlands and meadows of the upper Sweetwater River: a historical analysis D. Terrance Booth*, John C. Likins, Samuel E. Cox SageSTEP as an integrative study of resilience and thresholds: Challenges, application, and next steps James McIver* Saltcedar in the Great Plains: Seed Ecology Considerations Sarah Burnette*, Amy Symstad, Roger Gates SANDS RANCH CRM: JUGGLING PRIVATE, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, AND ABSENTEE LAND OWNERSHIPS Kim McReynolds* Science support for managing America's wild horses Jason Ransom* Secondary Compound Interactions: The effect of condensed tannins on the toxicity of fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) to cattle Carolyn Wong*, Fred Provenza, Mark Thorne, Jim Pfister, Dale Gardner Seed banks and land-use history of pastures and hayfields on an organic dairy farm Matt Sanderson*, Robert Stout, Sarah Goslee, Jeff Gonet Seed drilling effects on soil infiltration properties in the sagebrush steppe after wildfire A.C. Ganguli*, B.A. Newingham Seed removal patterns in burned and unburned desert habitats: implications for restoration Alexis Suazo*, Donovan Craig, Cheryl Vanier, Scott Abella Seeding Wyoming big sagebrush in the northern Great Basin Robert Cox*, Nancy Shaw, Mike Pellant Show Me the Money - Funding Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Carl Crabtree* Site characteristics of intact shortgrass steppe in the southern Great Plains USA Paulette Ford* Snowfall influences potential fungal seed pathogens and the seedling recruitment of invasive and native grasses Zachary Aanderud*, Debbie Rigby, Jeremy James Social and Institutional Constraints to Rangeland Management Innovation: The Role of Social Networks Jacey Cerda*, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Soil bioassay tests highlight alfalfa and clover sensitivity to herbicide residue in northern temperate pastures Amanda Miller*, Edward Bork, Linda Hall, Patrick Forsythe, Bill Summers Soil moisture-temperature regimes: Influence on ecological resilience, resistance, and site response following piñon-juniper removal Richard Miller*, Jaime Ratchford, Bruce Roundy, Robin Tausch, April Hulet, Neil Frakes Soil Organic Matter of High-Elevation Wetlands in a Sagebrush Ecosystem: Fence-line Contrasts John C. Likins*, D. Terrance Booth, Paul J. Meiman Soil Property Dynamics Relative to a Cattle Watering Point Casey Matney* Soil salinity mapping using satellite images and regression models in desert rangelands Seyed Zeynalabedin Hosseini*, Martin Kappas, Ammar Rafiei Emam, Pavel Propastin, Stefan Erasmi Soil seed bank of Dalbay and Turag Valleys in Mongolia S. Sumjidmaa*, B. Oyuntsetseg Soil Temperature and Available Soil Water Characterization of Sagebrush Steppe Seedbeds in the Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Great Basin Nathan L. Cline*, Bruce A. Roundy SOUTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON SHRUB STEPPE/RANGELAND PARTNERSHIP: LESSONS LEARNED Julie Conley* Spatial heterogeneity and patch contrast in rangelands managed with pyric-herbivory Devan McGranahan*, David Engle, Samuel Fuhlendorf, Stephen Winter, James Miller, Diane Debinski Species evaluation of native ecotypes and foreign cultivars of legumes and grasses in non-irrigated conditions of Mongolia D. Lkhagvasuren*, S. Jigjidsuren, D. Tumenjargal Strategy for the potential-based rangeland health monitoring program in Mongolia D Bulgamaa*, U Budbaatar, B Bolormaa, L Otgontuya, B Bayarmaa, D Burmaa Stream conservation and riparian forests: hydrologic ecosystem services of riparian forests in Pacific Lowland Nicaragua rangeland. Ryan Niemeyer*, Alex Fremier, Robert Heinse, Fabrice DeClerck, Wilfredo Chávez Huamán Studies on Forage Yield and Feeding Value for Some Grass Species Under Different Irrigation Treatments in the Al-Qassem Region Abdulrahman Al-Soqeer*, Nasser Al-Ghumaiz Success of Broadcast Seeding Big Sagebrush in the Northern Great Basin Mike Pellant* Survey of impacts of insect biological control on soil N transformations in Tamarix-invaded ecosystems in the Great Basin Shauna Uselman*, Keirith Snyder, Robert Blank Sustainable ranch management: Integrating monitoring information and a business planning process Kristie Maczko*, John Tanaka, Mike Smith, Cindy Garretson-Weibel, Chuck Stanley, Gene Fults, Stan Hamilton, J.K. "Rooter" Brite, Larry Bryant, Dick Loper, Ric Lopez, Bob Bolton, John Mitchell Symbionts on the Range George Newcombe* Target Vegetation Detection of Degrading Savanna Grasslands in the Western High Plateaus of Cameroon using Multi-spectral and Temporal Landsat Images Stephen Ndzeidze*, Patrick Clark, Mounir Louhaichi, Gilbert Banboye, Douglas E. Johnson Teaching across disciplines and institutions Karen Hickman*, Melanie Murphy The Aspen Story: 100 years in the Western U.S. Dale Bartos* The economic and ecological potential for biological control using small ruminants of two invasive species of forest understory: Amur Honeysuckle and Common Buckthorn Allen Casey*, Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, Michael Schulte, Luke Wilbers, Cody Cave, James Caldwell, Ronald Cordsiemon, Jerry Kaiser, Mark Kennedy, John Turner The effect of grazing intensity on grasslands and cattle performance in south-central North Dakota Bob Patton*, Paul Nyren, Anne Nyren The effect of grazing on plant biomass partitioning A Batbaatar*, B Boldgiiv, L Ariuntsetseg The effect of mowing treatments on herbaceous plant production in Wyoming and mountain big sagebrush stands Aleta Nafus*, Kirk Davies, Jonathan Bates The Effect of Prescribed Burning and Conifer Encroachment on Pygmy Rabbit Habitat. Bonnie Woods*, Meghan Camp, Janet Rachlow The effectiveness of a territory based collective action model of herder "Pasture User Groups" to address open access issues Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Ts. Enkh-Amgalan*, B. Batbuyan The Great Basin Science Delivery Project Eugénie MontBlanc*, Michael Pellant, Jeanne Chambers, Kurt Pregitzer, Brad Schultz, Elizabeth Leger, Randy Sharp The Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan: A Design for Improving Air Quality Associated with Prescribed Burning Activities Carolyn Blocksome*, Jeff Davidson, Mike Holder, Steven Graham, J. Pat Murphy The Passage of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 and Its Legacy Matthew Pearce* The Potential Effect of Climate Change on Forage Production in the Southwest Allen Torell*, Kirk McDaniel, Brian Hurd The relative effects of grazing by bison and cattle on plant community heterogeneity in northern mixed prairie Adrienne Tastad*, Nicola Koper The response of creeping wildrye (Leymus triticoides) to physical and chemical mowing, and subsequent herbicide treatment. Brad Schultz*, Earl Creech, Kent McAdoo The response of five fall-seeded grass species and Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens) to fall tillage and herbicide application Brad Schultz*, Earl Creech, Vanelle Petersen The response of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) to physical and chemical mowing and subsequent herbicide treatment Brad Schultz*, Earl Creech, Kent McAdoo THE ROLE OF WORKING LANDS IN HABITAT CONSERVATION: WILD HORSE CRM Jennifer Diaz* The rotational grazing dilemma: does grass growth form (caespitose vs. rhizomatous) influence regrowth responses to defoliation and moisture? Tanner Broadbent*, Edward Bork, Walter Willms, Janice Cooke The Shifting of Ecological Restoration Benchmarks and Their Social Impacts: Digging Deeper into Pleistocene Re-wilding David Toledo, Marta Agudelo, Amanda Bentley* the tri-soil experiment: do plants discriminate among vegetation soil types? Robert Blank, Tye Morgan* The Western Aspen Alliance: shared science for effective land management Paul Rogers*, Dale Bartos, Ronald Ryel The Wildland Fire Assessment Tool (WFAT) - A Tool to Spatially Model Wildland Fire Behavior and First Order Fire Effects Jeff Jones*, Eva Strand Timing is Everything: How environmental changes may disrupt the timing of plant-pollinator interactions Michelle Solga*, Jason Harmon, Amy Ganguli Tired of Teaching to the Test? Alternative Approaches to Assessing Student Learning. Laurie B. Abbott* Towards broad-scale perspectives on landscape dynamics: the National Ecological Dynamics Database Jeb Williamson*, Brandon Bestelmeyer Traditional Indigenous Community Mechanisms for Coping with Climate Change among the Ilchamus Pastoralists in Marigat District, Kenya Clement Lenachuru*, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Robin Reid Traditional knowledge of Mongolian nomads to respond to land degradation and desertification A. Chultemsuren* Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Tulare County WMA: Leading Edge Cost-Share Yellow starthistle Control Program James Sullins*, Andrew Isner Ultra High Stocking Densities on Nebraska Sandhills Meadows Jordan Johnson*, Jerry Volesky, Walter Schacht, Robert Vavala Understanding the importance of resilience and resistance to restoration of sagebrush rangelands Jeanne Chambers*, Richard Miller, James Grace Use of low-stress herding and protein supplementation to target grazing in central New Mexico Mitchell B. Stephenson*, Derek W. Bailey, Kristin Romig Use of "SampleFreq" to detect species frequency from very large scale aerial imagery Amanda Gearhart*, D. Terrance Booth, Kevin Sedivec, Sam Cox, Robert Berryman, Christopher Schauer Use of soil electrical conductivity for soil mapping in rangelands Daniel Mummey*, Mike McTee, Lauren Stoffel, Philip Ramsey Using Flickr TM to learn about public perceptions of cattle grazing on public lands Sheila Barry* Using Historic Surveys and Photographs to Evaluate National Forest Rangelands David Bradford* Using MODIS NDVI Time Series Data to Assess Distribution and Abundance of Non-native Annual Grasses in the Mojave Jerry Tagestad*, Janelle Downs, Matthew Brooks, Robert Klinger, Randy McKinley Using research on synecology of free-roaming horses in sagebrush communities of the Great Basin to address possible interactions of horses and Greater Sage-grouse Erik Beever*, Cameron Aldridge Using the rangeland health assessment to identify ecological processes in need of repair Roger Sheley, Jeremy James, Edward Vasquez*, Tony Svejcar Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative: Results of Over 700 Partnership-Funded Projects Jason Vernon* Variability in range cow mineral use is associated with season and daily high temperature in Northern Great Plains J.M. Muscha*, J.T. Mulliniks, A.J. Roberts, R.C. Waterman, J.A. Paterson, M.K. Petersen Vegetation assessment along a grazing gradient in semi-arid rangelands of Uzbekistan Mounir Louhaichi*, Toshpulat Radjabov, Kristina Toderich, Stefanie Christmann, Aden Aw-Hassan Vegetation heterogeneity within and among prairie dog colonies on Northern Great Plains grasslands. Jack Butler, Lan Xu*, Eric Boyda Vegetation Monitoring on an 8000 acre Exclosure in Semi-Arid Grasslands Linda Kennedy*, Daniel Robinett Vegetational changes following several brush clearing and soil ripping options for buffelgrass establishment in México Fernando Ibarra-Flores, Martha Martín-Rivera, David Cañes-Cota*, Edmundo Garcia-Moya, Salomon Moreno-Medina, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros, Felix Ayala-Alvarez, Francisco Pacheco-Ayala, Fernando Ibarra-Martín Water use characteristics of Great Basin plants under different levels of summer watering Tracie Evans*, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez, David Martin, Terry McLendon Weather data, site variability, and probabilities of success: a practical perspective on adaptive management Stuart Hardegree*, Jaepil Cho Web-based Decision Support Matrix for Integrate Weed Management Theresa Becchetti*, Stephanie Larson, Joe DiTomaso, Emilio Laca, Mel George Website Development for the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan Marsah Landis*, Carolyn Blocksome Weed Biocontrol: Future Organism Introductions in the Pacific Northwest Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA Gary Piper* What can ecological science tell us about opportunities for carbon sequestration on rangelands? Kayje Booker, Lynn Huntsinger*, James Bartolome, Nathan Sayre, Bill Stewart What is EBIPM and how can it help you? Tony Svejcar* Wild Horse Habitat Use Patterns within Riparian Areas of Northwest Nevada Steve Petersen*, Craig Carr, Gail Collins, Kirk Davies, Chad Boyd, Amy Gooch Wildlife and Cattle Use of Locoweed-Infested Plots Treated With Targeted Grazing Laura Goodman*, Andres Cibils, David Graham, Lyndi Owensby, Wendy Taylor Wolves and Wild Horses: When old world predator and prey meet again on the sagebrush steppe in Nevada. Ryan Leary, Tracey Jean Wolfe* Woodland thresholds and sagebrush steppe recovery after fire Jon Bates*, Kirk Davies, Rob Sharp Wrap up and Symposium Summary Jeremy Drew* WYOMING CRM CASE STUDIES Larry Bentley* Yak wool value chain development Ts. Khishigjargal* Zero-till openers for sod-seeding alfalfa in crested wheatgrass Paul Jefferson*, Nathan Greg 0002 Studies on Forage Yield and Feeding Value for Some Grass Species Under Different Irrigation Treatments in the Al-Qassem Region Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Abdulrahman Al-Soqeer, Nasser Al-Ghumaiz Qassim uinversity, Qassim, Saudi Arabia A field experiment was conducted in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia in 2009. The objective of this study was to investigate the productivity, water use efficiency (WUE) and quality characters for some perennial fodder grasses under four irrigation (1, 2, 4 and 6 days) intervals. The fodder grass species were rhodes grass (Chloris gayana L.cvs. Katambora and Fine cut), blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale L.cv unknown) and buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L cv. Gaynda) The experimental design used was a completely randomized block design with four replications for each irrigation treatment. The results showed significant effects for cuts, irrigation intervals and plant species on all agronomic characters and some quality traits. Expanding irrigation interval decreased all agronomic characters and fiber content significantly, while, ash, Crude protein and ether extract content were increased significantly. There was a stronger response in grass species dry matter yield to irrigation treatment. Rhodes grass (Katambora cultivar) had superior performance for all agronomic characters compared to other genotypes. Moreover, blue panic grass had highest values in protein content. WUE increased as a result of decreasing the Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA volume of irrigation. Protein content of the grasses tended to be more affected by the amount of water available. There was no significant difference in ash and carbohydrate among all genotypes. According to this study, the growers are advised to plant rhodes grass (cv. Katambora) using a daily irrigation interval in the July to August period. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0004 Zero-till openers for sod-seeding alfalfa in crested wheatgrass Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Paul Jefferson2, Nathan Greg1 1 Prairie Agriculture Machinery Institute, Humboldt, SK, Canada, 2Western Beef Development Centre, Humboldt, SK, Canada Annual cropping systems in the Canadian Prairies (Northern Great Plains) have adopted new zero-till seeding technology in combination with reduced summer-fallow and extended crop rotations. Zero-till openers have been developed to provide very accurate seed and fertilizer placement in crop stubble. We evaluated six commercially available openers in a replicated seeding at Western Beef Development Centre, Lanigan Saskatchewan either with or without prior glyphosate application to control existing crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). Seeding was done on June 1 2011. Seedling counts in the summer of 2011 will be presented. While these results are preliminary and represent only one site and one year, they are sufficiently promising to support further research in the potential application of existing seeding equipment developed for annual cropping to the diversification of old stands of crested wheatgrass. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0005 Directing Succession Using Grazing in an EBIPM Program Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Brenda Smith, Roger Sheley, Tony Svejcar USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA Invasion of rangeland by annual grasses has become one of the most serious and catastrophic problems in the western United States. Annual grasses displace desired plants and create monocultures that do not provide adequate plant cover for the entire year. Degraded ecosystems and the associated loss of vegetation lower wildlife quality and reduce forage production for livestock. The ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) framework is a dynamic planning process to account for the high level of ecological complexity on our rangelands. Grazing is a component of EBIPM and grazing can be used to create open niches for desired species, reduce weed seed production and control or prevent annual grasses. Within the context of an EBIPM program, managed or prescribed grazing is designed to alter species performance, but managers using grazing can also influence species availability and even site availability in creating different disturbances with herd effect. Grazing is quite possibly the most critical and useful strategy managers can utilize for invasive species but details on how exactly to implement grazing in an integrated program and especially for invasive annual grasses are often missing in management guidelines. Our goal in this presentation is to offer information to 1) gain understanding of the value of grazing as a management tool, 2) understand how grazing fits into the ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) system, 3) offer specifics about the principles of grazing annual grasses, 4) recognize distinct management goals and their associated grazing strategies, and 5) offer examples of annual grass grazing programs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0006 Influence of Annual Grass Control Treatments on Plant-Soil Relationships in Salt Desert Shrublands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Merilynn Hirsch1, Thomas Monaco2 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Logan, UT, USA Understanding plant-soil relationships of downy brome invasion (Bromus tectorum L.) within salt desert shrublands of the Great Basin is a precursor to developing effective management strategies. We measured vegetation and ground cover, gravimetric water content, water infiltration, soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable soil ions (NO3-N, Mg2+, K+, and PO4-) at two salt desert sites in northwestern Utah before and after implementing independent and combined downy brome control treatments of prescribed fire, pre-emergence imazapic herbicide, and mowing. Analysis of pre-treatment data with principal components analysis (PCA) and factor analysis revealed that downy brome was oppositely correlated with soil water and NO3-N along a primary PCA axis. Analysis of pre- and posttreatment data with analysis of variance indicated that burning and herbicide significantly (P < 0.1) reduced downy brome and litter and increased NO3-N, soil water content, and bare ground. Burning and herbicide also significantly (P < 0.1) reduced interannual fluctuation in downy brome, soil water, and NO3N relative to untreated areas. Analysis of resident species cover with Wilcoxon sign rank tests, contrasting pre- and post-treatment, within treatment combinations indicated that nearly all treatments that included burning prevented significant increases in Russian thistle cover at one site, while squirreltail cover at the other site significantly increased in treatments that included burning. Results suggest that downy brome strongly influences critical soil resources within salt desert shrublands, and that control treatments designed to reduce its abundance simultaneously impact soil resource availability and fluctuation, as well as influence resident species composition and abundance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0007 Plant community preference by cattle on BC bunchgrass range Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Donald Thompson1, Barbara Wheatley2, John Church3, Melissa McLeod4 1 Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 2Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Kamloops, BC, Canada, 3Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada, 4Selkirk Community College, Castlegar, BC, Canada Cows were equipped with GPS collars and allowed to range freely within each of six 160 ac hilly pastures. Data were collected during the spring grazing period for 6 years. Results of one test pasture will be reported. The percentage of area occupied by the more abundant plant communities included: 37% bluebunch wheatgrass dominated, 29% needle and thread dominated, and 25% bluegrass dominated meadows. The corresponding density of GPS fixes (fixes/m2) included; 112 for bluebunch dominated, 219 for needle and thread dominated, 397 for bluegrass dominated. Bluebunch wheatgrass dominated was the least favoured plant community while bluegrass dominated was the most favoured (with almost 4 times the fix density). Kentucky bluegrass dominates in catchment areas where its grazing tolerance allows it to replace other moisture loving species. The greater soil moisture in these areas is conducive to rapid regrowth, which has superior forage quality. The needle and thread community often develops from a bluebunch wheatgrass in response to grazing. The grasses in this degraded community tend to accumulate less litter than bluebunch wheatgrass and so are more often selected by cattle. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0008 Impacts of Feral Horse Use on Rangelands and Riparian Areas Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Kirk Davies1, Chad Boyd1, Gail Collins2, Steve Petersen3 1 USDA - Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA, 2Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Complex, Lakeview, OR, USA, 3BYU, Provo, USA Feral (wild) horse impacts on rangelands and riparian areas are largely unknown. The impacts of feral horses are often indistinguishable from domestic livestock impacts because livestock grazing occurs across most horse herd management areas. However, the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge has a large feral horse population and livestock grazing has been excluded since the early 1990’s, thus providing a situation where the impacts of horses can be evaluated. To determine the impacts of horses, we excluded horses from five riparian and rangeland plots starting in 2008. We compared the plots protected from horse use with adjacent plots where horse use was not restricted. Rangeland plant community change has been slow with horse exclusion with small increases in perennial herbaceous vegetation. However, sagebrush density has increased with protection from horses and may improve habitat for sagebrush associated wildlife species. Riparian areas have responded more to horse exclusion with bare ground decreasing by approximately 300%. Riparian plant community composition also appears to be changing with horse exclusion. Unmanaged use by feral horses is negatively impacting riparian areas and rangelands; however, the magnitude of impacts largely depends on level of use. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0009 The Potential Effect of Climate Change on Forage Production in the Southwest Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Poster Allen Torell, Kirk McDaniel, Brian Hurd New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA Projections and concern about climate change vary widely and the actual future climate remains uncertain. Regardless of one's stance on climate change it is useful to know what different climate scenarios could mean for altered forage conditions on southwestern rangelands. Forage production models developed on the Corona Range Livestock Research Center (CRLRC) in central New Mexico were used to estimate how production might change under alternative future climates. Using data collected on the CRLRC over the 1990 - 2006 period regression models were developed that relate herbaceous forage production to temperature and soil moisture conditions. Herbaceous production on productive blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) areas on the CRLRC averages 715 kg-1 ha. Model estimates are a 15% reduction from this level if hotter (1°C increase in average air temperature) and wetter conditions (a 10% growing season precipitation increase) prevail and a 32% reduction if hotter and dryer conditions are realized. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0010 Grazing and Fire Interactions in Sagebrush Plant Communities Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Kirk Davies USDA Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA Fire and livestock grazing occur on most rangelands throughout the world. Though they are often evaluated separately, they can profoundly influence each other. In sagebrush plant communities, properly managed grazing can decrease the severity of fire and reduce the likelihood of post-fire exotic annual grass invasion by modifying fine fuel characteristics. However, heavy grazing can promote invasion of highly flammable exotic plants that increase the risk of frequent, large-scale wildfires. Thus, it is important to realize that the influence of livestock on fuel characteristics and subsequent fire risk and severity is strongly dependent on grazing management. Livestock and other herbivores are also attracted to recently burned areas, thus proper post-fire management of grazing is critical. However, moderate levels of grazing after the first growing season generally have little impact on post-fire vegetation where seeding was not needed. Fire and grazing interact to influence plant community dynamics, thus land managers and researchers should be cognitive that their interactive effect may be different than their individual effect. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0011 Efficacy of Using Supplementation and Herding to Reduce Fine Fuels in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Retta Bruegger1, Larry Howery1, Derek Bailey2, Chuck Duncan3, Sean Lockwood4 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 3 U.S. Forest Service, Safford, AZ, USA, 4U.S. Forest Service, Nogales, AZ, USA Targeted grazing is a management tool that concentrates grazing in specific areas to achieve landmanagement objectives. This research tested the feasibility of using targeted cattle grazing to reduce the probability unwanted wildfires by removal of excessive herbaceous vegetation. We used low-stress herding, combined with strategic placement of low moisture block (LMB) supplement, to target grazing on unused upland slopes in the Santa Rita Mountains in southeastern Arizona. Two pairs of control and target areas (about 5 hectares each) were established prior to herding and LMB placement. Cattle were herded to target sites during December 2010 and January 2011. Target sites contained LMB during herding, and control sites did not. Pre- and post-measures were collected for the following variables: stubble height, utilization, and biomass. Compared with pre-grazing height, mean stubble height of perennial grasses following targeted grazing was reduced by 38.1 cm in target areas (P = 0.02) compared to reduction by 20.3 cm in control areas (P = 0.19). Mean utilization was 51% in target areas versus 28% in control areas. Biomass of perennial grasses was reduced (P = 0.03) in target areas by targeted grazing (1494 kg/ha ± 89 SE vs. 562 kg/ha ± 44 SE, pre- and post-herding, respectively). No change in biomass of perennial grasses in control plots was detected (P = 0.44) (826 kg/ha ±100 SE vs. 791 kg/ha±57, preand post-herding, respectively). Preliminary results suggest that the combination of herding and strategic supplement placement may effectively reduce biomass of fine fuels. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0012 Site characteristics of intact shortgrass steppe in the southern Great Plains USA Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Paulette Ford USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Albuquerque, NM, USA In the United States less than a quarter of true shortgrass steppe still exists in native vegetation . The Kiowa National Grassland long-term, 18-year, experimental fire research site is one such area. Located in the southern Great Plains, the site still contains most of its native vegetation. The site has never been plowed, although it was grazed by livestock until 1990. This paper reviews site characteristics of the unburned treatment of the 18-year fire experiment from 1995-2004, during extreme drought. During the drought years, soil organic matter increased over 50%, while grass cover decreased over 50%. Bare ground and litter increased substantially. Shrub cover and forb cover remained stable. Knowledge of the direction and magnitude of change in intact grasslands under natural conditions will allow us to know whether grassland condition is a response to a variable climate, versus the result of management activities , i.e., prescribed fire. This in turn will aid in the remediation of disturbed lands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0013 A 70 year comparison of California range landscapes: Collaborating with F.G. Renner, A.L. Hormay and M.W. Talbot. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Melvin George1, Neil McDougald2, Ralph Phillips3, Enid Phillips4, Dennis Dudley5, Kerry Arroues6, David Lile7 1 Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, CA, USA, 2Cooperative Extension, Madera County, Madera, CA, USA, 3Cooperative Extension, Kern County, Bakersfield, CA, USA, 4Kern County, Bakersfield, CA, USA, 5USDA NRCS, Madera, CA, USA, 6USDA NRCS, Hanford, CA, USA, 7Cooperative Extension, Lassen County, Susanville, CA, USA In the 1930s U.S. Forest Service researchers, including F.G. Renner, A.L. Hormay and M.W. Talbot, compiled an extensive archive of rangeland photographs, primarily around California's San Joaquin Valley. Thousands of photos were consecutively numbered, duplicated, documented and archived in envelopes. Most of the photos were close-ups of vegetation lacking a geographic context and thus impossible to find and re-photograph. In 2010 we selected 75 photos that contained enough background landscape to try to locate, GPS, and re-photograph the sites. A few photos included township, range and section numbers in the annotation. With the help of active and retired extension colleagues, ranchers and NRCS colleagues we found and re-photographed 20. Besides highlighting the early careers of SRM Charter Members these photo comparisons demonstrate vegetation and land used change on California rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0014 Using research on synecology of free-roaming horses in sagebrush communities of the Great Basin to address possible interactions of horses and Greater Sage-grouse Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Erik Beever1, Cameron Aldridge2 ,3 1 U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mtn. Science Center, Bozeman, MT, USA, 2U.S. Geological Survey FORT Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 3Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Past research has elaborated that free-roaming horses (Equus caballus) can exert notable direct influences in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities on structure and composition of vegetation and soils, as well as indirect influences on numerous animal groups whose abundance collectively may indicate the ecological integrity of such communities. Alterations to vegetation attributes and invertebrates can most directly affect fitness of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other sagebrush-obligate species; alterations of soils and other ecosystem properties may also indirectly affect these species. Across 3,030,000 ha of the western Great Basin, horse-occupied sites exhibited lower grass, shrub, and overall plant cover; higher cover of unpalatable forbs and abundance of cheatgrass; 2.2-10.0 times lower densities of ant mounds; and 2.9-17.4 times greater penetration resistance in soil surfaces, compared to to sites from which horses had been removed for 10-14 years. As is true for all herbivores, equid effects on ecosystems vary markedly with elevation, stocking density, and season and duration of use. Equids' use of sagebrush landscapes will have very different ecological consequences than will livestock grazing, at both local and landscape scales. In spite of recent advances in ecological understanding of equid synecology, much remains to be learned. Life-history characteristics of Greater Sage-Grouse and other sagebrush-obligate species suggest the great value in evaluating equid effects more broadly than through a horses-vs.-livestock perspective, and in monitoring ecosystem components such as soil-surface hardness and ant-mound density that have ecological and management relevance yet data for which are relatively inexpensive to collect Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0015 Effects of Sugar Beet Pulp on Cheatgrass and Bluebunch Wheatgrass Growth Under Controlled Conditions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Clayton Marlow, Charles Sloane Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA Cheatgrass degrades range and pasture lands. Soil nitrogen depletion by application of a carbohydrate energy source may permit preferred native species establishment. Elimination of cheatgrass by nitrogen depletion by sucrose application has achieved limited success perhaps because soil microbes utilize simple carbohydrates too rapidly. Application of sugar beet pulp may produce longer nitrogen depletion. We hypothesized the growth of nitrogen dependent invasive grasses would be inhibited by application of coarse granulated sugar beet pulp not related to a passive mulch effect. In a four armed green house study, we compared cheatgrass and bluebunch wheatgrass growth after application of ground sugar beet pulp at rates of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 2.0 and 4.0 tons per acre. As a control, granite chicken grit was similarly applied in equal volumes to rule out a passive mulch effect. At 35 days, there was a negative linear relationship between rate of sugar beet pulp application and cheatgrass growth (p <0.001) and BBW growth (p<0.002). The negative effect of sugar beet pulp on cheatgrass growth was twice the negative effect on blue bunch growth. Granite grit application did not decrease growth of either species. We conclude that sugar beet pulp application depresses cheatgrass growth and that the cause is not a passive mulch effect. Our data indicates that longer duration nitrogen deprivation may aid in promoting restoration of cheatgrass-dominated acreages, and treatments such as sugar beet pulp application may permit native grass seedling emergence and establishment. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0016 Rangeland restoration using mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) management in combination with moon phases Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Pedro Angel Calderon-Domínguez1, Carlos Ortega-Ochoa1, Eduardo Santellano-Estrada1, Carlos Villalobos3, Pedro Jurado-Guerra2 1 Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, 2Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, 3Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA In order to support rangelands restoration, there is a currently need to find effective mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) management techniques. The objectives of this research were to determine the impact of four methods of mesquite control and evaluate the effect of moon phase in combination with each of the four methods in Janos Ecological Reserve in Chihuahua, Mexico. The use of herbaceous cover as rangeland restoration indicator was also evaluated. Restoration techniques consisted of prescribed burning, herbicide, roller chopper and root plow rippers. These methods were applied under full and new moon phases. The data were analyzed by an experimental design under a factorial structure. The treatments applied under the full moon phase showed a higher mesquite mortality (P=.0708) (17%) in contrast with the mortality showed in new moon phase (13 %). In terms of mesquite control, the root plowing rippers produced 20% mortality. Prescribed fire was less effective with a 12.8% mortality. However, the strategy of prescribed burning under full moon promoted the highest grass cover (22%). The rippers were the less effective treatment for herbaceous cover restoration with a grass cover increase of 8%. In conclusion, consideration of lunar phases in mesquite management is a useful tool to improve rangeland health. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0017 Rangelands at Risk: A geogrpahic perspective. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Oral Matt Reeves USDA, USFS, RMRS, Missoula, USA Risk is an important component of rangeland management and policy making. While risk is often mentioned in the context of management, the definition of risk is not concrete. Here we define "risk" as the likelihood that the ability of rangelands to maintain production of goods and services has been compromised or the likelihood that significant declines in rangeland function have occurred. We quantified the relative degree of risk, from a national perspective, using a suite of indicators available at the county level such as presence of invasive species, vegetation production, stability of rangeland base, and number of threatened or endangered species. The results indicate that the ability of more than 50 million acres of rangelands (across 250 counties) to deliver current levels of goods and services in the future has been compromised. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0018 Quantifying Degradation on Coterminous US Rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral Matt Reeves USDA, USFS, RMRS, Missoula, USA Rangeland degradation is manifested in numerous ways. Degradation can be expressed as changes in composition or abundance of vegetation, increased soil erosion or decreased soil productivity or combinations of these factors. Here degradation is defined as a decreasing trend in vegetation productivity compared to baseline conditions representing decadal averages specific to each vegetation type occurring in unique regions. Vegetation productivity was estimated using normalized difference vegetation index data derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 250 m spatial resolution. From a national perspective, considering degradation in this manner revealed that less than 5% of coterminous rangelands (< 13 million ha) exhibit degraded characteristics. While the repeatable techniques developed here enable quantification of degradation due to declining productivity they do not account for degradation based on composition (e.g. invasive species). In addition, they poorly represent small scale, sub-pixel (less than 6 ha) changes in productivity. Nevertheless, this degradation monitoring technique can be easily applied in the future as an indicator of the quality and sustainability of rangeland productivity at a national scale. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0019 Rangeland productivity in the face of a changing climate: What can we expect? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Oral Matt Reeves USDA, USFS, RMRS, Missoula, USA The causes and direction of future climates are debatable. Regardless of the cause, most forecasts indicate warming trends across the coterminous US. The general effects of temperature, precipitation and C02 are known reasonably well due to experimental results and empirical observations. Little is known, however, about future trends in rangeland productivity in response to a changing climate. Hence, the objective of this work was to estimate future trends in rangeland productivity by combining meteorological forecasts emanating from IPCC, SRES storylines with the biogeochemical cycling model BIOME-BGC from 2010 to 2100. Changes in productivity were asymmetrical across the landscape and generally decreased in response to warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. These results are useful for understanding long term trends in the response of rangeland vegetation to expected climate change but are not sufficiently precise for changing management decisions at a local scale. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0020 EDRR and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth Project Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral John Madsen, Victor Maddox, Gary Ervin Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA Invasive weedy plants are a widespread problem throughout the United States. This project was developed to quantify relationships of weed distribution and spread with land use, then use that information directly in educating agriculture stakeholders, natural resources managers, and other interested parties on potential human-induced opportunities for invasive species spread. The Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South (IPAMS) is an integrated research and extension project to develop an invasive plant program for the Mid-South states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Research activities include conducting systematic regional vegetation surveys to assess the distribution of key invasive plants, developing models for predicting the occurrence of target species based on land use and cover, and evaluating the relative effectiveness of different survey methods. Initial analyses of these data have demonstrated a strong correlation of land use/cover with the presence of exotic plant species, especially key invaders such as the grass Imperata cylindrica (cogongrass). Outreach and extension activities include developing training programs for volunteers to identify and report invasive species using IPAMS, developing an efficient Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) system for invasive plants, developing best management information, and developing an online mapping system. Our webpage (www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams) is fully operational, with over 10,686 records of 218 species from 39 states. The system currently has 96 registered users, most of which are trained volunteers. The Mississippi Cooperative Weed Management Area (www.mscwma.org) has adopted IPAMS as their tool for tracking species and promoting EDRR. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0021 Using the rangeland health assessment to identify ecological processes in need of repair Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Roger Sheley1, Jeremy James1, Edward Vasquez2, Tony Svejcar1 1 USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA, 2Wyoming Wildlife Consultants, LLC, Pinedale, WY, USA Qualitative Rangeland Health Assessments are extremely useful because they provide a relative indication of resource problems on rangelands. Additionally, the Successional Management framework identifies three primary causes of plant community change (site availability, species availability, and species performance), ecological processes that drive these causes, and factors that modify these processes. Incorporating Successional Management with a Rangeland Health Assessment is useful for detecting areas adversely impacted by multiple stressors (e.g. invasive plants, wildfire) and provides useful information to resource managers about point-in-time cumulative impacts. The overall goal of this presentation is to describe how Ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) integrates these two concepts to form a holistic vegetation management framework for managing and/or restoring degraded rangelands following weed invasion. The Rangeland Health Assessment protocol (BLM Technical Reference 1734-6) has a demonstrated ability to assess ecosystem properties, which includes soil and site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity. EBIPM is a systematic thinking and planning process, set up in a stepwise framework that provides a protocol for resource managers to understand how to apply the appropriate combination of tools and strategies based on ecological principles to address the underlying cause(s) of weed invasion. EBIPM links information gathered in a Rangeland Health Assessment to ecological processes in need of repair to permit succession to proceed in a desired trajectory. Thus, integrating the Rangeland Health Assessment with Successional Management enhances the usefulness of both systems and provides synergistic value to the decision-making process, which ultimately induces more cost effective treatments over the long-term. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0022 Development of Great Plains Fire Science Exchange Planning Consortium Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Sherry Leis1, David Engle2, Ryan Harr3, Terrie Becerra2 1 Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, Springfield, MO, USA, 2Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA, 3Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA Although fire plays and important role in maintaining ecosystems in the Great Plains, managers, fire operations, private landowners, and researchers working with fire are often disconnected. We are in the process of planning a Great Plains Fire Science Exchange Consortium that will join a nationwide network of regional knowledge exchange consortia funded by Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP). This consortium will be one among 14 regional consortia with the vision to build a collaborative science delivery network to accelerate the awareness, understanding, and adoption of wildland fire science information. The approach will be to improve communication between researchers, managers, and private landowners. The Great Plains Consortium is focused on mid-continent grassland resources with a long evolutionary history of grazing and includes both working landscapes and conservation lands in both public and private ownership. The Consortium plans to increase the availability and application of fire science information for natural resource management and to serve as a conduit for fire managers to share research needs with the research community. Consortium products will be developed using feedback and suggestions directly from the Great Plains fire community. We plan to achieve a more cohesive community of fire users by providing a web based clearinghouse for information, developing a network of demonstration sites, and a variety of research synthesis products. Through these efforts we wish to strengthen the links between science and management in the realm of fire science and fire ecology and perhaps encourage new professionals in the field. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0023 Education in the Field: The Making of the High Desert Youth Range Camp Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Oral Anna-Marie Chamberlain1, Brenda Smith2, Dustin Johnson3, Barbara Brody1, Chad Boyd2, Kirk Davies2 1 Oregon State University Extension Service, Ontario, OR, USA, 2USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA, 3Oregon State University Extension Service, Burns, OR, USA In June 2011 sixteen high school-age students from Oregon and Idaho participated in a youth-oriented camp specifically focusing on rangeland science at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range near Burns, OR. Rangeland professionals came together to develop a remarkable experience for youth interested in natural resources. Decisions regarding the health and management of our natural resources are more critical than ever and the primary goal of the team organizing this event was to provide activities to engage students in a systems approach to rangeland science. To achieve this goal a contemporary learn-by-doing curriculum was developed for a field setting. Opportunities were also created to develop student leadership and basic range skills as well as hear from different professionals about rangeland oriented careers. There are many facets of such an event. One key objective in planning this camp was creating a successful marketing campaign. A number of ideas were implemented to entice a tentative student to attend range camp. Organizers also created mechanisms to adequately inform sponsors of benefits of range camp. The resulting range camp was hugely successful and students had a terrific learning experience. Among comments received from the campers exit survey were: "I feel that I've taken so much out of this camp and could see myself working in this field" and "I feel so much more informed about issues with rangeland management. I am now considering a career in rangeland management much more now!" Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0024 Diorhabda elongata and Saltcedar Control: 10 Years Later Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Charlie D. Clements1, Dan N. Harmon1, James A. Young1, Jeff Knight2 1 USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, USA, 2Nevada State Department of Agriculture, Reno, NV, USA Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima), native to Central Asia, is a shrub or small tree that has invaded more than 1.9 million hectares of habitat in southwestern and western United States. In an effort to control saltcedar, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service investigated a number of potential control insects. Following the identification of the leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata), USDA was permitted to start field tests on the leaf beetle and the potential control of saltcedar. Following quarantine testing, the leaf beetle was brought to field cages in Nevada as well as five other states for testing in 1999. In 2001 the leaf beetle was released in an effort to biologically control saltcedar. Prior to the release in 2001, we marked 100 saltcedar trees at three release sites in northwestern Nevada to monitor vegetation changes overtime. Previous reports suggest that following the release of the leaf beetle, defoliation of saltcedar trees is significant and that death of the tree can occur within 3-5 years. After measuring defoliation for a decade, complete defoliation (96-100%) reached a high of 54% in 2004 at the Lovelock site and a high of 18% at the Walker site in 2007. By 2011, complete defoliation was recorded at 41% and 14% for the Lovelock and Walker sites, respectfully. Interpretation of a dead saltcedar tree has clouded the reality concerning on-the-ground discussions. Defoliated saltcedar trees that look dead actually have a tremendous potential to regow and eventually flower. The use of heavy equipment and herbicides are the most likely tools that will ultimately be used to control saltcedar. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0025 A Working Ranch with an Effective Medusahead Management Program Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Excellence in Range Management (poster only) Author's preference: Poster Brenda Smith1, Roger Sheley1, Ben McGough2, Barbara McGough2 1 USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA, 2Circle Bar Ranch, Mitchell, OR, USA Invasive annual grasses are one of the most serious and threatening weed problems on rangeland throughout the west. Infestations are having a multi-dimensional, catastrophic effect on agriculture that extends well beyond the direct economic impacts of livestock production. If the resources which our ranching communities depend upon are not healthy this reverberates throughout rural communities. Fortunately, there are dedicated producers working with research scientists to develop effective integrated management programs for these species. Since 2005, ranchers Ben and Barbara McGough have been working collaboratively with scientists from the Agricultural Research Service to effectively manage a medusahead infestation that was overtaking their 5000 acre central Oregon ranch when they purchased the property. Ben and Barbara are exemplary stewards and have provided an outstanding example of private land stewardship for the entire western U.S. to emulate. Among the management activities undertaken at the ranch to manage medusahead have been: 1) the implementation of ecosystem management on a ranch scale for a serious infestation of annual grasses, 2) leadership in promoting the wide-spread adoption of ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) for more successful invasive species management in the western U.S., and 3) extensive educational efforts and collaborations with scientists resulting in products and training opportunities for land managers and ranchers interested in implementing science-based stewardship. Many ranchers consider medusahead impossible to manage. The McGoughs are proof that there is another way and it is changing the way we do invasive species management on a national scale. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0026 Learn by doing: Adaptive management and EBIPM Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral A. Joshua Leffler USDA-ARS, Logan, UT, USA Ecologically Based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM) seeks to control invasive species using underlying principles of ecology. EBIPM addresses plant community change due to availability of sites for seeds to germinate, availability of seed, and performance of species during and after establishment. Management using EBIPM principles manipulates ecological processes to achieve desired outcomes. Adaptive management is the integration of actions with data collection and analysis and results from prior experiences are used to refine future management techniques. EBIPM begins with an initial assessment of rangeland health to quantify the extent of the invasive species problem relative to site potential, allowing managers to set long-term goals. Rigorous monitoring of soil stability, hydrologic function, and plant performance then follows. Soil quality determines the availability of sites for establishment of desired species while measures of performance are key to understanding why a site is dominated by invasive species. Ideally, these assessments should be set up as a BACI (before-after-control-impact) design which allows greater separation of the influence of management from background noise. Data from these studies then dictate which ecological processes should be manipulated so managers can choose appropriate tools. As multiple years of data are collected, management is refined while remaining responsive to conditions at the site. EBIPM in an adaptive management framework would also benefit from a database to compile information on conditions, actions, and outcomes on various ecological sites. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0028 Managing soil nitrogen to restore annual grass infested plant communities: An effective strategy or incomplete framework? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Jeremy James USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA Theoretical and empirical work has established a positive relationship between resource availability and habitat invasibility. For non-native invasive annual grasses, similar to other invasive species, invader success has been tied most often to increased nitrogen (N) availability. These observations have led to the logical assumption that managing soils for low N availability will facilitate restoration of invasive plantdominated systems. Here I present a meta-analysis to evaluate the degree to which soil N management impacts growth and competitive ability of annual and perennial grass seedlings. I discuss these results in light of current theories of plant ecological strategies and community assembly. Across studies, annual grasses maintained higher growth rates and greater biomass and tiller production than perennials under low and high N availability. We found no evidence that lowering N availability fundamentally alters competitive interactions between annual and perennial grass seedlings. Competitive effects of annual neighbors on perennial targets were similar under low and high N availability. Moreover, in most cases perennials grown under competition in high N soils produced more biomass than perennials grown under competition in low N soils. While these findings counter current restoration and soil N management assumptions, these results are consistent with current plant ecological strategy and community assembly theory. In restoration scenarios in which the native plant community is being reassembled from seed, soil N management will have no direct positive effect on native plant establishment unless invasive plant propagule pools and priority effects are controlled the first growing season. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0029 Principles for ecologically-based invasive plant management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jeremy James USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA Land managers long have identified a critical need for a practical and effective framework to guide the implementation of successful restoration, especially where invasive plants dominate. However, welldefined principles that link tools and strategies managers typically use to ecological processes that influence plant invasion and native plant establishment have been slow to emerge. This limits our ability to apply sustainable invasive plant management across a range of restoration scenarios. In this talk I synthesize current understanding and knowledge gaps that influence our ability to generate general principles associated with species recruitment, growth and competitive ability. I also examine how these principles link to commonly used management tools to control invasive species. In some areas such as disturbance ecology, general principles have been emerging whereas in other areas such as seedling ecology and the influence of soil resources on competitive ability they have been slow to develop. Identification of principles in ecology has greatly lagged behind other fields but is a critical endeavor if we are to develop and implement sustainable restoration programs with predictable outcomes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0030 festuca rubra evaluation for potential use in green stripping for wildfire control Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Matthew Robbins1, Jack Staub1, Paul Johnson1 1 USDA ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Logan, UT, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Much of western U.S. land is experiencing increased drought, higher temperatures, and increased soil salinity levels, which lead to rangeland degradation. These factors contribute to encroachment of weedy species into previously productive range and agricultural lands, which dramatically increases wildfire frequency and severity resulting in increased soil erosion, decreased watershed habitat, and loss of biological diversity. Green strips containing novel plant materials such as forage kochia [Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.] have been proposed for the control of wildfires. The plant composition of green strips could benefit by mixing kochia with late-maturing grasses that are drought and heat tolerant such as fine fescue [Festuca rubra (L.)]. Therefore, replicated studies with 27 F. rubra collections and derived half-sib families were designed to evaluate the performance of this species at 7 and 12 inch (178 and 305 mm) precipitation zones (Malta, ID and Eureka, UT, respectively). Based on vigor ratings from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and total biomass (dry weight), several entries performed better than the Festuca controls ‘Durar ‘and ‘Covar'. For instance, the vigor ratings of PRC-1574 (3.1) and its half-sib progeny (3.3) were higher than ‘Durar' (2.7) and ‘Covar' (2.6). Likewise PRC-1574 and its half-sib progeny produced more biomass than ‘Durar ‘and ‘Covar' (57.64, 55.76, 38.64, and 37.35 g/plant, respectively). Regrowth (September) after a mid-season harvest (July) indicates that PRC-1574 and its progeny remain productive throughout the growing season, suggesting that this F. rubra germplasm may have potential for use in mixed-planting green strips for fire control. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0031 Babacomari River Riparian Protection Project Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Poster Dan Robinett Robinett Rangeland Resources LLC, Elgin, AZ, USA The Babacomari River is a tributary to the San Pedro River in Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties, Arizona. This 140,000 acre catchment includes grasslands on the Sonoita plain, oak woodlands in the Canelo Hills and forests of the Huachuca Mountains. USGS estimates that it contributes 6000 acre feet of water annually to the San Pedro. The Arizona Dept. of Water Resources funded this 5 year study with a 2009 grant. Monitoring transects were installed in 2009 and 2010 and will be re-read each year through 2013. Objectives are to: 1) Construct 2 miles of riparian boundary fence to restrict access by livestock from the Babacomari River, 2) Install six stream riparian vegetation and geomorphic monitoring transects and six vegetation and geomorphic transects on riparian grasslands (sacaton) tributary to the Babacomari River, and 3) Analyze and summarize data annually and present that information to the participating ranch properties for use in making management decisions. Riparian monitoring stations were established in May of 2010 at three locations along the Babacomari River below the Babacomari Ranch headquarters. Riparian monitoring stations were established at three locations in June of 2010 on the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society. Riparian grasslands include large bottomlands of giant sacaton (Sporobolus Wrightii Monro ex Scribn) on both the Babacomari Ranch and the Audubon Research Ranch. Riparian grassland monitoring stations were established in the fall of 2009. The Babacomari Ranch has begun to protect private lands along the Babacomari River by placing conservation easements on the land. National Audubon lands are already protected. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0032 The Great Basin Science Delivery Project Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Eugénie MontBlanc1, Michael Pellant2, Jeanne Chambers3, Kurt Pregitzer4, Brad Schultz5, Elizabeth Leger1, Randy Sharp6 1 University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA, 2Bureau of Land Management, Boise, ID, USA, 3U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV, USA, 4University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 5University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Winnemucca, NV, USA, 6 U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Sparks, NV, USA The Great Basin Science Delivery Project assists field-level land managers in identifying and accessing the best fire and resource science information available. The goal is to improve technical and policy decision-making through enhanced communication and information sharing. This project is part of the Joint Fire Science Program's national network of regional knowledge exchange consortia that were initially established in 2010 to address current challenges in fire and fuels management due to increased land use, invasive species, shifting climate, and complexities with differing agency missions and policies. To determine specific technical information and delivery needs for the Great Basin, the Science Delivery Project conducted a needs assessment of 111 federal land management agency personnel in Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Land managers requested information syntheses, online training, a web-based clearinghouse of information, networks of experts, and field workshops. To address these needs, the science delivery project sends quarterly newsletters and email updates about fire and resource science information and events, has established a website and a list serve, hosted five webinars and two workshops, and has developed an interagency restoration cadre. We expect public and private land managers to benefit from this project by having a place and a person to turn to for answers to technical questions, leads to research contacts, and a forum to communicate technical needs. We expect research scientists to benefit from this project by gaining new ideas and funding sources for research, and by providing new methods of outreach for their research results. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0033 Divide and Conquer: Developing riparian complex ecological site descriptions for southern Utah Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Oral Sarah Quistberg Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ogden, UT, USA Riparian complexes have largely been neglected in the development of ecological site descriptions. Recent development of the "Lotic Riparian Complex Ecological Site Descriptions: Guidelines for Development" by the Natural Resources Conservation Service has renewed interest in developing ecological sites for riparian complexes. Riparian ecological sites are in the process of being developed in southern Utah for the National Park Service. Utah NRCS has currently identified nine different riparian complex ecological sites on the Colorado Plateau in Utah. The following parameters were used to delineate sites: Rosgen valley type and stream type, substrate, fluvial surfaces, stream flow regime, and plant community components. Reaches were found to be Rosgen B, C, or F channels with two to three plant community components present. I will discuss the methods used for separating sites and give examples of the common riparian complexes in southern Utah. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0034 Assessing the Relationship between Remotely-Sensed Variables and Field-Based Vegetation Variables at Multiple Spatial Scales Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral April Hulet1, Bruce A Roundy1, Steven L Petersen1, Stephen Bunting2, Ryan Jensen1 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA Land managers in the Great Basin need tools to monitor the quantity, quality, and rangeland condition of pinyon-juniper woodlands on a landscape scale to better evaluate ecological processes and plan fuel control projects. This study evaluated two remote sensing platforms (0.06-m and 1-m pixel resolution, RGB and CIR imagery) and utilized eCognition Developer 8.64 software to assess the relationship between remotely-sensed and field-based variables (trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennial vegetation, annual vegetation, non-vegetation, and bare ground cover) using multiple classification parameters. Field-based measurements and imagery were collected in untreated pinyon-juniper woodlands and where fuels were reduced by prescribed fire, tree cutting, and shredding of pinyon-juniper trees. Following multiresolution image segmentation, classification models were created for each site and treatment type using spectral, spatial, and textural parameters produced by eCognition. For untreated plots where the shadow component was <10% of the total cover, we obtained correlations between remotely-sensed 2 2 2 cover and ground-reference cover: live trees r = 0.90; shrubs r = 0.82; herbaceous vegetation r = 0.78; 2 and bare ground r = 0.68. Classification models were further refined by adjusting parameter thresholds for individual subplots improving correlations on average by 15%. Parameters used in site models were then analyzed to determine which parameters would most accurately estimate each class on a regional level (Western Juniper vs. Utah Juniper). By understanding what remotely sensed platform and parameters best classify specific ground classes, we can provide land managers with tools that will support the management of the sagebrush biome. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0035 Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) providing real time tracking of invasive species occurrences nationwide Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Charles Bargeron, David Moorhead, Rebekah Wallace, Karan Rawlins The University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA EDDMapS is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution. It is fast, easy to use and doesn't require Geographic Information Systems. Launched in 2005 by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, it was originally designed as a tool for state Exotic Pest Plant Councils to develop more complete distribution data of invasive species. EDDMapS goal is to maximize the effectiveness and accessibility of the immense numbers of invasive species observations recorded each year. As of August 2011, EDDMapS has over 1.4 million records. EDDMapS combines data from other databases and organizations as well as volunteer observations to create a national network of invasive species distribution data that is shared with educators, land managers, conservation biologists, and beyond. EDDMapS documents the presence of invasive species. A simple, interactive Web interface engages participants to submit their observations or view results through interactive queries into the EDDMapS database. EDDMapS encourages users to participate by providing Internet tools that maintain their personal records and enable them to visualize data with interactive maps. Users simply enter information from their observations into the standardized on-line data form, which allows specific information about the infestation and images to be added. Data entered is immediately loaded to the Website, allowing real time tracking of species. All data is reviewed by state verifiers to ensure all data is accurate. The data is made freely available to scientists, researchers, land managers, educators, conservationists, ecologists, farmers, foresters, state and national parks. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0036 Ecological Restoration Using EBIPM: Making the Best Decisions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jane Mangold Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA For sites severely degraded by invasive annual grasses, simply controlling the weed to release desirable plants from competition may not be adequate. Introducing propagules of desired species through revegetation may be required. Revegetation is a resource-intensive venture that often results in less than optimum outcomes. Ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM), in which site availability, species availability, and species performance are manipulated to direct plant communities from an undesirable state to a desirable state, may serve as a useful framework for assessing site conditions, choosing invasive annual grass control methods and revegetation strategies, and planning follow-up management. Designing revegetation programs based on our best understanding of the primarily ecological processes responsible for plant community dynamics at a given site, may initiate outcomes that more fully meet management objectives. Specific examples of revegetation using EBIPM as a framework will be discussed along with a brief overview of a revegetation guide. New approaches for revegetation will be proposed in the context of site availability, species availability, and species performance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0037 Evolving Perspectives Towards Aspen Management in Grazed Rangelands of Alberta Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Edward Bork, Barry Irving University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Rancher perspectives towards aspen have changed in western Canada. Following European settlement, widespread aspen expansion in the face of fire suppression, largely on private land in the Aspen Parkland, led to open rangeland loss, with grassland decreases reaching 1% annually. Declines in forage production and availability led to widespread concerns over increases in this species, and led to increased interest in controlling aspen. Several decades of research highlighted the ability of mechanical treatment, herbicides, prescribed fire and grazing, specifically mob grazing, preferably within an integrated vegetation management framework, to reduce aspen presence. However, recent research has also highlighted the potential complementary role of aspen for livestock production, including its role in providing alternative habitat and emergency forage during drought. Native landscapes containing aspen communities high in browse have also been linked to greater profitability relative to areas fully converted to introduced pasture. Parallel perspectives on the role of aspen have also developed on grazed public land, where aspen, once considered a competitive weed for softwoods, now have an important role in commercial forestry. As a result, contemporary cattle grazing on public land must be carefully managed to accommodate aspen regeneration, survival and growth, largely by understanding the factors regulating cattle impacts, including timing of use, stocking rate, and alternative habitat availability. While aspen th forest expanded markedly during the 20 century, possibly due to an extended period of high rainfall, it may move back to pre-colonial levels with ongoing climate change. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0038 Profitability of Pastar® herbicide for brush control on buffelgrass pastures at Sonora, Mexico. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Fernando Ibarra-Flores1, Martha Martín-Rivera1, Salomon Moreno-Medina1, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros1, Julio Chavarin-Palacios2, Rafael Retes-López3, Ana Bertha MartínezDurán1, Ramses Ortega-Reyna1, Fernando Ibarra-Martín1 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Dow Agrosciences de México, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, 3Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Productivity of buffelgrass pastures declines as density of undesirable brush species increases. The study was conducted during 2008 at three locations at Sonora Mexico to evaluate the efficiency of Pastar® to control chírahui (Acacia cochliacantha), vinorama (Acacia constricta) and mesquitillo (Mimosa dysocarpa) in buffelgrass pastures. Treatments were: 1) Pastar® 1.0%, 2) Pastar® 1.25%, 3) Pastar® 1.5%, 4) Pastar® 2%, 5) Tordón 101® 1%, 6) Togar® 1% and 7) Absolute check with no application. Herbicides were applied to foliage of plants 1.6 m tall. Variables evaluated were: grass density, basal cover and height and forage production. Vegetation changes were monitored from 2008 to 2010 and financial runs were conducted to determine profitability with brush control. A completely randomized block design was used and information was analyzed by ANOVA (P≤0.05). All herbicides in the rates used controlled 100% of the species at the three sites and did not affect grass species present. Grass density, height, basal cover and forage production was increased (P<0.05) from 15 to 93% in plots treated with herbicides. Grazing capacity increased from 78.3 to 93.1% in plots where brush was controlled. Financial runs performed to evaluate profitability of using Pastar® herbicide at 1% for brush control on buffelgrass pastures show that pastures improved by these means can yield additionally from 72.9 to 91.5 pesos/ha/year. We conclude that buffelgrass pastures infested with brush require the application of brush control methods to restore productivity. It is economically feasible the use of Pastar® herbicide for the rehabilitation of deteriorated buffelgrass pastures. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0039 Vegetational changes following several brush clearing and soil ripping options for buffelgrass establishment in México. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Fernando Ibarra-Flores1, Martha Martín-Rivera1, David Cañes-Cota1, Edmundo Garcia-Moya2, Salomon Moreno-Medina1, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros1, Felix Ayala-Alvarez1, Francisco Pacheco-Ayala3, Fernando Ibarra-Martín1 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Texcoco, Mexico, 3Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico The study was conducted during July 1997 at central Sonora, Mexico to evaluate vegetational changes following brush clearing and soil ripping for buffelgrass establishment. Brush clearing treatments were: Brush clearing 1) with and 2) without grass seeding, and no brush clearing 3) with, and 4) without grass seeding. Soil removal treatments in open spaces between shrubs were: soil ripping 5) with and 6) without grass seeding, and no soil ripping 7) with and 8) without grass seeding. Brush clearing was conducted with a D-6 bulldozer and ripping with a 3-point ripper. Buffelgrass seed was hand broadcasted at 3.0 kg PLS/ha. All variables were analyzed by ANOVA (P<0.05). The greatest (P<0.05) buffelgrass densities were obtained on plots cleared and seeded and on plots ripped and seeded (6.7 and 6.1 p/m2 vs 0.1 to 1.5 p/m2) throughout the fifteen years of evaluation. Plant density was always the lowest (P<0.05) in plots either not cleared or without soil disturbance regardless of grass seeding. Greatest buffelgrass forage production (P<0.05) was obtained in brush cleared and seeded plots and on open areas between shrubs which were ripped and seeded (4.48 and 4.50 ton D.M./ha vs 0.32 to 0.54 ton D.M/ha). We conclude that fast establishment of buffelgrass is promoted by brush clearing and soil disturbance. Since standing biomass is similar on brush cleared plots and open areas between shrubs, there is no need for brush clearing. Interseeding grass on open spaces may be more effective, economical and less detrimental to soils and desirable vegetation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0040 ¿Is it profitable to control mesquite infestations in Short Grasslands of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Martha Martín-Rivera1, Fernando Ibarra-Flores1, Salomon Moreno-Medina1, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros1, Rodolfo Garza-Ortega2, Rafael Retes-López3, Emanuel HurtadoRamirez1, Ernesto Gerlach-Barrera1, Fernando Ibarra-Martín1 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Dow Agrosciences de Mexico, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, 3Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Mesquite density has increased in Short Grass Prairies of northern Mexico causing severe invasion problems that limit forage production potential and interfere with cattle grazing on rangelands. This study was conducted at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico during the summer of 2009 to evaluate Togar® herbicide for mesquite control. We also evaluated forage production responses and associated economic benefits. We evaluated vegetation responses with basal applications of Togar® at 0.5 and 1.0% in diesel oil, plus an untreated check. A completely randomized block design with 3 treatments and 20 replications was used and information was analyzed by ANOVA (P≤0.05). We ran financial trails considering two 1,000 ha ranches, one with and one without mesquite control. The herbicide controlled 85 and 100% of the plants when Togar® was applied at 0.5 and 1.0 % with forage production increases of 283.3 and 284.4%, respectively, as compared to checks. Cumulative forage production during the ten projected years was 2.25, 8.05 and 8.65 ton/ha in plots treated with 0, 0.5, and 1.0%, respectively. The ranch that controlled mesquite produced enough forage to maintain 93.3 A.U. annually, with a cost of $0.37 pesos/kg of produced forage. We conclude that deteriorated grasslands invaded with shrubs have low production potential and require brush control practices to restore productivity. From a financial viewpoint it is economically profitable to apply1.0% Togar® in diesel oil at 150 ml/plant to reduce high mesquite infestations in rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0041 Regionalization of ranching by hidrographic basins and some factors related to beef production in Sonora, Mexico Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros1, Salomon Moreno-Medina1, Fernando Ibarra-Flores1, Martha Martín-Rivera1, Rafael Retes-Lopez2 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Cattle numbers and beef production are variable among regions in Sonora, Mexico. Production variations are suspected to be related to range productivity and rainfall amount and distribution which are also very distinctive among river basins. We reviewed statistical and documentary information from various sources regarding productivity of beef cattle systems in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The study was regionalized considering each region of the five river basins in Sonora for the period from 2007 to 2009. Ten variables were statistically analyzed to obtain the correlation coefficient with SPSS. The variables were: 1) surface area (hectares), 2) precipitation in the watershed or region (mm), 3) volume of water in the basin (hectometers), 4) number of cows, 5) calves produced by basin, 6) percentage of offspring produced in relation to the cows, 7) ratio of hectares of watershed per calf produced, 8) volume of water for calf produced, 9) acres per cow in the basin, and 10) overgrazing of the basin (%). All were correlated with precipitation. In the intra-regional correlation analysis the variables number of cows, number of calves produced, percentage of yearlings, and percentage of overgrazing each show a correlation coefficient of 0.90 (P ≤ 0.05). We conclude that in the years of the period analyzed, the percentage of overgrazing in each region together with the amount of cows are the factors that had greatest impact on regional productivity. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0042 Correlation among rainfall and cattle inventories during the last 20 years in Sonora, Mexico. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Salomon Moreno-Medina1, Francisco Denogean-Ballesteros1, Fernando Ibarra-Flores1, Martha Martín-Rivera1, Rafael Retes-Lopez2, Cyrenne Moreno-Alvarez1 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Statistics about cattle numbers are not always available and these data are frequently required for making range management decisions. Although high cattle numbers are supposed to be related to above average rainfall years, there is not regional data to support this idea. This study was conducted in Sonora, Mexico to find possible relationships between precipitation and cattle inventories. Statistical information from official sources on precipitation and cattle productivity of the meat production system in the State of Sonora, Mexico was reviewed from 1990 to 2009. Nine variables were statistically analyzed and regressed against precipitation to obtain the Spearman correlation coefficient, using the SPSS package, version 17. Variables analyzed in the study were: 1) number of cows, 2) number of bulls, 3) number of young bulls, 4) number of steers, 5) number of heifers, 6) number of calves, 7) number of calves total, and 8) total number of cattle. All variables were regressed with precipitation and expressed as annual averages of three-annual cycles for the above-mentioned period. The variable precipitation and total number of offspring were the only related (P≤ 0.05) variables with a correlation coefficient of 0.64. We conclude that in the years analyzed, higher annual precipitation reflected a greater total number of offspring. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0043 Effects of integrating mowing and imazapyr on African rue (Peganum harmala L.) and native bunchgrasses Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Dustin Johnson1, Kirk Davies2 1 Oregon State University, Burns, OR, USA, 2USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA African rue (Peganum harmala L.) is a poisonous perennial forb that readily invades salt desert shrub and sagebrush steppe rangelands. Information detailing options for integrated management of African rue is lacking. To date, a limited number of studies have researched the efficacy of different herbicides for controlling African rue, but none have investigated integrated approaches to its management. We broadcast applied three rates (0.275 kg a.i. · ha-1, 0.55 kg a.i. · ha-1, and 0.85 kg a.i. · ha-1) of imazapyr with and without a mowing treatment to five sites in eastern Oregon when African rue was in full bloom. Imazapyr resulted in significant reductions in the cover and density of African rue, regardless of application rate or mowing treatment. Mowing had no effect on African rue cover or density. Higher rates of imazapyr resulted in significant reductions in the cover of native perennial bunchgrasses, whereas the low rate did not affect perennial grass cover, regardless of mowing treatment. Applications of imazapyr generally reduced the density of perennial bunchgrasses. Integrating a mowing treatment with imazapyr applications was less effective for controlling African rue than applying herbicide alone. Mowing prior to imazapyr also did not increase survival of perennial grasses. Integrating repeated and/or earlier mowing treatments with imazapyr may have provided better results. Our results suggest that the recommended rate for controlling African rue (0.85 kg a.i. · ha-1) could be cut to a third on dry flood plain ecological sites without comprising the effectiveness of imazapyr. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0044 Distribution and Habitat Requirements of Desert Yellowhead (Yermo xanthocephalus), Fremont County, Wyoming Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: OTHER (does not fit under existing titles) Author's preference: Poster Bonnie Heidel, Joy Handley, Mark Andersen Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA Yermo xanthocephalus (desert yellowhead) is a narrow endemic originally known from one population in Fremont County, Wyoming and listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The original hypothesis was that Yermo is a habitat specialist restricted to exacting environmental conditions not found elsewhere on the landscape. Two sets of techniques were used to identify potential habitat, including photointerpretation and four different approaches in potential distribution modeling. This study has refuted the original hypothesis in documenting a second population under contrasting soils and vegetation conditions. At least nine of the seventeen soil parameters that were measured differ between the original Yermo population and the new Yermo population, including relatively high potassium, and high silt content. Soils of the two Yermo populations differ in as many or more soil properties as they do with the two other sample sets. The grass-dominated vegetation of the second Yermo population is distinct from the original Yermo population with its sparse, cushion plant community, and from the surrounding sagebrush steppe. If Yermo is not restricted by narrow soils and vegetation requirements, then alternative explanations of its limited distribution need to be tested, possibly involving dispersal and germination ecology. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0045 Plant Material Testing and Cheatgrass Suppression: A 10-Year-Old Case Study Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Charlie D. Clements, James A. Young, Dan N. Harmon USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, USA Cheatgrass is an exotic and invasive annual grass that was accidentally introduced to western North America in the late 19th century. Cheatgrass provides an early maturing, fine textured fuel that increases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfires. With each passing wildfire season, more and more critical habitats are burned and converted to cheatgrass dominance. In 2000, following a herbicidal application and fallow of a cheatgrass-dominated site in northern Nevada, we seeded 16 separate species (8 grasses, 4 shrubs and 4 forbs) in an effort to test the ability of these 16 various plant species to germinate, sprout, establish and suppress cheatgrass. Prior to the herbicide application cheatgrass densities averaged 4,900/m². Cheatgrass densities following herbicidal control in the summer prior to the fall seeding averaged 9.24/m². By June 2010, ‘Hycrest'crested wheatgrass and ‘Sherman' big bluegrass were the two plant species that performed the best and stood out as good revegetation candidates at this site with densities at 4.6/m² and 3.6/m². Furthermore, cheatgrass densities in June 2010 in the ‘Hycrest' and ‘Sherman' plots averaged 7.3/m² and 10.2/m², compared to 817.4/m² in the control, 204/m² in the bluebunch wheatgrass and 301.62/m² in the squirreltail plots. Better understanding the inherent potential of species to germinate, sprout, and establish in the face of such fierce competitors as cheatgrass is critical if land mangers are going to be successful in reversing the tide of cheatgrass dominance, frequent wildfires, and loss of critical wildlife habitats and grazing resources. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0046 Effects of the Maternal Environment on Cheatgrass Seed Dormancy Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Dan N. Harmon, Charlie D. Clements, James A. Young USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, USA The objective of this research was to document variability in seed dormancy of cheatgrass populations dominating wide-ranging plant communities within the same watershed. We hypothesize that 1) summer germination, 2) plant size as a function of resource availability and 3) annudal precipitation or soil moisture can predict seed dormancy. Many factors have been found to affect seed dormancy. Maternal environment has resulted in site adaptations such as cheatgrass flowering and vernalization. How do environmental stimuli affect cheatgrass seed dormancy and does it make evolutionary sense? Premature summer germination is thought of as a risk at best. Theoretically, the probability of summer germination increases for wetter sites along with the selective pressure for increased seed dormancy. In 2010-2011 we located 15 cheatgrass populations (5 types x 3 reps) within the Truckee watershed of northwestern Nevada and randomly collected short (<10cm), and tall (>30cm) seed samples. Germination was tested pre/post after-ripening at four temperatures (2C, 15C, 25C and 2/15C alternating). Dormancy percent was ranked by plant community at 2/15C, 15C and 25C pre after-ripening and 25C post ([1] Salt Desert, [2] Wyoming big sagebrush post burn [3] Wyoming big sagebrush understory and pine forest). Summer germination occurred at the salt desert sites making it a possible predictor of dormancy. Size had an unpredictable effect on dormancy. Small plants and lower soil moisture exhibited slightly increased dormancy indicating a possible stress response. We continue to monitor these populations and examine reciprocal gardens to further evaluate the genetic vs. environmental regulation of seed dormancy. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0047 Expected-Use Grazing Maps Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Andrew Brischke1, James Heitholt2 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA Distribution of livestock on rangelands is a typical management problem throughout Western US rangelands. An expected-use map can provide a quick and efficient method to predict, identify and map areas that may be of concern. The Whetstone Mountains located near Benson, AZ were used to evaluate the expected-use mapping model. Model Builder in ArcMap 10 and three basic data layers were used to create an expected-use model and associated maps. Distances from water, water source reliability and slope are some of the factors that are known to affect utilization of forage. Water sources were separated into four reliability categories to reflect changes in expected-use based on precipitation and water source reliability. Use classes and change in use class associated with both seasonal and annual water availability were calculated from the expected-use maps. The change in concentration area from class 4 (extreme precipitation) to class 3 (above average precipitation) was calculated to be 9,819 acres to 8,078 acres or a change in area of 17.7%. The change in area from class 4 to class 2 (below average precipitation) was 30.6% and from class 4 to class 1 (extreme drought) was 66.7%. The flexibility of the model allows the user to change values or classification schemes to better fit the grazing patterns in their region. Other uses of expected-use maps are: identification of key areas, potential water improvement areas, high impacts to sensitive resource values, and to compare with actual utilization maps to identify problematic areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0048 Legume tolerance and recovery in northern temperate pastures following variable application rates of broadleaf residual herbicide Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Weed Biology and Ecology Author's preference: Oral Amanda Miller1, Edward Bork1, Linda Hall1, Patrick Forsythe2, Bill Summers2 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2DuPont, Canada, Canada Legumes like alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and white clover (Trifolium repens) are beneficial features of northern temperate pastures due to their role in increasing forage productivity and quality. Little is known about the tolerance of legumes to broadleaf herbicides, including their ability to promptly regenerate from the seed bank once removed. We used a variable rate herbicide field study to assess 1) tolerance of existing legumes to herbicide bioactives, and 2) seedling performance of key forage legumes (alfalfa and white clover) from the soil seed bank. This study was conducted at each of two sites using broadleaf herbicide bioactives (aminopyralid and aminocyclopyrachlor), each of which were applied at 6 different rates (0x, 0.0625x, 0.125x, 0.25x, 0.5x, and 1x) in a randomized block design with 4 replications. Sites were overseeded with 16 kg/ha of alfalfa and clover seed to populate the seed-bank prior to mid-June herbicide application, and monitored for seedling emergence, survival and density over the following 12 months. Plots were further divided into mown and un-mown subplots to assess the role of forage competition on legume establishment. Legume performance differed modestly between plots sprayed with the two different bioactives, with marked changes across the variable spray rates. Tolerance to herbicide and initial seedling establishment were also greater under mowing, likely due to decreased competition for light, moisture, and nutrients. As re-establishment of legumes is an important goal of producers, this information provides insight into the impact of these herbicides on legume populations, and the expected return of legumes under field conditions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0049 Soil bioassay tests highlight alfalfa and clover sensitivity to herbicide residue in northern temperate pastures Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Weed Biology and Ecology Author's preference: Poster Amanda Miller1, Edward Bork1, Linda Hall1, Patrick Forsythe2, Bill Summers2 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2DuPont, Canada, Canada Beneficial legumes such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and white clover (Trifolium repens) are important features of northern temperate pastures. These legumes increase the productivity of pastures and quality of forage. When pastures are sprayed for the control of broadleaf weeds existing legumes are removed from the plant community. Although prompt re-establishment of legumes in sprayed pastures is a goal of many land managers, this process depends on a number of different factors. Current re-cropping guidelines for many herbicide bioactives are based on data from areas with markedly different soil and climatic conditions relative to western Canada. This study used soil bioassays to track the degradation of two herbicide bioactives (aminopyralid and aminocyclopyrachlor) via the performance of key forage legumes: alfalfa and white clover. Soil cores were taken from a series of long-term field sites (sprayed at 0x and 1x rates) in central Alberta, Canada, at set intervals of 1 and 6 weeks following spraying, as well as the beginning and end of the following growing season. Soil was removed from roots, thoroughly mixed, and planted in the greenhouse with alfalfa or white clover. Additional greenhouse controls were included. Emergence, survival, and plant heights of each legume species were found to correlate directly to time elapsed following spraying. Seedling density counts, survival rates, and plant heights were greater in bioassays performed using soil cores taken after longer intervals following spraying. These results indicate that despite acute residual affects shortly after spraying, bioactive potency to legumes declines relatively quickly. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0050 The effect of grazing intensity on grasslands and cattle performance in south-central North Dakota Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Bob Patton, Paul Nyren, Anne Nyren North Dakota State University - Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, Streeter, North Dakota, USA A grazing intensity study began at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center in 1989 to determine ecological and economic effects of season-long cattle grazing. Five treatments - no grazing, light, moderate, heavy, and extreme grazing - are each replicated three times. Thirty-acre pastures are stocked so that when the cattle are removed in the fall, 65, 50, 35, and 20% of the forage remains on the light, moderate, heavy, and extreme grazing treatments respectively. The no grazing treatment consists of six 0.3-acre exclosures. On loamy sites, forage production is highest under light grazing. On loamy overflow sites, production does not differ between light, moderate, and heavy grazing, but ungrazed and extreme treatments produce significantly less forage. Of the 164 plant species found on the loamy sites, 38% have shown a response to grazing based on frequency, density, or basal cover. On the loamy overflow sites, 30% of the 172 species have responded to grazing. Of these species, the majority are favored by a moderate or heavy level of grazing. Since 1990, average daily gain and animal body condition scores have decreased with increasing grazing intensity. Initially, gain/ton of available forage increases as the stocking rate increases, but declines at higher stocking rates. We cannot predict which stocking rate will give the maximum gain/ton of forage in a particular year. However, at 2.39 AUM/ton, gain/ton from 1991-2010 would have averaged 75.7 lbs/ton. The stocking rate with the maximum return/ton over the last 20 years would be 1.74 AUM/ton, with an average annual return of $28.24/ton. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0051 Vegetation Monitoring on an 8000 acre Exclosure in Semi-Arid Grasslands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Linda Kennedy1, Daniel Robinett2 1 National Audubon Society, Elgin, Arizona, USA, 2Robinett Rangeland Resources LLC, Elgin, Arizona, USA The Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch is an 8000 acre sanctuary and research facility in the semi-arid grasslands of southeastern Arizona, USA. Ungrazed by domestic livestock since 1968, the Research Ranch provides a reference area by which various land uses such as grazing and exurbanization may be evaluated. Vegetation transects were established in 2000 and 2003 on several ecological sites in Major Land Resource Area 41. These include; sandy loam uplands, loamy uplands, loamy swales and limy and loamy slopes. Transects have been read regularly since establishment. This monitoring program has tracked changes after wildfires and during drought. Basal cover of perennial grasses on loamy upland sites were reduced from 15% to 7% after drought/fire combination in 2002 and took until 2008 to recover to pre-fire levels. Monitoring has revealed trends associated with non-native, invasive species, particularly Eragrostis lehmanniana (Lehmann lovegrass) and E. curvula (Boer lovegrass). These species were th introduced as range improvements in the middle of the 20 century and are threatening the native biodiversity of the region. In an 8-year span, the frequency of Lehmann lovegrass on a loamy upland site grew from 1% to 60% at the expense of the native Eragrostis intermedia (Plains lovegrass) and Bouteloua gracilis (Blue grama). Monitoring provides feedback to Audubon personnel in the management of natural processes like fire. In addition the results of 10 years of monitoring data from the Research Ranch reference area was recently used to help BLM develop land management guidelines for an adjacent large grassland area. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0052 Wolves and Wild Horses: When old world predator and prey meet again on the sagebrush steppe in Nevada. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Poster Ryan Leary1, Tracey Jean Wolfe1 1 USDI-BLM, Carson City, NV, USA, 2USDA-NRCS, Yerington, NV, USA The poster explores what the possible interaction and ecological responses might be between a large predator, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and two large prey animals in the equine family, feral (wild) horses (Equus caballus) and burros (Equus asinus), if wolves migrate into the sagebrush steppe of Nevada. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0053 Feral Horse Habitat Preferences in Alberta Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Edward Bork1, Michael Alexander2 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada Feral horses in Alberta have a complex history. These animals are largely the descendents of animals released or escaped from private owners, and have inhabited significant areas of public land in two regions of Alberta. One of the largest populations occurred within the Suffield military base in SE Alberta. In the early 1990's, these animals were removed through a horse adoption program to deal with concerns over excessive year-long range use and associated degradation of sensitive native mixedgrass prairie. The second region is the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, an area that still maintains significant horse numbers. These animals are found in localized concentrations, often watershed basins where open grassland habitat is limited in area. Recent increases in horse populations, in conjunction with other land use and resource management commitments such as livestock grazing, wildlife, and timber management, coupled with ongoing grassland habitat loss associated with shrub and tree encroachment, have raised concerns over the future management of these ecosystems. In Alberta three behavioral studies have been conducted to gain knowledge about feral horses. We provide an overview of these studies, all of which have evaluated horse habitat use patterns or preferences within different portions of the Eastern Slopes. As expected, horses have a preference for open areas such as grasslands and shrublands, and during select times of the year, forest cutblocks. Future management of feral horses will require balancing these populations with habitat availability, and integrating their presence with other land and resource use obligations. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0054 Sustainable ranch management: Integrating monitoring information and a business planning process Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Kristie Maczko1, John Tanaka2 ,1, Mike Smith2, Cindy Garretson-Weibel5, Chuck Stanley6, Gene Fults7, Stan Hamilton3 ,1, J.K. "Rooter" Brite10, Larry Bryant11, Dick Loper4, Ric Lopez9, Bob Bolton8, John Mitchell12 1 Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2University of Wyoming Dept. of Renewable Resources, Laramie, WY, USA, 3Idaho Dept. of Lands (ret.), Boise, ID, USA, 4 Wyoming State Grazing Board, Lander, WY, USA, 5Wyoming Business Council, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 6Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fort Worth, TX, USA, 7Natural Resources Conservation Service, Portland, OR, USA, 8Bureau of Land Management, Washington D.C., USA, 9USDA Forest Service, Washington D.C., USA, 10Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and JA Ranch, Bowie, TX, USA, 11Bryant Ranches, Fox, OR, USA, 12USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (ret.), Fort Collins, CO, USA Maintaining successful ranch operations benefits not only ranchers, but also the well-being of rangelanddependent communities and open space conservation. For this reason, the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable (SRR), the Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming State Grazing Board (WSGB), University of Wyoming (UW) extension, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and several ranchers developed a process to integrate ranch monitoring with business planning. This assessment framework contains 17 indicators for monitoring ecological, economic and social sustainability. Indicators are attributes that can be directly measured and assessed to detect changes and trends. SRR ranch assessment indicators address: soil stability and bare ground; availability of surface water and water volume; species composition of plant communities, invasive species, fire, and riparian areas; wildlife populations, domestic meat produced and harvestable material production; profit from livestock production and products produced, as well as visitor use information for recreational enterprises; technical assistance and continuing education received, and protection of special values. Monitoring resource conditions, wildlife, livestock production, and associated economics to align business plan goals with rangeland resource capacities can improve viability and sustainability of family ranches. The SRR ranch sustainability assessment framework is featured in a sustainable ranch management guidebook available online at http://sustainablerangelands.org/ranchassessment/guidebook.pdf. UW, GLCI and WSGB staffs are working with ranchers to implement ecological monitoring using the 17 SRR ranch assessment indicators. The most informative results will manifest in the long-term as trends in ecological, social, and economic elements of ranch sustainability become evident. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0055 Evaluating Sheep and Goat Grazing Strategies in Controling Prunus spinosa Encroachment into Historic Grasslands on the Hohenfels Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Germany Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Peter Schreder1, Scott Holbrook2, Albert Boehm3, Steve Warren4 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon / PNW, USA, 2Natural Resource Innovations, Mannhiem, Germany, Germany, 3Hohenfels JMRC U.S. Army, Hohenfels, Germany, Germany, 4 US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Provo, Utah, USA Encroachment of open grassland meadows by shrub species on the Hohenfels Joint Multinational Readiness Training Area threatens ecosystem structure and function, and may cause loss of valuable military training capability. Mechanical treatments are often the focus of management efforts to control encroachment, but alternatives are being researched. Management with the reintroduction of domestic livestock grazing may suppress encroachment and reduce the need for costly mechanical control. We studied historic open meadows populated by Prunus spinosa to compare rate of encroachment between current management and management with intensive livestock grazing. Upon evaluation of data located in the heavily grazed areas, some changes in the structural composition appear over time. A comparison of spring 2009 data to spring 2011 shrub measurements in the ungrazed plots showed a significant increase over time (+6%) in the .5 to 1 meter height range. In the evaluation of the grazed plots, there was a decrease (-15%) in shrubs between .5 and 1 meter tall and a decrease (-5%) in shrubs between 1 and 1.5 meter tall. The data collected in the heavily grazed areas suggest that heavy grazing is having a measurable impact on the transition shrub component, as compared to mechanically treated areas with no grazing. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0056 Fire Management to Prevent and Control Exotic Annual Grass Invasion Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Kirk Davies USDA - ARS, Burns, USA Management of fire is often a critical component of exotic plant prevention and control. It is especially important in the sagebrush ecosystem where exotic annual grasses are spreading rapidly. Historically, in the sagebrush ecosystem, infrequent fires shifted vegetation dominance from sagebrush to perennial grasses and forbs. Unfortunately, fires in lower elevation sagebrush now often promote exotic annual grass invasion. At higher elevations, a lack of fire allows pinyon/juniper encroachment, thereby potentially decreasing perennial grass abundance and promoting exotic annual grass establishment. Exotic annual grass invasion often promotes frequent wildfires creating a grass-fire cycle that facilitates the continued dominance of the community by annual grasses. In exotic annual grass-invaded plant communities, it is critical to break the grass-fire cycle to prevent the continued expansion of annual grasses. However, fires can be used to help control exotic annual grasses and establish perennial bunchgrasses. Early summer fires that occur before annual grass seed maturity can decrease exotic annual grasses and increase the success of subsequently seeded perennial bunchgrasses. Prescribed burning can be used to remove litter to improve pre-emergent herbicide control of annual grasses and create a favorable seedbed for perennial bunchgrass establishment. Fire management that promotes or maintains perennial bunchgrasses is critical to successful invasive annual grass prevention and control. Proper fire management will vary depending on site and plant community characteristics. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0057 Fire Season and Frequency Effects on Native Grass Bud Banks in the Northern Great Plains Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Morgan Russell1 ,2, Lance Vermeire2, John Hendrickson3, Amy Ganguli1 1 North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Miles City, MT, USA, 3USDAARS, Mandan, ND, USA Axillary buds, belowground meristematic tissue located on plant crowns, regulate productivity of perennial grasses. However, the impact of fire frequency and season-of-fire on quantity and viability of axillary buds is still unclear. We evaluated axillary bud populations of Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, and Pascopyrum smithii following summer, fall, or spring burns as well as a non-burned control factorialized with fire frequencies of 1, 3, or 6 yr with fire treatments initiated during 2006. Tillers from each species were collected from each plot during October 2010 and August 2011 cleaned and assessed to determine quantity and viability of buds for each tiller. Each grass species differed in the number of total buds, with Bouteloua gracilis having the greatest number of total buds per tiller (8.2 ± 0.3), Pascopyrum smithii having an intermediate number (5.6 ± 0.3) and Hesperostipa comata maintaining the least (3.7 ± 0.3). There was a species × season-of-fire interaction for bud viability. Hesperostipa comata responded similarly across all seasons of fire. Bouteloua gracilis had more active buds following fall fires than following spring or summer fires. Spring fires increased active buds on Pascopyrum smithii compared to fall and summer fire treatments. These preliminary results indicate fewer buds exist for Hesperostipa comata, potentially enabling meristematic limitations and altering community composition. Season of fire may be selected to achieve a greater amount of total and viable buds for Bouteloua gracilis and Pascopyrum smithii, contributing to the overall maintenance of belowground bud reserves. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0058 Predation on Feral Horses by Mountain Lions in Nevada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Alyson Andreasen1, Kelley Stewart1, Jon Beckmann2, William Longland3, Carl Lackey4 1 University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA, 2Wildlife Conservation Society, Bozeman, Montana, USA, 3Nevada Department of Wildlife, Reno, Nevada, USA, 4Agricultural Research Services University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA Predation on feral horses (Equus caballus) is still considered to be a rare phenomenon and documented in the scientific literature only on a few occasions. Nonetheless, preliminary results from a population of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in the Great Basin of Nevada suggests that predation on feral horses may occur more frequently than previously known where the two species overlap. As part of a larger study examining mountain lion ecology in western Nevada, we have captured and collared 27 mountain lions since January 2009 to determine predation rates and prey selection. We have found remains of over 500 predation events by searching over 800 “GPS clusters” from 18 of those mountain lions collared with GPS satellite collars. At present, approximately half of the mountain lions collared in our study area have access to feral horses as prey and of those lions that have access to horses, most consume horses as prey. However, there is individual variation in diet selection with some individuals selecting for horses to the near exclusion of other prey items, while some individuals are more general in their patterns of diet selection. This unforeseen amount of predation on feral horses suggests that there is still much to learn about predation on horses by mountain lions where the two species overlap. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0059 Forest Restoration Strategy for the eastern slopes of the Cascades Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Richy Harrod1, William Gaines1, Paul Hessburg, Sr.2, James Dickinson1, Rachel Lipsky1 1 USDA Forest Service, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee, WA, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Wenatchee, WA, USA A concerted effort is needed to restore the sustainability and resiliency of forested ecosystems on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF). Past land management activities, including fire exclusion, have transformed forest spatial patterns and landscape ecology. The road network associated with past activities has affected aquatic habitats. These changes have consequences for different disturbance regimes, and different availability and distribution of wildlife and aquatic habitats. Successful restoration of forest ecosystems requires a landscape perspective, which is essential for effective restoration of ecological processes and functions. The OWNF has developed a restoration strategy which begins with a process called the landscape evaluation that defines the restoration treatments needed, establishes the context of a restoration project area within the broader landscape, and sets priorities for where restoration should occur. Integration of ecological indicators from the landscape evaluation and management direction is accomplished with EMDS. The outcome of the landscape evaluation is the identification of potential landscape treatment areas (PLTA). Restoration projects are developed within PLTAs and objectives are derived from the landscape evaluation. Project level planning considers two spatial scales: project area-wide considerations (the arrangement and interaction of forest stands), and the patch-scale (spatial variability within a forest stand). Aquatic restoration priorities are determined from the road network evaluation which addresses important aquatic interactions with the road network, such as hydrologic connectivity and stream channel confinement. Finally, an adaptive management process has been developed to create a learning organization and focus on partner collaboration. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0060 Effects of Planting Date and Climatic Conditions on Germination of Forage Kochia Accessions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Cody Creech1, Blair Waldron2, Corey Ransom1, Dale ZoBell1 1 Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Logan, Utah, USA Establishment of forage kochia (Kochia prostrata [L.] Schrad.) plantings in western North America has been erratic, with both successes and failures. The harsh and unpredictable conditions in which forage kochia thrives once it becomes established often makes seedling establishment difficult. This study was conducted to determine the extent that the factors of planting date and climatic conditions have on the germination of forage kochia. Recently harvested and one-year-old cold-stored seed of Immigrant and two experimental accessions were used in the study. Fifty pure live seeds of each entry were arranged on blotter paper in nylon mesh bags and placed in two locations to simulate planting dates in Jan, Mar, Apr, and May. Entries were retrieved every two weeks and germinated seeds were counted. Planting in January yielded the highest germination with each subsequent planting resulting in fewer seeds germinating. Recently harvested seed resulted in four to five times higher germination when compared to the same planting date of year-old seed. Year-old forage kochia seed loses germination timing mechanisms over time and seemed to be more susceptible to environmental stresses than current year seed which led to increased instances of fungi which inhibited seed germination. Precipitation events and low temperatures had a positive effect on germination across all entries. These results confirm that using recently harvested seed and planting earlier in the year during the snow fall season when moisture is adequate provides the best opportunity for forage kochia seeds to germinate and establish. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0061 Integrated crop-livestock systems in the shortgrass prairie Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Cody J. Zilverberg, C. Philip Brown, Paul Green, Vivien G. Allen Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA The Texas High Plains was once shortgrass prairie but was largely converted to irrigated agriculture during the past century. Rapid decline of the Ogallala aquifer threatens irrigated agriculture and demands alternative low-water-use agricultural systems. We tested 3 replications of a non-irrigated agricultural system (DRY) that restored native grasses while integrating cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), forages, and stocker steer (Angus and Angus cross) production from 2004 to 2008. This 3-paddock system included perennial native grasses (Buchloe dactyloides, Bouteloua gracilis, B. curtipendula, Leptochloa dubia) and a 2-paddock rotation of a grazed warm-season annual (Setaria italica or Sorghum bicolor) and cotton. Steers grazed during the active growing season. After 5 years, 1 paddock of deficit-irrigated old world bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) was added to each replicate for grazing, hay, and seed production and this system (LOW) was evaluated for 2 additional yr. Mean annual liveweight gains were 57 (DRY) and 107 (LOW) kg system ha-1. Daily gains were 1.01 (DRY) and 1.02 kg hd-1 (LOW). Mean animal unit grazing days were 34 (DRY) and 76 (LOW) system ha-1. Gross margin was positive for cotton but negative for all grazed forages except native grasses in DRY. Adding bluestem provided a needed ‘buffer' of irrigated forage in the dry year of 2009, but economic returns were still negative. These systems lowered irrigation use compared with conventional annual crops but widespread adoption will require improving profitability, perhaps through replacing Setaria italica with Sorghum bicolor for grain and grazing, and harvesting excess perennial forage as hay when conditions permit. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0062 Landscape occupancy by free-ranging cattle in northeastern Oregon Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster K. Wilson1, M. Wilson1, L. Larson1, J. Williams1, P. Clark2, D. Johnson1 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 2USDA - ARS, Boise, Idaho, USA Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System technologies were employed to evaluate cattle distribution on 3 northeastern Oregon grazing allotments (43,200 ha). Ten random cows were fitted with Clark Animal Tracking Collars set to record GPS data at 5 min intervals before turnout in the spring. Cattle preferred slopes <12%, did not avoid slopes 12-35%, but did avoid slopes >35%. Cattle were indifferent to north and south aspects. On Site 1 mixed conifer was avoided while pine/fir and upland grass were equally preferred. Cattle on Sites 2 and 3 preferred mixed conifer. At Site 2 cattle strongly avoided pine/fir and upland grass communities while only moderately avoiding them on Site 3. Cattle on Site 1 and 3, where streams are topographically confined and streamside meadows are not well developed, were indifferent to all stream zones (1.1% and 1.2% of all cattle positions were within 60 m of the stream, respectively). At Site 2, where meadows associated with the stream are present, cattle preferred stream buffers out to 30 m (2.4% of all cattle positions), 3.7% of all recorded positions were within 60 m of the stream with 0.8% of logged positions within the aquatic habitat zone (0-10 m stream buffer). This implies that cattle were spending time in developed meadows along the stream but were not attracted to the stream channel. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0063 Distribution and behavior of cattle grazing riparian pastures in northeastern Oregon Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster M. Wilson1, K. Wilson1, L. Larson1, J. Williams1, P. Clark2, D. Johnson1 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Boise, Idaho, USA This study was designed to quantify channel and stream bank occupancy by cattle grazing relatively small riparian pastures (50-75 ha) in northeastern Oregon. Cattle distribution patterns were compared to available vegetation communities (% use divided by % land surface within the pasture). GPS collars logging at 1 second intervals were deployed on cattle in three riparian pastures that represent grazing strategies typical of this region. In all three pastures, use was not uniform and cattle preferred some areas and sites over others. Cattle preferred to rest in areas that were dry and open. Cattle were stationary (i.e. resting/ruminating) for more than 50% of the time in each pasture and consistently rested between dark and 4:00 a.m. Stationary locations (stationary > 10 minutes) were distributed throughout preferred communities. Stream interaction by cattle averaged 1 to 2% of the day (14.4 to 28.8 min/day). Time dedicated to drinking averaged 3-4 minutes per event. Cattle spent less than 2% of the day in the stream bank zone (5m on the outside of both stream banks) and accessed less than 10% of the stream channel length. The stream bank zone was used primarily as a travel corridor to get to and from the stream to drink or cross. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0064 Learning to Predict Vegetation Change: a Step-wise Progression for Acquiring State and Transition Modeling Skills Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Colleen Ryan1, Eva Strand2 1 Systems for Environmental Management, Missoula, Montana, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA Understanding the relationships between vegetation dynamics and disturbance processes can challenge today's land manager. State-and-transition modeling using the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT) and Path software has proven to be useful for natural resource professionals in addressing a wide range of questions related to forest and rangeland management, fuels planning, wildlife habitat management, and ecosystem carbon modeling. The LANDFIRE project has developed a set of vegetation dynamics models for U.S. ecosystems using the VDDT software. These models distill ecological knowledge provided by thousands of local experts, offering valuable information for resource managers, who can adapt these models to address a range of resource management questions. To facilitate this process, the National Interagency Fuels, Fire, and Vegetation Technology Transfer (NIFTT) is developing a set of online courses to assist users in learning to create, modify, and use vegetation dynamics models with the new Path modeling software. These courses will be organized into a "learning pathway" that will begin with basic modeling concepts for novice users and continue through the introduction of advanced applications. Students will be able to enter the pathway at any point, depending on their individual experience and needs. The learning pathway will include coursework describing the development of the LANDFIRE vegetation models, as well as techniques for adapting these models to address specific land management applications. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0065 Evaluation of an adaptive management approach for evaluating effects of wolf reintroduction on an agro-ecological system. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Oral John Williams1, Neil Rimbey2, Pat Clark3, Larry Larson4, Douglas Johnson5 1 Oregon State University, Enterprise,OR, USA, 2University of Idaho, Caldwell, ID, USA, 3 USDA/ARS, Boise, USA, 4Oregon State University, LaGrande,Or, USA, 5Oregon State University, Corvallis, Or, USA The Adaptive Management (AM) process seeks solutions to complex landscape-scale problems by employing focused monitoring, studying, and subsequent adaptation of managerial systems in a dynamic feedback progression. Central to the process is the Adaptive Management Committee (AMC) that oversees the process, evaluates, and coordinates the program. Managers use results to adjust strategies and actions within a sustainable agro-ecosystem context. We established an AM process and committee in 2008 that is examining the impacts of the reintroduction of grey wolves on ranching systems. We are also searching for ways to reduce negative impacts while maintaining sustainable/profitable livestock production. AMC members have taken an active role in both project design and implementation. The most beneficial aspects of their involvement have been providing insight on the member’s respective specialties. Ranchers share their experiences about the location and circumstance of depredations and the relative effectiveness of preventative actions. Wildlife biologists have assisted in census techniques and behavior of wolves, ecologists have supervised site pairing and ecosystem monitoring, and agricultural economists have overseen the ranch-level economic analysis. Probably the most important contribution of the AM process is committee linkage to producers and management agency personnel. Because wolf packs in livestock producing areas range over both public and private land and negative impacts are focused on domestic animals, cooperation with livestock producers is critical if accurate information is to be obtained. Committee members including cooperating producers act as a conduit for specific information and analyses done by the project to their respective peer groups. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0066 Identifying cheatgrass dieoff in the Great Basin by integrating eMODIS NDVI data with ecological models Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral Stephen Boyte1, Bruce Wylie2, Donald Major3, Robert Burton4 1 SGT, Inc. USGS EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USA, 2USGS EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USA, 3BLM NIFC-Great Basin Restoration Initiative, Boise, ID, USA, 4BLM Field Office, Winnemucca, NV, USA Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive, nonnative winter annual grass that has displaced native vegetation over tens of thousands of hectares in the shrub steppe environment of the Intermountain West, and is poised to displace more. Or is it? Cheatgrass productivity is dependent on weather, particularly precipitation, and both precipitation and cheatgrass productivity are highly variable spatially and temporally in this region. Interpreting cheatgrass performance is difficult if disturbance effects cannot be separated from weather effects. Since 2003, in northern Nevada, and perhaps decades prior in Idaho, an unexpected phenomenon has been observed, i.e., cheatgrass is absent in previously invaded areas during years with adequate precipitation. This cheatgrass "dieoff" phenomenon concerns land managers, scientists, and policymakers because dieoffs accelerate soil erosion, increasing land degradation. We developed a technique that separates weather effects from disturbance effects by fusing eleven years of archived 250 m expedited Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (eMODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with site-specific data in a regression-tree model. Using this technique, we mapped cheatgrass dieoffs during 2000 - 2010 in part of the Great Basin and matched mapped dieoff areas with dieoff polygons created through aerial surveys by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District personnel. Results showed that within dieoff polygons 59% of pixels were classified as dieoff compared to 2.5% of pixels outside dieoff polygons. Our maps can inform current and future management plans regarding cheatgrass dieoffs and possibly inform restoration efforts of these degraded lands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0067 Range Rocks!: An outdoor experiential learning program for high school students. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster John Kava, Doug Tolleson The University of Arizona, V Bar V Ranch, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA Range Rocks! is the signature extension effort of the University of Arizona's V Bar V Ranch range program. We provide outdoor experiential learning opportunities for high school agriculture and science students. Students participate in real world rangeland research and management activities. Specifically, these include monitoring and research field days in which students work alongside range professionals, doing vegetation transects, riparian assessments and or collecting soil carbon and nitrogen data. Students obtain work experience and are exposed to GPS, near infrared spectroscopy, tablet computing, and plant identification, thus combining technology with biology and ecology. Program highlights include: 1) Range Rocks! was the featured youth program for the 2010 Hopi Range Trail Ride and 2011 Hopi Range Camp, 2) Miss Hopi 2012, a Range Rocks! participant, chose promotion of natural resources as her platform, 3) local students who participated in Range Rocks! placed at the state FFA plant ID contest, 4) in 2010 and 2011, Northpoint High School (Prescott AZ) students spent two weeks on the ranch learning about range and ranch management, then spent 2 days teaching what they learned to elementary and middle school students from Phoenix, and 5) students have constructed over 200 wildlife escape ramps for livestock water tanks. The take home message is that this program is providing real world experience for the students, not just busy work. They know and appreciate that they are learning about range and ranching, as well as contributing to the management of the natural resources in their own backyard. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0068 Target Vegetation Detection of Degrading Savanna Grasslands in the Western High Plateaus of Cameroon using Multi-spectral and Temporal Landsat Images Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Stephen Ndzeidze1, Patrick Clark2, Mounir Louhaichi3, Gilbert Banboye4, Douglas E. Johnson1 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 2USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Boise, Idaho, USA, 3ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, 4University de Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon Change on the landscape can be the result of human activities or natural phenomena. In either case, it is important to have quantitative data that records the direction, magnitude, and spatial pattern of change so that rational land use strategies can be formulated and implemented and root causes of degradation addressed. Landsat multispectral scenes, acquired periodically through time, are uniquely important for change detection because of the duration of coverage (continuous since the 1970s) and because the scanner systems are sensitive to variation in vegetative coverage and soil moisture. The objective of this study was to identify locations with the most extreme changes on the rangelands of the western high plateaus of Cameroon. The western high plateaus (above 1,500m) receive abundant precipitation and have multiple anthropogenic influences. A large portion of the plateau is covered by "prairie" and grass savanna vegetation composed of: Pennisetum purpureum and Andropogon gayanus with arboreal strata of Terminalia glaucescens, Nauclea latifolia and Hymenocardia spp. Other grass associations of Hyparrhenia spp, Sporobolus africanus, Pennisetum clandestinum and Paspalum spp. also exist. This area contains some of the most valuable grazing lands in Cameroon. Expanding human and animal populations and agricultural needs, have led to overgrazing, expansion of invasive weeds, conversion of rangelands to farmland, deforestation, and land use conflicts between resident farmers and grazers. Landsat scenes between 1973 and 2011 were used for targeted vegetation detection with the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm in ENVI. Locations with the greatest loss of vegetative cover were identified and mapped. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0069 Effect of climate/vegetation zone and plant part on n-alkanes in Arizona range grasses. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Poster Doug Tolleson1, David Forbes2, John Kava1, Carrie Hensarling2 1 The University of Arizona, V Bar V Ranch, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA, 2Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Uvalde, Texas, USA N-alkanes are plant cuticular wax compounds used to determine forage intake and digestibility. The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine the content of 12 different n-alkanes (carbon chain length from 22 to 37) in 7 perennial range grasses, and 2) determine the effects of climate/vegetation and plant part on n-alkanes in these grasses. Climate/vegetation zones were: 1) desert shrub (DS; 1200m asl), 2) pinon-juniper (PJ; 1600m asl), and 3) ponderosa pine (PP; 2150 m asl). In DS, we collected tissue from Pleuraphis mutica, Bouteloua curtipendula (BOCU), and Hesperostipa neomexicana . In PJ, species were Pascopyrum smithii, Bouteloua gracilis (BOGR), and BOCU. In PP, species were Festuca arizonica, Elymus trachycaulus, and BOGR. Three samples per species per zone were collected in August 2010 and manually divided into leaf and stem portions. Concentration of n-alkanes (mg/g DM) were determined by gas chromatography. Odd numbered carbon chain n-alkane concentrations were 0.040 ± 0.002 and even chain concentrations were 0.013 ± 0.001. In DS, n-alkane content was 0.036 ± 0.002 (leaf) and 0.024 ± 0.002 (stem). Similar values were 0.030 ± 0.002 and 0.025 ± 0.001 in PJ, and 0.028 ± 0.001 and 0.018 ± 0.001 in PP, respectively. Concentrations of all but C22 were higher (P < 0.05) in DS than PJ for BOCU. Concentration of C23,25,27,29 and C33 were higher (P < 0.05) in PJ than PP for BOGR. Concentration of n-alkanes tended to be greater in lower elevation/warmer zones. Concentration of C31 and C33 were adequate for intake estimation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0070 A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Analyze Suitability of Nesting Habitat for Greater SageGrouse Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Khodabakhsh Zabihi, Ginger B. Paige, Scott N. Miller, Ann L. Hild, Amarina E. Wuenschel, Matthew J. Holloran University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA Abstract Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a sagebrush obligate species of Western North America. Degradation of nesting habitat contributes to sage-grouse population declines. Both local and landscape characteristics explain pure and shared variation in greater sage-grouse nest site selection. In this study we use a mix of both scale variables to predict and model nest sites selection using a fuzzy logic model. Fuzzy set theory uses concepts of acknowledged possibility, which is described in terms of the fuzzy membership function. Site characteristics, landscape variables, and nest success were measured at 82 identified nest sites in three habitat areas in the upper Green River Basin in Wyoming, an area undergoing active energy development. Eight landscape scale environmental variables were correlated with nest site selection in our study area. These include slope, aspect, type and density of canopy cover, and distance to stream, road, pasture, and well pads. For each environmental variable, we assigned numerical membership values of 0-1 to generate fuzzy maps (0=non-membership, 1=full-membership and values between 0 and 1 for partial membership). Multiplying all fuzzy maps, we defined three suitability classes in the resulting habitat map: 0-0.007 values represent not suitable to low suitability areas, 0.007-0.5 values represent moderate quality habitat, and 0.5-1 values represent high quality habitat. We found that 37% of the nest sites were in "high" suitability habitat areas, while only 9% were in areas of low suitability habitat. The habitat suitability model was developed in one habitat area and validated in the two additional habitat areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0071 Weed-Suppressive Bacteria in Rangeland Restoration Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Ann C. Kennedy1 ,2, Jeremy C. Hansen1 ,2, Tami L. Stubbs2, Reneé E. Schultheis1 1 USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, USA, 2Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusa L.) are two troublesome invasive weeds in the western U.S, but biocontrol using soil bacteria may provide another tool to manage these invasive weeds. Building on the phenomenon of stunted and yellow grasses in the early spring, we isolated 10,000 bacteria from soil and roots just after freeze-thaw events. We screened bacteria in laboratory and greenhouse assays and field tests to obtain those selective in suppressing the growth of grass weeds, but not inhibiting beneficial plants. We apply the bacteria in the fall and they establish in the soil microbial community as weather cools. The bacteria colonize roots and inhibit radicle formation, root growth and tiller initiation of select weeds, while not hurting native plants or crops. Survival of the bacteria and establishment in the soil are critical for the suppression of the weed. In the first few years after field application, the bacteria inhibit weed populations by 20 to 50% and this inhibition increased with time. In long-term rangeland field trials in Washington State, application of the bacteria resulted in almost complete suppression of cheatgrass in four to seven years after a single application. With the reduction of cheatgrass, other plant species increased and plant biodiversity changed. These bacteria provide a novel means to reduce invasive weeds in rangeland and another tool for rangeland restoration. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0072 Informing wildfire transitions for state and transition modeling with a 25 year wildfire record Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Leonardo Frid1, Joshua S. Halofsky2, Miles A. Hemstrom3, Megan Creutzburg4, Michael Polly4 1 ESSA Technologies Ltd, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, USA, 3USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Portland, OR, USA, 4Oregon State University, Institute for Natural Resources, Portland, OR, USA Quantitative state and transition (S&T) model construction often relies on expert opinion when informing transition probabilities. While decades of field experience is invaluable in creating S&T models, we have noticed a greater interest from land managers to move away from expert opinion towards more quantitative estimates of transition rates. In this vein, we recently developed an approach using Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) data to quantitatively derive wildfire probabilities and their temporal variability for use in S&T models. This presentation illustrates an overview of the approach, which can be applied anywhere in the continental United States for the same 25 year record, or in other countries where spatial wildfire information exists. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0073 eXtension and the Rangeland Stewardship and Health Community of Practice Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Rangeland Knowledge Resources (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral John Tanaka1, Rachel Frost2, Lovina Roselle3, Mindy Pratt4 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 3 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 4Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA eXtension (pronounced E-extension) is a system-wide effort of the Cooperative Extension Service to deliver the most credible research-based knowledge to the public. The Rangeland Stewardship and Health Community of Practice (CoP) has been working on the website for about 3 years gathering related information and writing a collection of articles intended for the general public. Most of the material is short, summative articles that provide links to more detailed information and Extension publications. The public can ask questions and receive answers from experts throughout the country through the Ask an Expert (AaE) feature of the site. Answers are also archived in a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) database that is always available. Experts are encouraged to search the database for answers to questions before creating a new answer. The current Rangeland Stewardship and Health CoP has 61 experts from around the U.S. During this symposium, we will demonstrate how the site works and will be available to help you either become part of the CoP or answer questions as you look through the site. Participants in the workshop will be given hands-on opportunities to try out the Rangeland Stewardship and Health eXtension website. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0074 Mechanically shredding Utah juniper and soil characteristics Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Kert Young, Bruce Roundy Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Juniper species are increasing dominance on thousands of hectares of sagebrush steppe. In absence of fire, juniper cover and density increase thereby decreasing understory vegetation while increasing canopy fuel loads and the potential for catastrophic wildfire. To reduce canopy fuel loads, the Bureau of Land Management is mechanically shredding Utah juniper on hundreds of hectares annually in Utah. Juniper is shredded by a large rotating drum with hardened spikes that is mounted on a large articulating tractor. To determine the effects of shredding on soil characteristics related to understory plant response, trees were shredded or left intact at 3 locations in Utah. Shredding juniper leaves patches of fuel over preexisting canopy litter and interspace soil. Annual soil samples were collected from the top 2-cm of bare interspace soil and under juniper canopy litter in both shredded and unshredded treatments and under shredded juniper fuels in the shredded treatment. PRS probes, exchanged at four month intervals, were used to quantify soil nitrogen supply rate. Total soil carbon, nitrogen, and organic matter were measured each summer. Soil moisture and temperature were measured continuously using data loggers, thermocouples, and gypsum blocks. Preliminary results suggest that mechanically shredding juniper increased soil nitrogen availability and wet degree days, which is the sum of daily average temperatures above 0 °C when the soil is wet (> -1.5 MPa). These preliminary results suggest that plant vigor will increase following mechanical shredding of juniper in comparison with untreated juniper dominated areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0075 Incorporating Technology in Plant Materials Collecting Tasks Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Scott Jensen1, Jason Stettler2 1 USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station GSD, Provo, UT, USA, 2Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Great Basin Research Station, Ephraim, UT, USA Bringing natives into agronomic production for seed increase is a multi step process involving at a minimum, species selection, seed collection from native stands and commercial grow out. Both private and public entities employ seed collecting teams to identify native populations of target species and harvest seed from those sources. While both the geographic extent and number of species targeted varies considerably between entities, incorporating modern technology into the seed collecting process can streamline data entry, make data management more efficient, offer GPS-enabled field navigation, and incorporate electronic dichotomous keys with plant photographs for aids to identification, all the while making information readily accessible and transferable. We have found a GPS connected laptop computer simultaneously running mobile mapping software, an interactive queryable database, and an electronic dichotomous key an efficient combination for field use. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0076 LIGHT INTERCEPTION BY ROTATIONALLY-GRAZED ORCHARDGRASS (DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L.) CANOPIES Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Glenn Shewmaker, Laura Hooper University of Idaho, Kimberly, ID, USA Grass farmers are in the energy business, thus good management of the solar panels on the forage plants is essential to be profitable. The growth rate will be maximized when 95 percent of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is intercepted by the plant canopy. We sampled several rotationally-grazed irrigated pastures over two years and measured PAR, sward mass and canopy height. The sward canopy closes in a logarithmic function of height or mass in irrigated orchard grass in mediumdensity stands. At a 13 cm canopy, 969 μmol/(m2•s) PAR are intercepted and at a 25 cm canopy, 1,284 μmol/(m2•s) PAR are intercepted. This study indicates that doubling the canopy height from 13 to 25 cm will increase the PAR intercepted by 33%. It is very evident that grazing closer than 10 cm drastically reduces PAR interception, which means that regrowth energy must come from a higher proportion of stored energy in the crown. Grazing closer than 10 cm also removes more herbage mass and thus the stored energy. In contrast, above 25 cm of canopy the rate increase of PAR interception per cm of canopy height is low, and if measured to flowering would begin to decline through senescence. For irrigated pasture that is grazed multiple times per season, this study reaffirms the concepts of leaving enough photosynthetic capacity in grazed plants to quickly restore net photosynthesis to optimum. For orchardgrass in our environment we recommend leaving a stubble height of at least 10 cm. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0077 Plant Materials: Bridging the Great Divide between Cultivars and Local Sources with Pooled Materials from Provisional Seed Zones. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Scott Jensen1, Jason Stettler2 1 USDA FS RMRS GSD, Provo, UT, USA, 2Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources, Great Basin Research Center, Ephraim, UT, USA The historic model of cultivar improvement where one to several cultivars of a given species is developed for use across its distribution, while still common today is meeting head-on with the local is best concept. As the body of scientific evidence that supports the ideology of pairing local plant materials sources to local restoration projects has increased so has the demand for more sources of both workhorse and niche species. Defining the geographical extent of what local means in a plant ecological context, or seed zone, then developing both the appropriate number of sources and simultaneously the market to support that number of sources is an expensive, time-consuming task. While this process of seed zone development is under way an intermediary step of pooling source materials from within provisional seed zones may be an acceptable approach that offers elements of both the cultivar improvement and local source concepts. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0078 Brush Management Effects on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Sagebrush-Dominated Rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Ecological Sites and Thresholds Author's preference: Poster Justin Derner1, George Vance2, Gerald (Jerry) Schuman1, Ronald Follett3 1 USDA-ARS, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 2University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 3USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO, USA Scientific information regarding soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in western rangelands, especially those with a sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) component and in lower rainfall areas (<350 mm), remains a major knowledge gap in understanding the effects of land management. We sampled soils from two contrasting ecological sites (Sandy with 175-225 mm precipitation and Loamy with 250-350 mm precipitation) in southwestern Wyoming with paired sets of brush management treatments. For the Sandy ecological site, we sampled a control site dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis) compared to a 2002 mowed site with a native cool-season understory of rhizomatous wheatgrasses. At the Loamy ecological site, we compared control sites dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush to sites that were: a) mowed in 1997 and b) herbicided with Spike® 20P (tebuthiuron) in 1997. Both brush treatment sites contained a native cool-season understory of rhizomatous wheatgrasses. Soil samples were collected to 60 cm depth in May 2009 from two randomly located 50 m transects at each sampling site. The brush treatment of mowing did not affect the SOC at either ecological site. However, herbicide application in 1997 at the Loamy ecological site increased the SOC in both the 0-5 (42.6% increase) and 5-15 (16.8% increase) cm depth increments. Although application of brush treatments in sagebrush-dominated rangelands can markedly affect vegetation responses, only the herbicide application treatment enhanced the SOC response. Our findings provide evidence that these arid rangelands have the capacity to sequester SOC in response to vegetation manipulation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0079 Measurement of Vegetation using Smartphone Technologies Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Alex J. Pearson1, Bechir Hamdaoui1, Mounir Louhaichi2, Michael D. Johnson3, Douglas E. Johnson4 1 College of Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, 3 Dept. of Physics, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, 4Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA Cell phone technology has developed rapidly over the last 15 years as a result of faster processing with more memory, better screen resolution, embedded GPS, improved cameras, better software, and greater connectivity. Smartphones now function like computers which opens new possibilities for ecosystem and vegetation monitoring. The objective of our project was to design, build, and test proto-type software for vegetation measurement using a Smartphone platform with the Android® operating system. Our protocol uses vertically downward digital images of vegetation taken in the field. When each image is taken the Smartphone obtains the location from the phone's internal GPS, classifies pixels in the image as representing green vegetation or not by using a RGB ratio process with a threshold, stores the geotagged original image and processed image, and saves an information file with the results of the analysis. The information file, which has the same name as the original photograph, contains: longitude, latitude, elevation, date, time, image name, threshold value, and percentage of green leaf coverage. All information collected during a photo-shoot is stored in a folder identified using a date/time naming convention, so information is readily identifiable. Our Smartphone can take and process an 8 Mega-pixel image in several seconds resulting in true "on-the-fly" data collection. Because our phone can be mounted as an external hard drive, transfer of collected information to desk top systems is quick and easy. Because of the internet connectivity of the Smartphone, information can also be transferred via the web. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0080 Differential Relationships of Livestock Production and Seasonal Precipitation for Three Grazing Intensities in Shortgrass Steppe Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Justin Derner1, David Augustine1, Daniel Milchunas2 1 USDA-ARS, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Long-term experiments have substantial utility for determining relationships of livestock weight gains to seasonal precipitation which can provide valuable understanding pertinent to the potential consequences of climate variability. A long-term (1939-2008, 70 years) data record of yearling Hereford heifer weights grazing at light (20%), moderate (40%) and heavy (60%) grazing intensities from pastures grazed MayOctober is available from the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range, in north-central Colorado for the shortgrass steppe. Beef production (kg/ha) data was regressed against: 1) warm-season precipitation (May-September), 2) cool-season precipitation (October-April), 3) previous year's precipitation (October - September 1 of prior year), and 4) previous two year's precipitation. Warm-season precipitation and previous two year's precipitation influenced beef production for light grazing, previous year's precipitation was the main influence on beef production with moderate grazing, and cool-season precipitation and previous year's precipitation influenced beef production with heavy grazing. Implications for land managers include incorporation of these relationships between seasonal precipitation and livestock gains into modeling efforts that would enhance strategic planning and reduce risk in highly variable environments to improve sustainability of livestock production systems. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0081 A proto-type laser/optical system for measurement of vegetation height and cover in quadrats Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Joseph M. Kleinhenz1, Sara C. Norman2, Patrick E. Clark3, Mounir Louhaichi4, Robert M. Johnson1, Norman R. Harris5, Douglas E. Johnson1 1 Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA, 2Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 3USDA Agricultural Research Service, Boise, Idaho, USA, 4ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, 5 University of Alaska, Palmer, Alaska, USA Vegetation monitoring is essential if scientists and managers are to effectively evaluate and direct ecosystem dynamics. Two important variables measured are cover and height of both vegetation and litter because of their relationship to phytomass, growth, forage utilization, soil protection from raindrop impact, soil erosion, water infiltration, and moderation of the thermal micro-environment. Unfortunately, many commonly employed measurement techniques are expensive and time consuming or are subjective. In an attempt to automate and quantify the monitoring process, we constructed and evaluated a proto-type system based on laser and optical digital technologies. The height profile of two plants each of 6 species was measured using a Leica Disto® A6 distance meter in the laboratory by measuring distance from a fixed plane above the specimen. Two passes at right angles to one another were done with measurements taken at 1 cm intervals along each pass. Distance from the meter to the plant or ground was calculated and converted to plant height. The Leica Disto® A6 is generally accurate within 1.5 mm up to 200 m on solid objects but plant leaves often only partially intercept the beam. Plants were also sampled by photographing from two sides and directly downward with a Canon® XSi Digital Camera set at a fixed distance from the subject. Images were scaled using a ruler in the image and converted to spatially explicit format. After laser and photographic sampling plants were harvested and above-ground phytomass calculated. Laser and photographic methods of determining cover and phytomass were compared. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0082 Feral horse research and management on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Gail Collins U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakeview, OR, USA The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) represents one of the best examples of the sagebrushsteppe ecosystem and provides critical habitat for a wide range of endemic native species. Cattle grazing was discontinued on Sheldon Refuge in the mid-1990s, however, the Refuge continues to be occupied by a large population of feral horses with observable impacts to wildlife habitats. Despite the tens of thousands of free-roaming horses that range across the Intermountain West, there is little data on how horses utilize the landscape and interact with wildlife. As a result, the Refuge offers unique research opportunities and has initiated a series of interdisciplinary cooperative efforts to examine the impacts of free-roaming horses in the absence of livestock. Current feral horse management on Sheldon Refuge also includes participation in landscape-scale population surveys and periodic gathers, through which adoption and contraceptive efforts are implemented. Future management of the Refuge's feral horse population is also discussed. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0083 Plant Community Response to Rotational Grazing in a Noxious Weed Dominated System Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Alexis Robertson1, Leslie Roche1, Josh Davy2, Dennis Nay3, Kenneth Tate1 1 Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA, 2UC Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis, California, USA, 3USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, California, USA Livestock grazing is commonly proposed to manage noxious weeds. A moderately stocked rotational cattle grazing system was introduced to control medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusa) and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) on annual rangelands at the Bureau of Land Management's Bear Creek Management Unit in central California. Our objective was to monitor grazing system effectiveness to reduce medusahead and yellow starthistle cover over a 6-year period. Herbaceous species composition was determined at eleven grazed and ungrazed paired plots in 2006 with initiation of grazing, then at 3 (2009) and 6 years (2011) of implementation. There was significant (P<0.05) reduction in medusahead cover in grazed plots relative to ungrazed plots between 2006 and 2009, but not between 2009 and 2011 (P>0.1). No differences (P>0.1) were observed for starthistle. Grazing season was fixed across years, with grazing beginning in November and ending in May. Annual precipitation and medusahead phenologic development were variable across years. The period 2006 through 2009 experienced below average precipitation and early medusahead development (Apr-May). The period 2009 through 2011 experienced above average precipitation and late medusahead development (May-Jun). The rotational grazing system was effective during years when grazing season matched the phenologic development of medusahead. Starthistle cover was not reduced, as most phenologic development occurred after cattle grazing had been removed. Plant community composition differed significantly (P< 0.05) in grazed vs ungrazed plots for 2009 and 2011. Grazing systems should be adaptively implemented to match annual and seasonal variability in the growth and palatability of target noxious weed species. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0084 Does conservation management have to reduce productivity: Pyric-herbivory and cattle performance in grassland ecosystems. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Ryan Limb1, Samuel Fuhlendorf2, David Engle2 1 Oregon State University, La Grande, OR, USA, 2Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA Achieving economically optimum livestock production on rangelands can conflict with conservation strategies that require lower stocking rate to maintain wildlife habitat. Combining the spatial and temporal interaction of fire and grazing (pyric-herbivory) is a conservation-based approach to management that increases rangeland biodiversity by creating heterogeneous vegetation structure and composition. However, livestock production under pyric-herbivory has not been reported. In both mixed-grass prairie and tallgrass prairie, we compared livestock production in pastures with traditional fire and grazing management (continuous grazing, with periodic fire on tallgrass prairie and without fire on mixed-grass prairie) and conservation-based management (pyric-herbivory applied through patch burning) at a moderate stocking rate. Stocker cattle weight gain, calf weight gain and cow body condition score did not differ (p > 0.05) between traditional and conservation-based management at the tallgrass prairie site for the duration of the eight-year study. At the mixed-grass prairie site, stocker cattle gain did not differ in the first four years, but stocker cattle gained more (p ≤ 0.05) on conservation-based management and remained 27% greater for the duration of the eleven-year study. Moreover, variation among years in cattle performance was less on pastures under conservation management. Traditional management in mixedgrass prairie did not include fire, the process that likely was associated with increased stocker cattle performance under conservation management. We conclude that pyric-herbivory is a conservation-based rangeland management strategy that returns fire to the landscape without reduced stocking rate, deferment, or rest. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0085 The rotational grazing dilemma: does grass growth form (caespitose vs. rhizomatous) influence regrowth responses to defoliation and moisture? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Tanner Broadbent1, Edward Bork1, Walter Willms2 ,1, Janice Cooke1 1 University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada, 2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Canada Rotational grazing’s (RG) ability to enhance rangeland forage yield has been questioned. We propose grassland response to defoliation may be mediated by plant morphophysiology given caespitose, relative to rhizomatous, grass prevalence increases with aridity and aridity also selects for determinate growth. Using a 6 month greenhouse trial, we compared growth dynamics of 4 caespitose and rhizomatous grass pairs—pairs based on either phylogeny (Bromus biebersteinii vs. B. inermis, Festuca campestris vs. F. hallii) or sympatric occurrence (Hesperostipa curtiseta vs. Pascopyrum dasystachyum, H. comata vs. P. smithii)—of high-low moisture regime adaptation to investigate if caespitose grasses grow determinately and, if so, how aridity adaptation affects this. Monocultures of each species were grown in 7.5” x 18” pots in a RCB design. Factorial treatments (2 x 4) included high and low moisture and four defoliations: undefoliated control, high intensity low, and high frequency (HILF, HIHF), and low intensity high frequency (LIHF). ANOVA of accumulated aboveground yield showed that response patterns to defoliation treatments within moisture regimes did not differ between species pairs of contrasting growth form, rejecting our hypothesis of determinate growth in caespitose grasses. However, moisture regime adaptation influenced response pattern to defoliation such that any high intensity defoliation reduced yield in species of low moisture adaptation, whereas only HIHF defoliation reduced yield in Bromus species. Given that B. inermis and biebersteinii are unique among selected species because both are introduced and grazing tolerant, this suggests that low frequency but intense utilization may have greater merit in managing agronomic grasslands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0086 Hesperostipa comata and Pascopyrum smithii response to defoliation and moisture: a test of rotational grazing’s suitability in the Dry Mixedgrass prairie Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Poster Tanner Broadbent1, Edward Bork1, Walter Willms2 ,1 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Canada Rotational grazing (RG) on rangelands is a relatively recent phenomena and its merit has been questioned, particularly in arid rangelands. For RG to enhance livestock gains it must first promote forage productivity, which can only occur if defoliation increases growth rates beyond that of undefoliated plants. However, aridity selects for determinate plant growth, which in turn may inhibit rapid regrowth. Because the caespitose grass growth form is associated with aridity, we hypothesize growth response in these grasses may be more determinate than that of rhizomatous species. Assuming that tillering is indicative of grass biomass and demography responses, we tested this in the field by comparing tillering of 2 respective rhizomatous and caespitose codominant grasses of the Dry Mixedgrass prairie, Pascopyrum smithii and Hesperostipa comata. Genets of both were delineated in 50 x 50 cm permanent plots in a fully randomized design with 2 sites and 6 replicates. Factorial treatments (4 x 2) included 4 defoliation (undefoliated control, low, and high, intensity at high frequency, and high intensity at low frequency) and 2 moisture regimes (ambient and moisture addition). ANOVA showed that for P. smithii all defoliation treatments reduced final tiller densities and this effect was weakened under moisture addition. In contrast, tiller numbers in H. comata were only reduced under high intensity and high frequency defoliation combined with low moisture; thus, H. comata’s tiller response to defoliation and moisture was more determinate. This suggests RG may have limited potential to promote productivity of these grasses, even under favourable rainfall. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0087 Protocols for Sagebrush Seed Processing and Seedling Production at the Lucky Peak Nursery Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Clark Fleege USDA Forest Service, Boise, ID, USA This paper presents the production protocols currently practiced at the USDA Forest Service Lucky Peak Nursery (Boise, ID) for seed processing, and bareroot and container seedling production for three subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Seed is efficiently processed mechanically, while maintaining high viability. A Wintersteiger small-plot combine is used to achieve initial seed purity of twenty percent, and final germination percentage of ninety percent. Sagebrush seedlings reach plantable size in one growing season. Unstratified seed is sown in mid-May, irrigated liberally and harvested in mid-November for an early winter or spring outplanting. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0088 germination of red bromegrass as affected by aminocyclopyrachlor. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster John Brock, Antonio Lopez, Corey Ertl, Eddie Alford Arizona State University Polytechnic, Mesa, Arizona, USA Red bromegrass (Bromus rubens) is annual cool season species which serves as a fine fuel source for wildfires in the Sonoran Desert. It commonly germinates in November or December. In wet years red bromegrass becomes abundant. Pre-emergence herbicides can control infestations of red bromegrass. MAT 28 (aminocyclopyrachlor) was applied in a herbicide trial in the 2009 -2010 winter/spring growing season. MAT 28 was applied to seedlings about 2.5 cm in height, at rates of 1, 2, 3 and 4 oz ai/ac. MAT 28 greatly suppressed plant height but provided little mortality. Seeds of redbromegrass were collected from MAT 28 treatments and control plots in June of 2010. Seeds were stored in a dry environment at 6oC until germination trials in November of 2010. Seed lots were weighed and 25 seeds per replicate made up the germination test. Each seed treatment (herbicide rate) was replicated 3 times and the study was repeated in February of 2011. Seeds were germinated in a chamber with high humidity at room temperature (22oC). Red bromegrass seeds treated with MAT 28 at 3 and 4 oz ai/ac had 50% less seed weight compared to the control and lower herbicide rates. Percent germination, 14 days into the trial, was 75 % for the control, and 45, 59, 18 and 3 % for seeds from plots treated at 1, 2, 3 and 4 oz ai/ac, respectively. MAT 28 can reduce red bromegrass biomass and lower seed bank numbers when used in a fuels management program. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0089 Brush management in Arizona with MAT 28 (aminocyclopyrachlor). Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral John Brock Brock Habitat Restoration and Invasive Plant Management LLC, Tempe, Arizona, USA Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifilia), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), and camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) are species on which MAT 28 (aminocyclopyrachlor) and companion herbicides have been used at locations across Arizona starting in 2008. MAT 28 has been applied alone and in combination with metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron, imazapyr, and triclopyr. Imazapyr and aminopyralid are comparison standards, and all treatments are compared to untreated plots. MAT 28 and companion herbicides have produced excellent live canopy reduction (> 90 %) and good mortality (> 75 %) in most cases, which is comparable to standard treatments. Little damage from the treatments has been noted to forage grasses except in treatments with higher rates of imazapyr. Herbicide trials in 2011 - 2012 will include; desert broom (Baccharis sarathoides), wait-a-minute bush (Mimosa biuncifera), velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) and cat claw acacia (Acacia greggii). Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0090 Blueprint for Development of National Early Detection and Rapid Response Systems for Invasive Plants in the United States and Canada. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Randy G. Westbrooks1, Charles T. Bargeron2 1 Southeastern Community College, Whiteville, North Carolina, USA, 2University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia, USA Development of a U.S. National Early Detection and Rapid Response System for Invasive Plants was first proposed by the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds at its first bi-annual planning retreat in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in 1998. This collaborative approach to invasive plant prevention includes interagency coordination by State Invasive Species Councils and State EDRR Committees; detection and reporting of suspected new invaders by State Early Detection Networks of trained volunteers and agency field personnel; scientific support for plant identification and vouchering, control recommendations, and online archival of field data (U-GA Early Detection, Distribution, and Mapping System); rapid assessment of new exotic species; and rapid response to confirmed invaders. Since the National EDRR System was first proposed in 1998, the establishment of numerous state and provincial invasive species councils, as well as cooperative weed management areas and invasive plant task forces, has provided an interagency framework for this new approach to invasive species prevention. With this in mind, state and regional EDRR training workshops are being offered across the U.S. and Canada to assist state and provincial groups in developing EDRR capacity at the state/provincial and local levels. The effort is currently focused on development of State/Provincial EDRR Committees, State/Provincial EDRR Work Plans, and State/Provincial Early Detection and Reporting Networks. When fully developed, National EDRR Systems for Invasive Plants in the U.S. and Canada will provide an effective means of preventing the establishment and spread of new invasive plants across the landscape of America. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0091 Social and Institutional Constraints to Rangeland Management Innovation: The Role of Social Networks Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Poster Jacey Cerda, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA The diffusion and adoption of innovations is inherently a social process. This is true whether the innovation is a novel computer technology or the latest method for managing rangelands. Diffusion research historically focused on the rate of adoption (or non-adoption) of innovations, and found that the rate of adoption was impacted by the innovation's relative advantage, compatability, trialability, observability, and complexity. Further research determined that social networks that connect individuals and influence the flow of information between individuals are important for determining who actually adopts an innovation and when they decide to do so. Although diffusion of innovations research has a long history both inside and outside of the agricultural context, no studies have investigated the relationship and influence of social networks on the adoption and diffusion of rangeland management innovations by agency managers and ranchers. Rangeland management innovations such as adaptive management and state and transition models are considered important tools for sustainably managing rangelands. In order to implement such tools widely, it is important to determine how social networks influence and constrain the adoption of these innovations. Social networks among and between ranchers and agency managers may play a key role in determining who adopts, why, and when. This poster presents the results of a literature review and outlines a proposal for conducting research on the role of social networks in the adoption of range management innovations by ranchers and agency managers. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0092 Spatial heterogeneity and patch contrast in rangelands managed with pyric-herbivory Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Devan McGranahan1, David Engle2, Samuel Fuhlendorf2, Stephen Winter2, James Miller3, Diane Debinski1 1 Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA, 2Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA, 3 University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA Many rangelands evolved under an interactive disturbance regime in which grazers respond to the spatial pattern of fire and create a patchy, heterogeneous landscape. Several studies report that spatiallyheterogeneous fire and grazing create landscape-level vegetation heterogeneity (patch contrast) and increase rangeland biodiversity versus grazing under spatially-homogeneous fire regimes. In this metaanalysis of five experiments comparing spatially heterogeneous fire treatments to spatially homogeneous fire treatments on grazed rangeland in the North American Great Plains, we compared patch contrast across pastures managed for heterogeneity and pastures managed for homogeneity. We used a linear mixed-effect regression model that partitioned variation in vegetation structure, a measure of patch contrast. We also use a meta-analytical statistic to calculate an effect size for patch contrast at each location. Management for heterogeneity increased spatial heterogeneity in vegetation structure and increased the range of plant functional group composition at three of the five experimental locations. Plant functional group composition varied in proportion to the amount of spatial heterogeneity in vegetation structure on pastures managed for heterogeneity. Management for heterogeneity created landscape-level heterogeneity in vegetation across a broad range of precipitation and plant community types, but management for heterogeneity did not universally create patch contrast. Stocking rate and invasive plant species are key regulators of heterogeneity-based management, as they determine the influence of fire on the spatial pattern of fuel, vegetation structure and patch selectivity by large herbivores. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0093 Reproductive strategies in western aspen: sex happens Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Karen E. Mock1, Carol A. Rowe1, Richard S. Gardner1, Mary Lou Fairweather1 1 Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA, 2US Forest Service, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Aspen (Populus tremuloides) can be maintained in landscapes through both seedling establishment and suckering. In landscapes of the Intermountain West, the frequency of seedling establishment is thought to be so rare that it is negligible from a management standpoint. The resulting management strategy for regeneration and conservation of aspen in the west has been limited to coppicing to stimulate vegetative reproduction. We have conducted gridded genetic surveys of aspen in four areas of Utah, and have repeatedly found patches of extremely high genetic diversity along with the presence of large clones. Additionally, the large clones tend to be triploid, and the smaller clones tend to be diploid. In a separate study, we have documented natural aspen seedling establishment in protected pine plantations following the 2000 Pumpkin fire in Arizona. Together, our results suggest that sexual reproduction may be an important and overlooked aspect of aspen persistence in western landscapes, and we urge managers to consider the genetic diversity of aspen in restoration and management plans. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0094 Influence of post-fire soil water repellency on soil nitrogen, soil moisture, and seedling growth Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Kaitlynn Fernelius1, Matthew Madsen2 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 2USDA - Agricultural Research Service, Burns, Oregon, USA Woody vegetation in arid and semi-arid ecosystems can modify soil hydrologic and biogeochemical properties in such a way that “islands of fertility” are formed, which creates a zone around the plant with increased nutrient and soil moisture resources. After a fire, soil water repellency (WR) may alter the spatial and temporal availability of these resources and subsequently influence plant successional processes. This study was conducted to understand how WR influences soil moisture, nitrogen availability, and seedling survival. Research was conducted on plots from a previous study that were centered around burned Juniperus osteosperma trees and either left untreated or treated after the fire with a surfactant to ameliorate WR. We sampled these plots three years post-fire and found that available N was an order of magnitude higher in soil exhibiting WR, when compared to surfactant treated soil. In a follow up study we excavated soil from the untreated and treated field plots and placed it in 20·cm diameter pots. In the greenhouse each of the two soil types were either left untreated or treated with surfactant, to produce a total of four soil treatments (i.e. WR treatment, WR dissipated at seeding, WR dissipated 3 years post-fire, WR dissipated 3 years post-fire with additional surfactant treatment). Pots were seeded with either Bromus tectorum or Pseudoroegneria spicata, and watered weekly. The results of this study were used to relate how WR may control soil moisture, nitrogen availability, and subsequent revegetation success as WR severity transitions over time from severe to wettable. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0095 Fire and wildlife habitat in dry forests Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Marty Vavra1, Patricia L. Kennedy2 1 USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, La Grande, OR, USA, 2Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union, OR, USA Wildlife habitat is typically created, destroyed, and unaffected by fire. Fire is not a simple effect on habitat as fire intensity and severity, and fire return interval interact at various scales to produce diverse habitat patches across a given landscape. When fire is severe enough to impact the overstory, grasses and forbs increase and shrubs may increase or decrease. Post-burn early seral stages are often excellent foraging habitats for large ungulates and a variety of birds, small mammals and herps. Typically, ungulates use of burned areas increases as time since fire increases due to the progression of secondary succession. A decline in use could be expected as canopy closure begins to affect the understory. Ungulate use, if heavy enough, can act as a chronic disturbance interacting with the episodic disturbance of fire. However, lack of hiding cover may limit use of large burns if roads are open and human disturbance occurs. The response of other wildlife taxa to fire is species dependent, likely tied to the forest successional stage they inhabit. Many taxa respond positively to high severity fire and these are not necessarily the same species that respond positively to low severity fire. This suggests that low severity fire is not a management surrogate for the early seral conditions created by high severity fire. The varied response of taxa to fire severity and intensity makes it clear that the full range of fire-based disturbances (or their surrogates) is necessary to maintain a full complement of wildlife on the landscape. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0096 A decision support model for buffelgrass in southern Arizona Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Tracey Holcombe1, Leonardo Frid2, Aaryn Olsson3, Jeff Morisette3 1 US Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2ESSA Technologies Ltd., Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA Buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare) is invading the deserts of the southwestern United States, growing in dense stands and introducing a wildfire risk to an ecosystem not adapted to fire. We used TELSA to develop a simulation model to address this urgent issue and evaluate the potential efficacy of alternative mitigation strategies. We developed a state and transition model for buffelgrass spread and control dynamics at a workshop with ecologists and land managers in Tucson, Arizona in May, 2010. The model incorporated key aspects of buffelgrass spread and management including: inventory, treatment, and maintenance activities. We tested our model on the Santa Catalina Mountain study area just north of the city of Tucson, AZ. The model was calibrated using a spatial time series of buffelgrass spread. Other inputs to the model included a habitat suitability model and current buffelgrass distribution. We developed five simulation scenarios that included no management, management with unlimited resources, management with limited resources, and highly effective outcomes or ineffective outcomes. Our simulation results show that in the short term, management with limited resources and effective outcomes performed better than the unlimited management with ineffective outcomes. This suggests that if there is a choice to be made between allocating resources to treat more area and increasing the efficiency of treatment for a smaller area, the latter may be better. If buffelgrass patches can be effectively discovered early in the invasion process, the total area to be treated and maintained could be substantially reduced, thereby reducing fire risk. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0097 Post-fire cattle grazing in ponderosa pine forests Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Becky K. Kerns, Michelle Buonopane, Walter G. Thies, Christine Niwa USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Corvallis, OR, USA Millions of hectares of North American forests are being treated with prescribed fire to reduce fuel loads, alter forest structure, and restore native plant communities. However, cattle grazing is ubiquitous in dry forests and the consequences of post-fire cattle grazing on plant communities are not well understood. We evaluated cattle grazing effects on upland bunchgrass and Carex geyeri-dominated ponderosa pine plant communities over five growing seasons after prescribed fires (spring reburn, fall reburn, no burn). Vegetation was measured prior to a 5-year interval reburn and the subsequent exclusion of cattle, and in the second and fifth growing seasons thereafter. We found no interactions between reburning and grazing for the understory response variables. For all reburn treatments, including unburned areas, five growing seasons of cattle grazing exclusion significantly increased: 1) total vegetative cover, 2) native perennial forb cover, 3) grass stature, 4) grass flowering stem density, and 5) the cover of some shrub species and functional groups. Grazing exclusion did not strongly affect plant compositional patterns, although differences were detected. Compared to unburned areas, neither spring nor fall reburning increased perennial native species cover or richness, and reburning reduced sedge cover. Fall reburning increased cover of native colonizers, and exotic species cover and richness (largely Bromus tectorum and Cirsium vulgare). We document several potentially chronic impacts of cattle grazing in both burned and unburned areas, and show that the understory release from a long history of cattle grazing caused a greater degree of change than the initial reintroduction of fire. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0098 Restoring Natives Species: Practical experiences Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Poster Mel Asher, Jerry Benson BFI Native Seeds, Moses Lake, Washington, USA Over the last 10 years, BFI Native Seeds has participated in the restoration of over 5,000 acres of sagebrush-steppe habitat in central Washington. Successful restoration requires the control of undesirable species prior to seeding, often utilizing an aggressive, multi-step process. Perennial grass control and seedbed preparation requires 12-15 months and involves mowing, harrowing, and a chemical fallow. Planting occurs in stages; grasses are planted initially, and following one season of broadleaf weed control, forbs and shrubs are inter-seeded. In order to ensure long-term sustainability of the planting, locally native species and genetics are used to the extent practical. Ultimately, restoration success depends on understanding the ecological constraints of a given site, close monitoring, and the flexibility to adapt the plan to changing conditions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0099 Drought-Year Vegetation Does Not Respond to Conifer Removal but Does to Ungulate Exclusion Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Dave Kramer, Robert Cox Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA Expansion of pinyon-juniper (Pinus edulis and Juniperus spp.) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) has led to reductions of grass and forb communities throughout the southwest. We studied the effects of hydraulic mulching and selective logging of conifers on plant communities at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. We compared plant community composition, biomass production, species diversity, and individual density in treated and untreated exclosures and larger transects through biomass clipping, line-point intercept for cover, and the point-quarter method for tree density. Removal of pinyonjuniper species resulted in higher average species richness at one site (11.5 species per plot in the treated area, compared to 7.0 in the untreated), but not at a second site. Species richness also did not differ between ponderosa-removal and control plots in higher-altitude logged areas. Exclosures had an average of 12% more native grass cover than areas that were open to grazing wildlife, but there was no difference in cover of forbs or woody plants. Untreated areas had an average of 9% more native grass cover and 2.6% more forb cover than treated areas. These results are likely due to the disruptive nature of the mulching and logging machinery and the recent long-term drought in the region. Results of this study will help provide information about how woody plant removal and plant composition influence habitat selection by large ungulates. This will be beneficial for those who seek to maintain suitable ungulate body conditions and healthy plant communities through restoration methods. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0100 What is EBIPM and how can it help you? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Tony Svejcar USDA-ARS, Burns, Oregon, USA First the easy part, EBIPM stands for Ecologically-Based Invasive Plant Management. At its base level, EBIPM is really a framework for organizing information and making decisions about invasive species. The principles that provide the basis for this system are those associated with plant succession, thus the "ecologically based". Keep in mind that there is a great deal of information associated with rangelands and invasive species. We humans tend to make better decisions when we have a sound way to organize information about a particular topic. If we don't have a sound system for organizing and making decisions, there is a risk we miss steps and don't adequately analyze the entire range of options. One thing EBIPM can do for you is to make sure you have considered multiple options for managing invasive species before you expend time and capital. To test and refine the concept of EBIPM a multi-state project was initiated by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service program in Burns, OR. The effort involved a combination of best management practices, gap-filling research and economic analysis at five watersheds across the Great Basin. The focus was on restoring annual grass-invaded rangelands using a systematic approach that would result in decision tools which could be passed along to others in the region. The other presentations in this symposium will highlight the activities of the wide-scale EBIPM effort. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0101 Plant species composition following removal of juniper from a tallgrass prairie ecosystem: A test of successional thresholds Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Ryan Limb1, David Engle2 1 Oregon State University, La Grande, OR, USA, 2Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA Ecological thresholds represent ecological boundaries in space and time between stable states, where several potentially interacting primary processes are irreversibly changed. Woody plant encroachment is a global phenomenon where the expansion of trees and shrubs suppress native plant communities sufficient to initiate structure and species loss thresholds difficult to overcome without species augmentation. The effects of Juniperus spp. expansion into North American grasslands are well documented, however the effectiveness of juniper removal in these novel ecosystems is not well understood, particularly at various levels of encroachment. Therefore we conducted a stand-level study where we followed plant communities on 16 landscapes with juniper canopy cover gradient between zero and 77%. We removed juniper from half of the plots and compared the restored plant communities to those under intact juniper stands. Plant species richness increased the first year following juniper removal on all restored plots and by year two there was no difference between the reference and restored plots. Herbaceous biomass was slower to recover and did not increase on restored plots until year two following tree removal. Initially, species composition was increasingly dissimilar with increased juniper canopy cover from the grassland reference sites but following juniper removal composition shifted such that by year five there was minimal difference between restored sites and reference communities. Grassland restoration on highly modified landscapes can often be limited by reduced native species. However, juniper encroachment at all levels did not impose restoration thresholds and did not require seeding to achieve diverse native communities. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0102 Measuring the Potential Benefits of Using Targeted Cattle Grazing to Alter Fire Behavior Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster L.A. Varelas1, L.A. Torell1, D.W. Bailey1, L.D. Howery2, Retta Bruegger2 1 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA The severity of wildfires observed during the summer of 2011 highlighted the need to explore options in preventive fuel treatments. Because of the impacts fine fuels have on fire characteristics, moderate levels of grazing can limit impacts and economic losses to wildfire by reducing fire risk, rates of fire spread, and allowing for establishment of manageable fire barriers. We evaluated the effectiveness of using targeted cattle grazing to reduce fine fuel loads at study sites in central New Mexico and southern Arizona. Fine fuel loads were estimated before and after treatment at both sites. Potential benefits from the fuel load reduction were estimated using fire behavior models (BEHAVE Plus). Rates of fire spread and flame length were considered. The time and effort required for the targeted grazing treatments were recorded and costs were computed for the grazing treatments. At higher levels of defoliation, flame length and rate of fire spread declined. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0103 Use of "SampleFreq" to detect species frequency from very large scale aerial imagery Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral Amanda Gearhart1, D. Terrance Booth2, Kevin Sedivec3, Sam Cox4, Robert Berryman5, Christopher Schauer6 1 USDA-ARS Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR, USA, 2USDA-ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 3North Dakota State University, School of Natural Resource Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA, 4USDI-BLM, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 5 Independent Programming Consultant, Boulder, CO, USA, 6North Dakota State University, Hettinger Research Extension Center, Hettinger, ND, USA Rangeland monitoring has traditionally been accomplished by professionals using ground-based techniques. The most significant disadvantages of conventional ground-based monitoring are the inaccuracies resulting from extended sampling time relative to plant phenology, and from inadequate sample size and distribution. Remote sensing methods have long been a method of interest to complement ground-based methods. In the mixed grass prairie of the northern Great Plains, many remote sensing methods have been unsuccessful as a complement to ground-based methods due largely to the inability of the sensors to accurately discriminate between different vegetative communities. In this study, we use 1-mm ground sample distance (GSD) true color, nadir aerial imagery to describe the vegetative communities in the Grand River National Grasslands within a state-and-transition model framework. Images were acquired between 15 July and 01 August 2007. A new image-analysis software program called SampleFreq, which allows users to measure plant frequency (presence/ absence) within specified sizes of plot frames, was used to analyze the imagery (SampleFreq is not fully validated and has not been released.). SampleFreq frequency was then compared with ground frequency collected from macroplots matched to image locations. A model for linear regression analysis in SAS will use ground measurements as the dependent variable and aerial image measurements as the independent variable to determine an adjusted R² and assess the agreement between aerial and ground methods. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0104 Presence and reproductive status of Federally threatened Silene spaldingii relative to temperature and precipitation. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Laura Applegate-Heinse, Linda Hardesty, Taryn Clark Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA Silene spaldingii is a perennial forb that inhabits bunchgrass, sagebrush-steppe, and ponderosa pine communities; landscapes subject to historical land-use change and degradation. Silene spaldingii may serve as an indicator of high quality remnants of these ecosystems in the Inland Northwest USA, and is listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From year to year, Silene spaldingii may produce a basal rosette, vegetative stem, reproductive stem or remain dormant. Because of the plant's unique life cycle, relationships between Silene spaldingii and environmental variables may be important for monitoring population dynamics. In a recently discovered population in Southeast Washington State bunchgrass habitat, we recorded presence and reproductive status of 430 Silene spaldingii plants in replicated plots over three years (2009-2011). We evaluated correlations between these plant variables and temperature and precipitation patterns using regression analysis. We hypothesized that temperature and precipitation in the previous fall and current year spring determine the likelihood of a plant appearing above ground in the same year. Further distinctions between growth forms and environmental variables are also being explored. These results are important for preserving the species, understanding the natural variability of Silene spaldingii populations, and evaluating the potential for the species to serve as an indicator of management success and climate change in these ecosystems. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0105 Managing wildlife on private lands through collaboration and outreach. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Laura Applegate-Heinse1, James Huckabay2 1 Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA, 2Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA, USA Wildlife often migrate across both public and private land to meet habitat requirements. In areas of high agriculture production and development, managing wildlife habitat fragmentation, hunting, and depredation to crops is challenging. Collaboration and outreach can reduce conflicts over wildlife on private land, provide solutions for managers and land owners, and educate the public about their role. Over the last decade in the east Kittitas valley of Washington State, there have been increases in both elk depredation in hay fields and rangelands and subsequent conflict between public agency representatives and ranchers and farmers in the valley. The formation of the Big Game Management Roundtable engaged public agency representatives, private landowners, sportsmen, and wildlife advocates in collaborative wildlife management to reduce conflict and elk depredation. A case study provides insights into the benefits and challenges of collaboration and outreach. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0106 The response of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) to physical and chemical mowing and subsequent herbicide treatment. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Brad Schultz1, Earl Creech2, Kent McAdoo3 1 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Winnemucca, NV, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 3University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Elko, NV, USA Previous research has demonstrated that mechanical mowing of perennial pepperweed and applying herbicides, particularly glyphosate, on the regrowth can improve control with herbicides. Native grass-hay meadows in Nevada often are invaded with perennial pepperweed. These meadows are irrigated in the spring and either hayed in late June to mid July or left for pasture. For any number of reasons, mechanical mowing may not be possible, eliminating this management tool. Chemical mowing, defined as an herbicide treatment that kills the top growth and is followed by rapid regrowth in the same growing season, may be a viable option in areas where mechanical mowing is not possible. We compared six mowing treatments followed by five herbicide treatments (30 total treatments) and measured the response of perennial pepperweed cover, the number of perennial pepperweed stems, and perennial pepperweed rosettes. An analysis of variance found a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect of mowing, herbicide application, and their interaction on perennial pepperweed cover and stem counts. There was a significant effect of herbicide treatment on rosette counts. Chemical mowing with glyphosate or 2,4-D Ester prior to herbicide application on the regrowth resulted in better control of perennial pepperweed than physical mowing or use of a contact herbicide followed by herbicide application. The application of Chlorsulfuron (Telar®), with or without any type of mowing treatment, resulted in complete control of perennial pepperweed the growing season after treatment. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0107 Learing in Government Agencies: Bureau of Land Management, National Training Center Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Marlo Draper, Philip Cooley Bureau of Land Management- NTC, Phoenix, AZ, USA The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages about 245 million acres of public lands for multiple uses throughout the western United States and Alaska. Of this total acreage, the BLM administers livestock grazing on about 157 million acres. To manage and administer the rangeland management program, the BLM employs specialists that have some combination of technical and/or administrative responsibilities. Depending on their functions and duties, some positions are classified in a professional series and require a degree in rangeland management or closely related field while other positions do not have an education requirement. Regardless of a position's educational requirement, all BLM employees involved in the rangeland management program benefit from additional or specialized training. The BLM's National Training Center (NTC) located in Phoenix, AZ provides this benefit. The NTC does not duplicate training that can be obtained at a college or university. Instead the NTC supplements what is taught at the university by providing training that is tailored to meet BLM's need to have employees that are versed in BLM's roles, responsibilities, procedures and authorities so that they are fully capable of implementing a successful rangeland management program in concert with multiple other uses on the BLM's vast western holdings. The purpose of this presentation is to help the attendees better understand how the BLM provides continuing education for the employees responsible for managing the public lands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0108 Ecosystem Phenology on the Shortgrass Steppe Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Lynn M. Moore, William K. Lauenroth University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA Plant phenology - the seasonal timing of growth, reproduction, and senescence - can be measured from the scale of individuals to biomes. Understanding the timing of plant canopy development and how it is related to climatic variables is an important step in our understanding of how grassland ecosystems are being altered by a changing climate. In this paper we compare 2 years of plant canopy development in a dry year (2002) and an average precipitation year (2005). We used two-channel radiometers (Skye Instruments) and measured reflected radiation in the red (630 nm) and near infrared (862.5 nm) on ungrazed shortgrass steppe. We used these data to calculate a greenness index. Soil water and soil temperature were measured on site and nearby. The results showed that soil water and soil temperature individually influence the timing of green up and peak growth. We found that the interaction between soil temperature and soil water explained the most variability in the timing of green up and peak growth on the shortgrass steppe. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0109 The response of creeping wildrye (Leymus triticoides) to physical and chemical mowing, and subsequent herbicide treatment. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Brad Schultz1, Earl Creech2, Kent McAdoo3 1 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Winnemucca, NV, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 3University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Elko, NV, USA Prior to settlement, many native grass-hay meadows in Nevada were predominantly creeping wildrye (Leymus triticoides) communities but have since become invaded by perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). An important consideration of weed control is the effect of any treatment on non-target desired species. Mechanical mowing followed by herbicide application to the regrowth has been shown to improve herbicide control of perennial pepperweed. Chemical mowing of perennial pepperweed prior to herbicide application is an option in areas where mechanical mowing is not an option. We recorded the response of creeping wildrye to the combinations of six mowing treatments and five subsequent herbicide treatments (30 total treatments) to the perennial pepperweed. An analysis of variance found that mowing treatment, herbicide treatment and their interaction had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on creeping wildrye cover and vigor. Mowing treatments that included glyphosate (Roundup ProMax®) had significantly less cover from creeping wildrye, and residual plants had significantly less vigor. No mowing, and chemical mowing with 2,4-D ester or diquat (Reward®, a contact herbicide) had similar amounts of creeping wildrye cover and vigor. Following mowing, herbicide treatment with 2,4-D ester or chlorsulfuron (Telar®) resulted in significantly more cover of creeping wildrye and plants with higher vigor. Mowing treatments (including control) that included mechanical mowing, 2,4-D ester or a contact herbicide, with subsequent application of 2,4-D ester or chlorsulfuron to the perennial pepperweed regrowth, had the highest cover of creeping wildrye. Any treatment combination with glyphosate reduced creeping wildrye cover and vigor. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0110 The response of five fall-seeded grass species and Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens) to fall tillage and herbicide application. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Brad Schultz1, Earl Creech2, Vanelle Petersen3 1 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Winnemucca, NV, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 3Dow AgroSciences, California, USA Russian knapweed is a widespread noxious weed in native grass-hay meadows and pastures in Northern Nevada. Successful control of Russian knapweed requires increasing the density of desired perennial grasses that can competitively exclude the re-establishment of the knapweed following control treatments. Many sites are complete or nearly complete knapweed monocultures that must be reseeded. This study seeded five perennial grass species into tilled and non-tilled stands of Russian knapweed and subsequently treated the site with six herbicide treatments. All treatments occurred on the same day in November 2009, after the above-ground portion of the Russian knapweed was completely dormant. An analysis of variance found that tillage, herbicide treatment and grass species all had significant (P ≤ 0.10) effects on seedling density, but interactions were not significant. The latter result probably was due to high variability for seedling density and only four replicates per treatment. Tilled sites had significantly more seedlings and sites treated with picloram (TordonTM 22K) significantly fewer seedlings. Siberian wheatgrass had a significantly higher density than all other species and basin wildrye the lowest density. Tillage did not result in significantly better knapweed control. Tilled and non-tilled sites had 62% and 58% reductions in knapweed respectively. There was a significant difference in herbicide treatments. Plots treated with aminocyclopyracholor (MAT28) at 4 oz product/ac had 90% knapweed control. Aminopyralid (MilestoneTM) at 7oz product/ac had 77% knapweed control but only 52% control at 3 oz product/ac. Picloram applied at 32 oz product/ac also had 52% control. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0111 A naturally occurring seed pathogen eliminates the cheatgrass carryover seed bank in the field Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Julie Beckstead1, Susan Meyer2, Phil Allen3 1 Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT, USA, 3Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA A major obstacle to seeding success with native species as part of post-burn rehabilitation in arid shrubland ecosystems is competition from exotic annual brome grasses such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). One problem with current control methods of Bromus is that they do little or nothing to eliminate ungerminated Bromus seeds that carry over in the seed bank. In this study, we investigated the potential for the naturally occurring seed pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda as a biocontrol tool to eliminate the Bromus residual seed bank. In field experiments, we determined the effectiveness of this pathogen as a biocontrol organism, alone and in combination with other control measures. We also evaluated risks to non-target organisms, including seeded species. Our results showed that application of laboratory-produced bulk inoculum of P. semeniperda reduced the proportion of viable seeds and increased the proportion of killed seeds in the potential carryover seed bank. At the highest loads, kill proportion averaged 89%, which represented a mean increase of 35% over background disease levels, which averaged 54%. The kill proportion reached 100% in some treatment combinations. When uninoculated native grass seeds were planted into field-collected seed-zone samples from field inoculation experiments, native species were able to emerge to high percentages in samples from inoculated as well as control plots (86-97% emergence in inoculated samples, 96-98% in control samples). This study indicates that using the naturally occurring seed pathogen P. semeniperda as a biological control holds promise as a tool that land managers need in order to combat annual bromes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0112 Planting seedlings to regenerate critical shrub components in shrub-steppe; a viable tool for land managers Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Heidi Newsome U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Burbank, WA, USA The Hanford Reach National Monument was established in June 2000, in part to preserve one of the last large expanses of shrub-steppe desert once common in the Columbia River Basin. However, preservation of the area has not eliminated the threats to this ecosystem. Repeated wildfires and the pervasive presence of non-native plants have combined to impact the quality and functionality of the land as wildlife habitat. Efforts to assess the impacts from wildfires and to stabilize and rehabilitate burned areas have been conducted. Treatments to revegetate portions of the burned areas have included aerially seeding sagebrush and planting bareroot and container-grown (tubling) native shrub seedlings. Seeded sagebrush was evaluated for emergence and establishment. Planted shrubs were evaluated for survival based on stock type and treatment. Planting success was also reviewed in relation to treatment and environmental variables. Statistically no sagebrush was established from aerial seeding, but was established from ground broadcast seeding. Planted bareroot sagebrush without added mycorrhizae generally had the greatest survival, followed by tublings. Bareroot sagebrush with added mycorrhizae generally had the lowest survival. Amount and timing of seasonal precipitation also impacted sagebrush survival. Planting tube-grown or bare-root seedlings appears to be a viable method for restoring critical shrub components to shrub-steppe habitats. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0113 Effects of Stocking and Supplementation Rates on Cattle Performance and Return When Grazing Mixed-Grass Prairie in Northwest Oklahoma Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Stacey Gunter1, Rob Hogan2 1 USDA-ARS, Southern Plains Range Research Station, Woodward, OK, USA, 2Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, Fort Stockton, TX, USA Grasslands including sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) inhabit approximately 6 million ha of the Central Plains. Research objectives were to determine the effects of stocking and supplementation rates on cattle performance and returns. The treatments had a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement; the first factor was initial stocking rate (body weight [BW] = 221 ± 1.2 kg) at 30, 33, or 39 animal-unit-d (AUD)/ha annually. The second factor was supplementation rate with steers fed a 41% crude protein supplement at 0.9 or 1.4 kg/d. Grazing started in January and lasted 89 d. Economic performance of supplementation was evaluated on marginal value of versus marginal cost of gain; for stocking rate, it was analyzed on dollars of net revenue/ha. Standing herbage (kg/ha) at initial stocking (718 ± 206) and the end (716 ± 192) did not (P ≥ 0.27) differ by treatments. Average daily gain (ADG; kg) and ending BW (kg) interacted (P < 0.09) by treatments. At 0.9 kg/d, stocking rate had a quadratic (P < 0.01) effect on ADG and ending BW (0.43, 0.57, or 0.47 and 261, 269, or 261, respectively). At 1.4 kg/d, stocking rate did not affect (P > 0.10) ADG or ending BW (0.56, 0.53, or 0.51 and 269, 269, or 267, respectively). BW gain/ha (kg) at 0.9 kg/d had a quadratic (P < 0.01) effect (24, 32, or 32, respectively). However, at 1.4 kg/d, stocking rate had a linear (P < 0.01) effect on BW gain/ha (29, 31, or 35, respectively). On this prairie type, the effect of stocking rate was dependent on supplementation rate. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0114 Deriving Shrub Heights from High Resolution Stereo-Pair Aerial Imagery: An Application for Broad-Scale Rangeland Monitoring Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Jeffrey Gillan1, Jason Karl1, Michael Duniway2 1 Jornada Experimental Range, USDA-ARS, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, 2Canyonlands Research Station, USGS-BRD, Moab, Utah, USA Vertical vegetation structure in rangeland ecosystems can be a valuable indicator for monitoring rangeland health or progress toward management objectives because of its importance for assessing riparian areas, post-fire recovery, wind erosion, and wildlife habitat. Federal land management agencies are directed to monitor and manage rangelands at landscapes scales, but traditional field methods for measuring vegetation heights are often too costly and time consuming to apply at these broad scales. Emerging remote sensing techniques (e.g., LiDAR or synthetic aperture radar) are too expensive, require specialized sensors, or are not of high enough resolution for broad-scale application. An alternative remote sensing approach is to measure vegetation heights from digital stereo aerial photographs. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and accuracy of estimating shrub heights from highresolution (HR, 3-cm ground sampling distance) digital stereo-pair aerial images. Overlapping HR imagery was taken in March 2009 near Lake Mead National Recreation Area and 5 cm resolution digital 2 terrain models (DTMs) were created for five 2,500 m test plots. Average shrub heights from the DTMs were compared to field measurements from the test plots, yielding results suggesting this technique has potential for estimating shrub heights. However, compared to typical field methods, average shrub heights from the DTMs were consistently underestimated because the resolution of the imagery was not able to capture fine branches measured in the field. Through the use of statistically derived correction factors, though, vegetation heights from HR DTMs could be a valuable technique for broad-scale rangeland monitoring needs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0115 Attracting High School Students to Rangeland Careers -- The Western National Rangeland Career Development Event Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Lovina Roselle1, Karen Launchbaugh1, Kelly Crane1, Gretchen Hyde2, Mindy Pratt3, Tracy Shane4 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA, 2Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission, Emmett, Idaho, USA, 3Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA, 4Great Basin College, Elko, Nevada, USA Several actions are urgently needed to increase the number of rangeland professionals ready to enter the workforce. Connecting youth with rangeland professionals is a solid pathway for attracting students to career opportunities on the range and one potential approach to meeting this demand. The National FFA Organization offers Career Development Events (CDEs) that have been attracting students to agricultural courses and connecting students with career opportunities for decades. Education and rangeland professionals from across Idaho, Nevada, and Utah have partnered to develop a new western regional CDE that focuses on the challenges facing rangeland managers west of the Rocky Mountains. This Western National Rangeland CDE has a contemporary field component with five categories: 1) plant identification and ecological site description, 2) rangeland management, 3) habitat evaluation for domestic grazers, 4) habitat evaluation for wildlife, and 5) stocking rate and management recommendations. Students also participate in rangeland career exploration activities involving direct interaction with professionals from several natural resource management agencies and organizations. Information about rangeland degree programs offered by western universities is also available to inform the college-bound students about academic opportunities. The Western National Rangeland event has now been held in Idaho, Nevada, and Utah and influenced hundreds of students and teachers. By creating partnerships among western states and building a high school rangeland curriculum, our project is creating momentum to sustain a qualified workforce to care for our rangelands into the future. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0116 Are cheatgrass die-offs in the Great Basin an opportunity for long-term control? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Susan Meyer US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Provo, UT, USA Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive annual grass that forms extensive monocultures on tens of millions of hectares of western rangeland. A poorly studied phenomenon in cheatgrass monocultures is the sporadic but widespread occurrence of 'die-off' or stand failure, where for at least one year there is a complete absence of plants and seed production in an area that was previously dominated by cheatgrass. How quickly cheatgrass reestablishes in the years following a die-off depends on the size of the carryover seed bank, the status of the seed bed microenvironment, and possible persistent effects of the die-off causal agent. These factors also influence whether die-offs represent opportunities for restoration seeding. While die-offs are known to have multiple causes, we are testing the hypothesis that cheatgrass stand failure is caused by soilborne pathogens. We have preliminary evidence that pathogenic Fusarium species found in cheatgrass-dominated soils can kill germinating cheatgrass seeds. These pathogens appear to cause higher mortality under conditions of water stress that slow seed germination. This suggests that the 'perfect storm' for complete stand failure may happen only in years with specific patterns of early season precipitation that set up the conditions for epidemic disease. If these pathogens are endemic to rangeland soils and only become epidemic in years with unusual precipitation patterns, it may be possible to seed native species the year following a die-off with low risk of pathogen-caused negative effects. Reestablishing diverse native communities in formerly cheatgrass-dominated areas is the best hope for long-term cheatgrass control. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0117 Fire and nitrogen effects on purple threeawn-invaded plant communities. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Oral Dustin J. Strong1 ,2, Lance T. Vermeire1, Amy C. Ganguli1 1 USDA-ARS-Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT, USA, 2North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea) is a native grass capable of rapidly increasing on rangelands, forming near monocultures, and arresting ecological succession. Productive rangelands throughout the Great Plains and Intermountain West have experienced increases in purple threeawn abundance, leading to reductions in overall forage quality as well as suitable wildlife habitat. Our objectives were to: 1) examine prescribed fire and nitrogen additions as successional stimulants on purple threeawn invaded landscapes, and 2) reveal vegetation management strategies appropriate for reducing purple threeawn. Season of fire (summer, fall) and different levels of nitrogen (0, 46 and 80 kg N/ha) were factorially arranged and tested in a completely randomized design on a sandy ecological site in southeastern Montana. We assessed biomass, cover, and plant diversity in July 2010 and at peak biomass of the first growing season following treatment, July 2011. Summer and fall prescribed fire reduced purple threeawn biomass by 92% and 73%, respectively. Fire decreased annual grass biomass and total biomass across seasons of fire. Nitrogen did not affect purple threeawn biomass. Cool-season perennial grass biomass more than doubled with nitrogen additions, but was not affected by fire. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) replaced purple threeawn as the dominant perennial grass in the plant community. Fire reduced species richness. Additional time is required to determine how prescribed fire and nitrogen additions have affected succession in this plant community. Our preliminary results indicate prescribed fire, particularly during the summer, is an effective management strategy for reducing purple threeawn dominance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0118 Evaluating post-fire seeding techniques on soil erosion in the Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Beth A. Newingham1, Amy C. Ganguli2 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 2North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA Post-fire rehabilitation focuses on stabilizing and rehabilitating ecosystems after fire. In the Great Basin, seed drills are used to stabilize soil and re-establish perennial vegetation in these desert ecosystems. While seed drilling is intended to stabilize soils via vegetation recovery, it is possible tilling directly destabilizes soil and creates erosion problems. We examined the effects of two different seed drills (rangeland and minimum-till drill) on soil erosion. We measured soil microtopography, stability, and dust flux in unburned and burned plus treated plots. Treatments included the two seed drills and different seeding rates. Microtopography was significantly higher in the rangeland plots compared to unburned and burned + minimum-tilled plots. This variation in surface relief decreased over time but spiked again indicating soil movement throughout the year and a half post-fire. Soil stability was significantly lower in burned areas but was not affected by different seed drills or seeding rates. Dust flux rates were 10-40 times higher in burned plots but were not significantly different among seed drills or seeding rates. Dust 2 flux substantially decreased one year after fire with peak dust flux rates approximately 400-700 g/m /day. Our results indicate that fire dramatically increases wind erosion in these dryland ecosystems during the first year post-fire. While seed drills differentially affected microtopography, there was no detectable effect on soil stability or dust flux. Further studies are needed to tease out effects of seed drills on wind erosion on different soil types. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0119 Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Smooth Bromegrass Pasture under Nitrogen Fertilizer and Bovine Urine Application in Eastern Nebraska Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Laura Snell1, John Guretzky1, Virginia Jin2, Rhae Drijber1, Martha Mamo1 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas primarily produced in soils by denitrifying and nitrifying organisms. In terms of global warming potential (GWP), N2O has 310 times the GWP of carbon dioxide (CO2). Atmospheric N2O concentrations have increased by 18% since the industrial revolution with agricultural soils responsible for 70% of emissions in the United States. Tracking N2O emissions in the United States prepares the country for future legislation and carbon budgeting. Although the measurement of N2O has become more focused in the last 20 years, little data has been collected in managed pasture ecosystems. This study focused on the production of N2O in smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures in eastern Nebraska. Thirty smooth brome plots (5m x 5m) were treated with five different fertilizer treatments (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg/ha) and two urine treatments (urine and no urine). N2O emissions were recorded biweekly from March to October using the Hutchinson and Mosier (1981) vented chamber method. Preliminary findings revealed a significant interaction between Nitrogen fertilizer rate (p < 0.005), urine application (p < 0.001), and sampling date (p < 0.0001). Both N and urine treatments resulted in higher N2O emissions compared to control plots. This study found ideal conditions for denitrifying and nitrifying activity occurred in soil at 15.5oC with 55% soil moisture which resulted in N2O emissions up to 297.22 ng N/cm2/h. This research indicated higher N2O emissions than cited in previous studies and significant daily losses raise questions about timing of sampling and further research. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0120 Weed Biocontrol: Future Organism Introductions in the Pacific Northwest Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Gary Piper Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA Washington landowners have long battled a multitude of invasive plant species. The current clamor for a "pollutant-free" environment has brought close public and legislative scrutiny of many herbicides and this has spurred the increased utilization of biological control. Biocontrol is the intentional employment of nonindigenous insects, mites, nematodes, and plant pathogens to suppress exotic plant populations. This management technique is ideally suited for use in non-cropland against monopolistic stands of introduced herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial weeds growing in relatively undisturbed habitats. Attempts to biologically control weeds in Washington date back to 1948 when the foliage-feeding beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina and C. hyperici were introduced for the management of St. Johnswort, Hypericum perforatum. Since then, a total of 74 natural enemies have been intentionally or accidentally introduced against 31 weed species. Complete or substantial control has been achieved for 71% of the targeted weeds. Unfortunately, in recent years the number of new bioagent introductions into the Pacific Northwest has slowed appreciably due to increased federal government scrutiny of organism safety, legislation impacting international movement/ownership issues of potential natural enemies, and reductions in research personnel and funding levels. Nevertheless, research has continued on the importation of additional host-specific plant phytophages. Information on several new arthropod species that are under consideration for release against Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria genistifolia), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) is presented. In the future, these new agent introductions will lead to an enhanced and documentable diminution of weed occupancy in non-cropland areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0121 Fall and winter forage characteristics of 15 perennial range grass species Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Poster Kevin Jensen1, Justin Derner2, Jack Staub1, Craig Rigby1, Blair Waldron1 1 USDA-ARS-Forage and Range Research Lab, Logan, UT, USA, 2USDA-ARS-High Plains Grassland Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA Forage availability and the required habitat for optimal livestock and wildlife production are often lacking at critical periods, particularly during the late fall and winter months. Harvesting and feeding stored forages during winter can account for as much as 70% of total livestock production costs in western North America, substantially reducing profit margins of livestock operations. The objectives of our study were to evaluate DM yield in early spring (May), regrowth (October), and stockpiled forage (October) and associated CP and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of 15 perennial range grasses (27 entries) at Cheyenne, WY in 2011. Species included were crested and Siberian wheatgrass (WG), tall WG, intermediate WG, RS-hybrid WG, bluebunch WG, slender WG, Snake River WG, thickspike WG, Western WG, Altai wildrye (WR), Russian WR, meadow and smooth bromegrass, and two mixtures. Crested WG (Hycrest II) significantly out yielded all other species at 1.3 kg plot-1 for spring growth followed by Siberian WG (Vavilov II) at 0.9 kg plot-1 and meadow bromegrass (breeding line) at 0.8 kg plot-1. With the exception of ‘FirstStrike' slender WG which produced 0.7 kg plot-1 dry matter, all other native range grasses produced less than 0.3 kg plot-1. Two years after establishment, stand frequencies ranged from 98% stand in Russian WR (Bozoisky II) to 63% in bluebunch WG (Anatone). Dry matter yield for regrowth and stockpiled forage with associated CP and NDF values will be reported. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0122 Linking ecological principles to management tools Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Roger Sheley USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA It is becoming increasingly clear that integrating various types of ecological models into an overall framework has great promise for assisting decision-making in invasive plant management and restoration. To create less complex and more useful models, our understanding of the mechanisms and processes directing plant community change must be complete enough to create ecological principles on which managers can base their decisions. Ecological principles are synthesized from the body of scientific knowledge about the ecological processes directing successional dynamics. In this form, the knowledge is framed in a manner useful to managers. When this occurs, managers can consider multiple ecological mechanisms and processes simultaneously, which is critical because a suite of complex factors generally interact to create successional patterns, and multiple factors will need amending to direct positive plant community trajectories. Like most evolved fields of study, ecological restoration and invasive plant science must focus on developing ecological principles, which will emerge from recognition of patterns in vegetation change in response to process manipulations. Overcoming barriers to adoption of ecologically-based invasive plant management will require developing principles and integrating them into a useful format so land managers can easily understand the linkages among ecological processes, vegetation dynamics, management practices, and assessment. This model, in a stepwise format, integrates assessment and adaptive management with process-based principles that provide management guidance to successfully apply tools and techniques. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0123 Is Artificial Seeding Needed After Roller Chopping Mixed-Brush Plant Communities? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Felix Ayala-A.1 ,2, J. Alfonso Ortega-S.2, Timothy E. Fulbright2, G. Allen Rasmussen2, D. Lynn Drawe3 1 Universidad de Sonora, Santa Ana, Sonora, Mexico, 2Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas, USA, 3Former Director of The Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sinton, Texas, USA Reseeding is commonly done following mechanical brush clearings. Our objectives were to determine if reseeding is required following roller chopping in south Texas mixed-brush communities to reestablish herbaceous plant vegetation; and if seeding a native plant mixture reduces ingress of exotic grasses following roller chopping. The study was conducted on three locations in south Texas. Study sites were selected along an annual precipitation gradient ranging from 550 mm to 920 mm. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were roller chopping, roller chopping plus sowing a native plant seed mix, and control. Response variables were analyzed separately for repeated measures. There was no evidence to suggest that seeding native species after roller chopping increased the canopy cover of herbaceous vegetation in comparison to only roller chopping. The mechanical brush management practice of roller chopping by itself is enough to reestablish herbaceous vegetation canopy cover; the species of grass or forb that will cover the ground after the disturbance will depend on the composition of the original herbaceous vegetation. Our results indicate that reseeding is not necessary after roller chopping to re-establish or increase herbaceous vegetation cover in south Texas regardless of the precipitation regime. Invasion of exotic grasses was not reduced by seeding native plants and it was higher as precipitation increased. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0124 Effect of Seed Scarification and Seeding Depth on Greenhouse Seedling Emergence in Western Prairie Clover, Searls Prairie Clover, and Basalt Milkvetch Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Douglas A. Johnson, B. Shaun Bushman, Thomas A. Jones, Kevin J. Connors USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab, Logan, UT, USA Only a few North American legumes are commercially available for rangeland revegetation in the western U.S. Basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes, Asfi), western prairie clover (Dalea ornata, Daor) and Searls prairie clover (D. searlsiae, Dase) are three North American legumes that hold promise for use in rangeland revegetation/restoration. Hardseededness is a common feature in legume species that can limit initial, uniform germination and subsequent seedling establishment. However, no information is available concerning hardseededness in these three legumes and how scarification by acid or sandpaper affects the germination and early seedling establishment of these three species. Seeds of the three species were scarified for 5 min. in concentrated sulfuric acid, scarified by sandpaper, or given no treatment. Seeds of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) and Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) were used as checks. Seeds were planted at 0.6 or 1.9 cm depth in a sandy loam soil in a greenhouse using four replications and a randomized complete block design. Two trials were conducted. Results showed that scarification greatly improved seedling emergence in Daor and Dase, but less so for Asfi. Seedlings emerged slightly better with acid-scarification than scarification by sandpaper. Also, seedlings of Daor and Dase emerged nearly the same at a 0.6- or 1.9-cm soil depth. These results suggest that scarification is necessary to maximize germination in Daor and Dase and that planting at depths up to 1.9 cm is possible in sandy loam soils. These greenhouse results will be used to design field establishment trials with these three species. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0125 Atmospheric nitrogen deposition affects harvester ants in the Colorado Desert, California Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Benjamin Wissinger, Beth Newingham University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA Nitrogen deposition via airborne pollution has been shown to alter soil biogeochemical processes and plant communities in various ecosystems. However, little is known of how changes in these processes may affect higher trophic levels. Building upon previous research which revealed an atmospheric nitrogen deposition gradient from the San Bernardino Mountains through Joshua Tree National Park, we investigated the effects of increased nitrogen on plants and Messor pergandei harvester ants, which rely on plants for seed. We measured ant colony attributes, including nest density, nest dimensions, and the number of abandoned nests near active colonies, as well as shrub fruit densities, at eighteen sites along the deposition gradient in the Colorado Desert. We predicted N deposition to increase seed production and thus ant nests along the deposition gradient. Ant nest density (R2 = 0.19; p = 0.04), Larrea tridentata fruits (R2 = 0.43; p = 0.002), and Ambrosia dumosa fruits (R2 = 0.49; p = 0.03) increased from low deposition to high deposition sites across the gradient. In addition, ant nest diameter (R2 = 0.54; p < 0.001), ant nest height (R2 = 0.39; p = 0.003), and abandoned nests (R2 = 0.24; p = 0.02) decreased as deposition increased. These results suggest that N deposition increases food availability for ants resulting in new colonization in areas of high deposition. Considering that deserts are nitrogen limited, our results indicate that altered nitrogen inputs may result in cascading effects through trophic levels. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0126 Assessing Greater Sage-Grouse Breeding Habitat with Aerial and Ground Imagery Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Jeffrey Beck1, Terrance Booth2, Carmen Kennedy2 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2USDA-ARS, High Plains Grassland Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA Agricultural expansion, housing and energy developments, wildfires, and weedy plant invasions have led to loss and fragmentation of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats within the Intermountain West. Sagebrush-dependent species such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are vulnerable to these changes, emphasizing the importance of habitat inventory and monitoring to management. Existing habitat inventory methods are expensive, hindering data collection to support management decisions. Our study evaluated the feasibility of ground and aerial imagery to assess habitat structural features, vegetation associations, and sources of anthropogenic disturbance within a large landscape used by sage-grouse as breeding habitat (lekking, nesting, and brood-rearing). We surveyed ~526 km2 of the upper Powder River watershed in Natrona County, Wyoming, USA, dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis) upland communities interspersed with narrow riparian corridors. Our study area included 16 leks and provided year-round habitat to sage-grouse. In June 2010, we systematically-acquired 3,228 aerial images, additional aerial images in rapid-succession bursts where aerial transects crossed riparian areas, and 960 ground images. We used SamplePoint to quantify cover from images for important species and plant functional groups and color-infrared imagery to compare vegetation associations to those quantified from aerial images. Our findings included canopy cover of sage-grouse food forbs within 3.2 km of leks, which-as measured from ground imagery, ranged from 3 to 14% in riparian areas and 1 to 7% in the uplands. This and other image-derived archival data imply that image-based habitat surveys are cost-effective methods for monitoring changes in sagebrush habitats across large landscapes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0127 Vegetation assessment along a grazing gradient in semi-arid rangelands of Uzbekistan Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Mounir Louhaichi1, Toshpulat Radjabov2, Kristina Toderich3, Stefanie Christmann4, Aden AwHassan1 1 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria, 2 Samarkand Division of Academy of Science of Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 3 International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Central Asia & Caucasus sub-office, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 4International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Tashkent, Uzbekistan Rangeland degradation has been widespread and severe throughout the Nurata district (Uzbekistan) as a result of both unfavorable environmental conditions and human-induced impacts. In particular, vegetation degradation around human settlements and watering points has been observed in many parts of the region. To evaluate the degree of degradation we conducted a vegetation assessment along the apparent grazing gradient at 7 ecological sites, each located at different landscape positions starting from the hilly site around the human settlements of Kadok to the plains. The survey was carried out during the spring of 2011. Several vegetation parameters including biomass, density, and cover were recorded using quadrat and line intercept methods. Results indicated that both plant density and total biomass increased by over two-fold as one moved further away from the settlement (P < 0.001). Furthermore, non-palatable invasive species such as Peganum harmala and Sophora pachycarpa tended to increase in areas closer to settlements. Plant communities with moderate grazing were dominated by Artemisia tenuisecta. Artemisia cover and biomass production increased with increasing distance from human settlements (P < 0.001). Our study provided strong evidence for the negative impacts associated with lack of herd's mobility and concentration of grazing around settlements. A more balanced grazing management approach is recommended to achieve a sustainable range livestock production system and improve the livelihood of the pastoral community in Artemisia semi-arid rangelands of Nurata district. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0128 Grazing spatial behavior of Awassi sheep in small paddocks Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Mounir Louhaichi1, Tomoki Kojima2, Laci Bristow3, Barbara Rischkowsky1, Douglas E. Johnson3 1 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria, 2 Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 3Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA GPS tracking of the movement of sheep can be used to determine landscape use patterns and the timing and duration of diurnal activities such as grazing, resting, and travel. We conducted a study to explore the movement of pregnant and lactating Awassi ewes when grazing small paddocks. A flock of 80 Awassi ewes in late gestation or early lactation were assigned to 1 of 4 similar plots in natural semi-arid rangelands (50m by 50m). Each day 2 ewes from the flock were randomly chosen and assigned to each plot, 1 pregnant and 1 lactating, to wear GPS collars that logged at 1 Hz. Individuals were then grazed for about 4 hr/day during the month of January. At the end of each day collars were removed and data was downloaded. The experiment lasted for 9 days and yielded 70 complete data sets which were used in the analysis. As expected, late gestation ewes traveled 470m/hr; a smaller distance per hour than ewes in early lactation with 526 m/hr (P = 0.112). However, the difference was not significant. Instead there was a significant difference in the distance traveled between the pasture plots, with ewes in Pasture 2 traveling 696 m/hr compared with ewes in other pastures moving 432 m/hr (P = 0.001). Pasture 2 was situated between two other plots and there was no evidence of an environmental cause for this effect. We suggest that the temperament of lead animals within the flock could have had an influence on the total flock travel. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0129 Reestablishing Wyoming big sagebrush on restored bentonite mines in the Big Horn Basin, Wyoming Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Poster Catherine Tarasoff1, Dan Close2 1 Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA, 2MI-Swaco, Greybull, WY, USA Within the Great Basin region, sagebrush communities dominate over 60 million ha and provide essential habitat and forage for sage-grouse and other species. Sagebrush also plays an essential role in directly modifying local environmental conditions, thus providing a more favorable environment for seed germination and seedling survival of other plant species. Currently, reestablishing sagebrush plant communities is considered a U.S. Federal priority in the conservation of sagebrush ecosystems. Within the Big Horn Basin, bentonite mines play a critical role in economic development and directly affect over 1,500 ha of sagebrush habitat in the region. Since bentonite mining occurs exclusively by strip-mining procedures, all habitats are temporarily removed. Reestablishment of sagebrush has been challenging given the high clay content of the soils and low precipitation regime of the region. In our study, we used a combination of 4 factors (copper, no copper, gel water crystals, no gel water crystals) to improve sagebrush establishment on 4 site conditions (Excellent new reclamation condition, moderate new reclamation condition, failed old reclamation, and an undisturbed native site) at two locations (Beaver Rim and Johnson). All plants were transplanted in early spring. Survival was monitored in early summer and fall. Our results indicate that site condition was the most significant (P < 0.001) indicator of survival. Plants that were transplanted onto old, failed sites had survival that ranged from 33% to 100%. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0130 Biological and ecological aspects of big sagebrush subspecies: influences on planting success and community restoration Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Monsen Stephen Retired, USFS Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT, USA Efforts to restore big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) communities require the identification of the species and subspecies of sagebrush encountered and characterization of the ecological conditions of the environment in which the project is located. Populations of big sagebrush display close alliance to certain habitats, yet various species of sagebrush hybridize and form rather broad and important communities. Morphological specialization and adaptations have evolved along environmental gradients. Significant differences in growth occur within and among subspecies indicating adaptations to site of origin. Differences in photosynthetic characteristics also occur among subspecies that correlate with environmental conditions. Seed dormancy and germination patterns are habitat correlated among all three subspecies of big sagebrush. Individual subspecies also exhibit separate strategies to tolerate abiotic stress, produce seeds, complete germination, establish new seedlings, and adjust seasonal growth rates. Multiple ploidy levels occur among the major species of sagebrush, and may facilitate adaption to ecologically extreme conditions. Seed germination characteristics are closely correlated to habitat, and movement of seed from one environment to a different habitat is usually unsuccessful. Sagebrush seeds require specific seedbed conditions, and high mortality results from planting amid unfavorable conditions. Various machines have been developed and modified to effectively plant sagebrush seeds, and the use of specific equipment is critical to planting success. It is important to utilize specific practices to retain a desired amount of the existing shrubs and encourage recruitment of new individuals. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0131 Fuel consumption in native and old growth upland pine savannahs of the southeastern US Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Angela Reid, Kevin Robertson Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL, USA Prescribed fire is an important tool for rangeland managers on both public and private lands worldwide. Currently in the United States, increasingly stringent air quality standards threaten land owners' and managers' ability to use prescribed fire. Fuel consumption plays a large role in smoke emissions estimates made by models such as FOFEM which are used to predict the impact of prescribed fire on air quality and to develop prescribed fire policy. This project sought to measure and identify influences on fuel consumption for total fine dead and live herbaceous fuels in longleaf pine and loblolly pine-shortleaf pine savannahs. Fuel consumption, fire behavior, and weather were measured for 212 burns. Regression models revealed that factors significantly influencing fuel consumption were fuel loads for aerated fine dead, live herbaceous, and live woody fuels, fuel moisture for non-aerated fine dead and live herbaceous fuels, aerated fine dead fuel density, season, time since fire, relative humidity, temperature, energy release component, community type, pine basal area, and the Keetch-Byrum drought index. Paired t-tests revealed that FOFEM significantly over-predicted fuel consumption and percent fuel consumption for both total fine dead and live herbaceous fuels. FOFEM overpredicted total dead and live fine fuel consumption by an average 131%. Results suggest the need to refine FOFEM's fuel consumption calculations in the studied systems to provide accurate air quality inventories and to guide appropriate regulation of prescribed fire. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0132 MYCORRHIZATION RATES OF TWO GRASSES FOLLOWING ALTERATIONS IN MOISTURE INPUTS IN SOUTHERN MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Heath Owens1, Jordana LaFantasie1, Peter Adler2 1 Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant root symbionts that often improve plant nutrient and water relations in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. During times of stress, however, plants may divert resources away from the AMF, eventually causing a reduction in mycorrhization rates. In short and mixed grass regions, where inter-annual precipitation varies widely, water availability may be the most influential limiting factor for plant growth and nutrient uptake. It may also impact plant relationships with AMF, further influencing nutrient, water and carbon relations. To investigate the effect of precipitation rates on AMF relations, we manipulated moisture inputs in a southern mixed grass prairie and quantified mycorrhization rates of two common grasses: Bouteloua hirsuta and Schizachyrium scoparium. A multivariate analysis confirmed differences in mycorrhization rates between years and differences between species between years; however, treatment was not a significant factor in the model. Trends in means pointed to a general reduction in mycorrhization with increasing “precipitation,” especially for the finer rooted B. hirsuta, but these trends were not significant. Phosphate, nitrate and ammonium mineralization did not meaningfully correlate to mycorrhization rates. Our results indicate that absolute precipitation and nutrient availability do not alone act upon mycorrhization rates. Our results further support the idea that broad generalization regarding plant-AMF relationships and responses to abiotic forces must be supported by long-term datasets; plant-AMF relationships appear to be too vulnerable to interannual variability to make conclusions based on short-term datasets as is common. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0133 Economic Analysis of Wintering Cattle in California's Sacramento Valley Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Oral Larry Forero1, Steve Blank1, Jim Oltjen1, Norman Taylor1 1 Univ. of CA Cooperative Extension, Redding, CA, USA, 2Univ. of CA Cooperative Extension, Davis, CA, USA, 3Univ. of CA Cooperative Extension, Davis, CA, USA, 4Wilcox Ranch, Hat Creek, CA, USA Many producers ship cattle from the mountainous regions of California and Oregon to the low elevation valley, coastal or foothill ranges of California to take advantage of the annual forages produced in these areas during the winter and spring. Producers hope to avoid severe weather and feeding costly hay through the winter. The goal of this project is to determine if a significant economic difference exists as a function of the increased weaning weights for cattle shipped to the valley compared to their cohorts remaining in the mountains. Approximately 60 head of fall calving cows from eastern Shasta County were randomly assigned to treatment (shipped to the valley) and control (wintered in the mountains) groups annually. The control cattle remained in the mountains over the winter and were fed a mixture of raised and purchased hay (approximately 2.5 tons per cow for the winter). Treatment cattle were shipped to the valley in the late fall and typically not provided any supplemental feed. When valley-wintered pairs returned to the mountains, the calves were weaned and the groups were reunited until shipped. Cash expenses and gross income were calculated for each group through weaning. In most years there was a financial advantage to shipping cattle to the Sacramento Valley. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0134 Evaluating Sagebrush Establishment Techniques on Reclaimed Bentonite Lands in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Lyle King1 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Shell Valley Consulting, Shell, WY, USA Historic sagebrush reestablishment attempts on bentonite reclamation in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin have not reestablished sagebrush habitat in pre-mine amounts. This reduced habitat has impacted obligate species such as sage-grouse. This study investigated utilization of several sagebrush establishment techniques on reclaimed bentonite mines during the 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Efforts in 2007 examined gravity-fed, drip-irrigation systems for supplemental watering of sagebrush bare-rootstock transplants on three sites. Supplemental water was periodically applied from June-September. Several hundred sagebrush tublings of two size classes (four and ten inch) were transplanted at each site. Two thirds were drip-irrigated, 1/3 were not. At two sites, irrigated ten inch seedlings averaged 70% first season survival; four inch tublings averaged 35%. The third site and all three non-watered controls had no survivors of either size. Efforts in 2008 included treating sagebrush transplants with supplemental ® quart size, cellulose-based watering gel (Rainbird ) and granular form cellulose-based supplements ® (Zeba ). Transplants were protected with coconut mats for moisture conservation and weed control. Tublings were given up to ½ gallon of supplemental water at planting. Additional areas were handbroadcasted with Zeba® treated sagebrush seed (1.5 to 8 PLS pounds/acre). Mycorrhizal inoculant and granular Zeba® were concurrently hand broadcasted with treated sagebrush seed at nominal rates of approximately 40-60 bulk pounds/acre, each. Areas were lightly hand-raked. First season transplant survival rates for gel-treated tublings ranged from 58% to 85% (average 74%). Areas broadcasted with treated seeds averaged 24 sagebrush seedlings/ft2. Subsequent observations indicate substantial reductions in first-season survival rates. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0135 The Passage of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 and Its Legacy Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Matthew Pearce University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA The purpose of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 was to prevent further damage to public domain grazing lands, to initiate a program to provide for their use, improvement, and development, and to provide stability for ranchers dependent upon those lands. The act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to organize 80 million acres of the public domain into grazing districts, an area expanded to 142 million acres in 1936. It also allowed for the creation of grazing advisory boards comprised of local ranchers. These individuals were to cooperate with federal officials from the Grazing Service (forerunner to the present-day BLM) to determine the issuance of grazing permits, construct range improvements, and agree to a fee system. Interestingly enough, such management of the grazing districts was to continue until the final disposal of the public domain, presumably to state or private ownership. This presentation will examine the origins of the Taylor Grazing Act and the dialogue between the federal government, western ranchers, and conservationists that contributed to its creation. The presentation will also explore some of the early efforts by the Grazing Service to conserve public domain rangelands. Finally, the presentation will emphasize how the Taylor Grazing Act set the framework for later conflicts between ranchers, the federal government, and environmentalists regarding the use of public rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0136 Proactive EBIPM: Establishing Weed Prevention Areas Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Corey Ransom, Ralph Whitesides Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Weed prevention has long been recognized as the most cost effective method of weed management, but is often overlooked as a management approach. In an ecologically-based management system, limiting or preventing the spread of weeds is critical in maintaining a desirable plant community. The formation of Weed Prevention Areas (WPAs) is a growing concept that represents a different approach to communitylevel weed management, emphasizing investment and focus on prevention efforts. A survey demonstrated that while land owners feel prevention is important, several impediments exist to the implementation of prevention measures including, uncertainty of the benefits, lack of readily visible results, and the cost of implementation. Many of these impediments can be addressed through the formation of WPAs. A guide titled "Establishing a Weed Prevention Area: A step-by-step user's guide" was produced to provide easy to follow directions on how to establish WPAs in different situations. The guide provides detailed discussion of each step of the process and includes useful forms and lists of additional resources. The major steps in forming a WPA include: 1) introducing the WPA concept, 2) organizing the WPA, 3) developing an action plan, 4) implementing the action plan, and 5) evaluating success of the plan. Education and leadership are crucial to success. A weed prevention area was established in Northern Utah, in an area where landowners have been working to manage medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) on range and pasture. Increased focus on weed prevention has slowly changed the management choices used in this effort. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0137 Timing is Everything: How environmental changes may disrupt the timing of plantpollinator interactions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Michelle Solga, Jason Harmon, Amy Ganguli North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA In this review we investigate the phenology of plants and their pollinators in the midst of a changing climate. Rangeland ecosystems are experiencing change brought about by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, warming temperatures, and altered precipitation events. These changes could alter interspecies relationships, including the relationship between a plant and its pollinators. Plant-pollinator relationships operate on the premise that pollinator lifecycles will be in sync or "match-up" with the bloom periods of their preferred flowering hosts. Flower phenology takes its cues from the environment and is sensitive to environmental changes. If the timing of flowering is altered, it could jeopardize the plant's relationship with its pollinators. Previous studies have found that many, but not all plant species have been responding to climate fluctuations through modifications in their flowering dates, but responses vary according to region, elevation, and environmental cue. There is some evidence that pollinators may not be able to "keep pace" with the shifting phenologies of their preferred flowers, leaving both species involved in this mutualism at risk. The main difficulty, however, is that not all plants and pollinators are responding equally to these changes. Thus it is important that we develop an understanding of the influence environmental changes may have on this mutualism and the implications this can have on the function and diversity of rangeland ecosystems in the future. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0138 Using Historic Surveys and Photographs to Evaluate National Forest Rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral David Bradford US Forest Service, Paonia, Colorado, USA Historic photographs of landscapes and rangelands are valuable to land managers as well as to historians. They provide conservationists a snapshot of what a landscape looked like fifty, seventy-five, or even a hundred years ago. Moreover, by reestablishing old photo points, Forest Service personnel can take a more recent photograph of the same landscape. Set side by side, an individual has a snapshot of how the land changed over time. If the photographs are of good quality, experienced individuals can distinguish between certain grass, brush, and tree species and get an idea of how forage composition changed over time. For example, if two photographs of the same landscape-one fifty years old and the other more recent-depict a change in which the early photo is of a grassland and the more recent photo shows the same area covered largely by shrubs, a range manager can then go into the written record to uncover what caused such a change, which might include overgrazing or drought. He can then adjust the management of the area accordingly. For example, he can employ a variety of tools to have that landscape revert to grassland including reducing the number of livestock on that allotment, shortening the length of time livestock can be in that area during the grazing season, or by suggesting a controlled burn of that landscape to encourage grass growth. This presentation will discuss how to use history to influence current range management decisions on national forest rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0139 New Research Themes After a Century of Rangeland Science Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Kris Havstad1, Nathan Sayre2, Brandon Bestlemeyer1, William deBuys3 1 Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, 2University of CaliforniaBerkeley, Berkeley, California, USA, 3Conservationist and Author, Chamisal, New Mexico, USA The rangeland science profession in the United States has its roots in the widespread overgrazing and concurrent severe droughts of the late 19th Century. Experimental stations like those established early in the 1900s in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico rose up out of a real need to address rangeland degradation. Logical for the time, the scientific activities at these stations, and the resulting policies, were based on reductionist experimentation and productionist emphases on food and fiber. After a century of science and policy, there are two additional perspectives that shape our vision for the scientific emphases of the future. First, rangeland landscapes are extremely heterogeneous; general principles derived from scientific experimentation cannot be easily, or generally, applied without adjusting to the distinct societal and ecological characteristics of a location. Principles and policies need to be contextualized to their landscapes. Second, rangeland management occurs at spatial scales considerably larger than those that have been addressed in range science. Scaling up science is not a simple, additive process. The leading features of the emerging science are research at landscape scales and over longer time spans at these spatial scales, and research that approaches conservation practices as treatments requiring scientific evaluation, incorporates local knowledge, is explicitly applied in nature, and is transparent in its practice. We strongly argue for a science that supports resource management by testing hypotheses relevant to actual conservation practices. This will require applying the scientific method in a postmodern fashion where management is an integral part of hypotheses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0140 Historical Development and Application of the Parker 3-Step Method for Rangeland Monitoring Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral George Ruyle1, Judith Dyess2, Dave Stewart2 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA, 2US Forest Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Perhaps the earliest and most widespread rangeland management monitoring effort was the development and establishment of the Parker 3-step Method on U. S. Forest Service rangelands, beginning in 1948. This paper discusses the Parker 3-step Method and suggests potential application for interpretation and analysis in conjunction with current rangeland ecological perspective. Kenneth Parker developed the Parker 3-step method to provide a means for obtaining and interpreting data records of vegetation and soil factors on designated grazing allotments, primarily within National Forest system lands. He recognized the importance of using ecological knowledge to address range problems and proposed an ecological approach to address them. His method collected both quantitative and qualitative data and provided a "scoring" technique for determining resource conditions. The method has weaknesses but none-the-less comprises the longest term monitoring data sets for most grazing allotments administered by the Forest Service and, although much less extensively, the Bureau of Land Management. Range condition has been the focus of most analyses and the data collected on vegetation attributes and soil coverage has had limited use in making trend determinations in part due to the infrequency of measurements. The method included data collection over time on several soil and vegetation attributes. Parker data may be summarized and interpreted to help evaluate vegetation trends and current conditions relative to desired ecological conditions. Additionally, the landscape photographs taken as Step 3 of the protocol are invaluable to interpreting resource trends over time. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0141 Historical Roots of the Rangeland Conflict: Overcoming Structural and Intellectual Anachronisms Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Nathan Sayre University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA Conflicts over the use and management of US rangelands have flared since the rise of environmentalism in the 1970s, but their roots lie in political and scientific developments of the early 20th century. Beginning in 1905, policies were built on the assumption that grazing would forever remain the highest economic use of rangelands. These policies persist, even though residential development and recreation have eclipsed livestock production economically and undermined the core incentives for conservation on which the policies rest. Similarly, beginning around 1900, rangeland science assumed that livestock grazing was the key variable determining the condition of vegetation. Public perceptions and ideas about how Western rangelands work continue to reflect this paradigm, even though scientists now recognize it as flawed, especially in more arid settings. I examine the original works that helped establish these nowanachronistic policies and theories, in order to identify the historical roots of the rangeland conflict. Where these root causes have been directly and deliberately addressed through collaborative, community-based conservation efforts, conflicts have been resolved, rangelands have been conserved and enhanced, and new scientific opportunities and models have been identified. Whether these alternative approaches can be scaled up from discrete landscapes to the region as a whole remains to be seen. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0142 Grazing in the Rough: Range Management History in the Badlands and National Grasslands of the U.S./Canadian Northern Plains Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Sterling Evans University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA "Grazing in the Rough" seeks to illustrate the grazing and range management history of so-called badlands units in North and South Dakota, Montana, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Those units, parts of which include sections of the Little Missouri (ND) and Buffalo Gap (SD) national grasslands; Theodore Roosevelt (ND), Badlands (SD), and Grasslands (SK) national parks; Makoshika (MT) and Little Missouri (ND) state parks; Dinosaur Provincial Park (AB); and the Terry Badlands of the Miles City District BLM (MT) have all had their own specific histories of cattle ranching, grazing, and conservation. Yet little has been studied on the topic for the region as a whole, and even less, concerning the grazing history of these various badlands units. Thus, this paper seeks to offer some initial findings and conclusions on the history and impact of cattle in badlands environments, going back as far as the era of bison-to-cattle conversion, Teddy Roosevelt's ranching experiences in the region, the era of cattle drives and large-scale ranching, to present-day controversies surrounding multiple-use management ideals. Finally, different government controls over these units (US Forest Service, National Park Service, BLM, Parks Canada, and state and provincial parks systems) offer another bewildering but highly important aspect of the history of grazing in badlands areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0143 Effects of Selected Techniques for Grassland Restoration in the Semi-arid Region in the Northern Plains Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Brandon Elkins1 ,2, Kevin Sedivec1, Dennis Whitted1, Kris Ringwall2 1 North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA, 2Dickinson Research Extension Center, Norht Dakota State University, Dickinson, North Dakota, USA Introduced cool-season grasses have become an ecological disaster on range and pasturelands in the Northern Plains. Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass can create ecological deserts when they fully invade sites. The processes that have led to this invasion are still not fully understood, but climatic change and mis-management by grazing livestock are contributing factors. Restoring these sites can be difficult since the exotic cool season grasses change the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and function of the plant community. This study has two objectives: 1) Determine restoration techniques and season of application that provide the best site availability for native grasses and forbs, and reduce performance of smooth bromegrass, crested wheatgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass; and 2) Evaluate drill type for seed establishment and performance. Two study sites were located near Dickinson and Richardton, North Dakota. Two ecological sites, loamy and clayey, were evaluated at each location. Vegetation was classified as a smooth bromegrass/Kentucky bluegrass/Alfalfa (Bromus inermus/Poa pratensis/Medicago sativa) plant community and traditionally managed as hay and pastureland. Study treatments included mow, prescribed burn, and chemical (glyphosate @ 2.24 kg -1 -1 a.i.ha , imazapic plus MSO @ 0.105 kg a.i.ha ). Timing of application (spring and fall) and interaction of treatments was also evaluated. Canopy cover was measured using 0.25m2 frames and basal cover measured using 10 pin-point frames pre-treatment, three and 15 months after treatment. Results from this study will help the Bureau of Land Management integrate improved techniques for native grassland restoration in North Dakota. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0144 A vegetation survey and soil seed bank analysis at the Lubbock Lake Landmark during the drought of 2011. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Matthew McEwen1 ,2, Robert Cox2, Eileen Johnson1 ,2 1 Lubbock Lake Landmark Museum of Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, USA, 2Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark is a 124 ha archaeological and natural history preserve located along Yellowhouse Draw north of Lubbock, in Lubbock County, Texas. Monitoring changes in vegetative communities is necessary for assessing the success of stewardship regimes. Precipitation in 2011 was only 15% of normal, resulting in little growth of above-ground vegetation. In May 2011, a vegetation survey was conducted as a follow-up to baseline surveys originally conducted in 1995. A soil seed-bank analysis also was conducted to determine the diversity inherent in the landscape for restoration potential. Cover and density of above-ground species were recorded along 60 transects throughout the Landmark, and 100 10cm diameter by 10cm depth soil samples were taken from each of two locations, placed in a glasshouse, watered, and monitored daily for germinating seedlings. Above-ground vegetation was sparse during the drought, and weedy annuals (e.g., Kochia scoparia and Salsola iberica) were encountered in only 1% of the transects, but were found in 15% of soil seed-bank samples. In contrast, drought tolerant native annuals were encountered in 50% of the transects, and 11% in the soil seed-bank. The data collected during the drought were especially important in order to recognize the landscape responses to drastic environmental conditions. Comparison of the vegetation survey and soil seed-bank analysis provided valuable data to understand the presence of invasive species in the soil, and the lack of presence above ground during the drought. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0145 Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Open Access Rangeland Knowledge Resources Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Rangeland Knowledge Resources (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Merrita Fraker-Marble1, Rachel Frost2, Gary McCuin3 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 3 University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension, Reno, NV, USA Navigation through the vast resources of information that are available at a person's fingertips in this day and age can be a daunting and challenging task. This is true if talking about an herbivore faced with survival in an unknown environment or a natural resource professional trying to find high quality pertinent information on the internet. When faced with a looming deadline and having to navigate through this unfamiliar world, a natural resource professional can feel panic, an elevated heart rate, or a sick rolling of the stomach. Have you ever wanted a guide to help you feel out waters in this unfamiliar landscape that you are covering? Your wish has been granted. Many emerging new websites and databases detailed at the 2011 SRM Annual Meeting are going to be revisited and give you the opportunity to sit in front of a computer and ask questions of the presenters. This hands-on workshop is to be a come-and-go event with each web-tool highlighted once every two hours for flexible attendance. The session will move from how to search though the vast resources found on Global Rangelands/Rangeland West to sorting through the knowledge contained within the eXtension website. Navigation through the annotated bibliography database of peer-reviewed information within the Range Science Information System will also be demonstrated. Additionally how to access and modify reusable learning and teaching objects will be detailed. Examples of materials contained in a new outreach database will be set up around the perimeter of the room. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0146 Regrowth of three key forage species in the Southern Interior of British Columbia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Vanessa Volpatti1 1 Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, 2Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada Three key forage species in rangelands of British Columbia (BC), Canada, are bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneri spicata), rough fescue (Festuca campestris), and pinegrass (Calamagrotis rubescens). Bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescue are both dominate grasses in the grassland protions of the BC system while pinegrass is the dominant forage species in many forested areas of the province. It is important for range managers to understand regrowth of these species for better management of these rangelands. As part of a larger study, the regrowth of these species at different sites was tracked. Lower grasslands for Bluebunch wheatgrass, upper grasslands for rough fescue and a mixed lodgepole pine/douglas-fir forested area for pinegrass. Seventy-five individual plants were selected for each species with fifteen plants allocated to each of four treatments as well as the control group. The treatments varied in frequency of clipping, and the intensity of clipping. After clipping, all plants in the low frequency treatments had tillers marked and regrowth recorded over a period of two weeks. Parameters measured on all 75 plants of each species were tiller number and average maximum tiller height. Soil probes were used at the base of plants during measurement to retrieve soil moisture and temperature at 3-6 cm depths. It was found that plants that were clipped at lower intensities regrew faster than plants clipped at higher intensities and plants that were clipped at a higher frequency had a lower average maximum leaf height. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0147 RSIS (Range Science Information System): An Annotated Bibliography Tool for All Rangeland Managers Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Rangeland Knowledge Resources (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Merrita Fraker-Marble1, Rachel Mealor1, John Tanaka1, Karen Launchbaugh2 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA As range managers it is always a challenge to find time to keep up to date on the most current and relevant scientific research. The Range Science Information System is an internet database that contains over 1,400 annotated bibliographies of peer reviewed journal articles focusing on rangeland management. Developed originally at Montana State University with the leadership of the Undaunted Stewardship program, Montana Stockgrowers and Montana Bureau of Land Management this database has expanded its partnership to include the University of Idaho, Owyhee Initiative, the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. This database was designed to assist rangeland managers in finding high quality literature that relates to grazing and grazing impacts on and interactions with other resources and resource use. Currently the topics included in the database are effects of grazing on riparian areas, weeds, wildlife, vegetation soils, reclamation, and socio-economic effects with more being added. Each citation includes the type of article, location of the study, summary of methods, vegetation type or area of influence, MLRA, key words, major findings or main points and an annotation from the review about the research. The RSIS is currently available at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/rangescience/. Sit down and take a guided hands-on tour of the contents within this valuable resource. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0148 EDRR from the ground up - Wyoming's Early Detection Rapid Response System Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Travis Ziehl1, Brian A. Mealor2, Ruth Richards3, Julie Kraft4, J.D. Sheehan5 1 Teton County Weed and Pest, Jackson, WY, USA, 2University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 3 Bighorn County Weed and Pest, Greybull, WY, USA, 4Sublette County Weed and Pest, Pinedale, WY, USA, 5Carbon County Weed and Pest, Baggs, WY, USA In order for national Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) to be successful, local programs must find ways to effectively implement EDRR systems which are financially feasible yet fully functional. In Wyoming, each county has a Weed & Pest District which includes a locally-led program seeking to implement EDRR practices. Districts also form the ground-level of a larger cooperative effort including the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council, the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Department of Agriculture and other cooperators. This collaboration has resulted in an active committee to organize EDRR efforts across the state. Successful EDRR efforts at the local level consist of various programs which encourage the detection of new invaders using multiple techniques and include: education and training, incentives, and distribution mapping. Local programs are the cornerstone of the statewide EDRR program and often locate new infestations, collect voucher specimens and respond to reports of new weed populations. When management actions are implemented (response phase), local land managers are often responsible for the treatment and continued monitoring of the weed population. To ensure local eradication, this process can take multiple visits per season and recur over several years. State programs provide structure for local programs to operate and to report new invaders to a broader audience. Additionally, state programs are assets for identifying potential invaders and educating field-going professionals. Communication between local, state and regional programs is crucial for forming and coordinating partnerships which would be necessary for a national network to operate successfully. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0149 Comparison of visual obstruction and maximum grass height for estimating standing biomass in Northeastern California Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Melissa Merrill-Davies1 ,2, Daniel Marcum1 ,3 1 University of California Cooperative Extension, Davis, CA, USA, 2Modoc County, Alturas, CA, USA, 3Shasta/Lassen Counties, McAurthur, CA, USA Visual obstruction measurements are an indicator of herbage standing biomass and quality of wildlife habitat, especially for nesting birds. We evaluated end of growing season residual grasses following early (May-June) and late (September-October) season grazing in Northeastern California. Measurements of maximum plant height, visual obstruction, and clipping ¼ m2 samples were made in cardinal directions every 100 m along 1000 m transects in November of 2010. Our results suggests maximum plant height is more closely correlated to biomass (R2= 0.92) than visual obstruction measurements (R2=0.25). A combination of measurements may be needed to fully understand the impacts of grazing on wildlife habitat in high desert areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0150 Finding the Information You Need: Hands-on Practice Using the Global Rangelands and Rangelands West Portals Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Rangeland Knowledge Resources (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Barbara Hutchinson, George Ruyle University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA With funding from the NIFA International Science and Education program, a collaborative project, involving members of the Rangelands West Partnership (University of Arizona, University of CaliforniaDavis, and University of Idaho), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Rangelands Australia, has developed a Global Rangelands/Rangelands West database of full-text articles, reports, videos, images, and key web resources. This interactive presentation will provide an overview of the customized features on each of these portals and offer opportunities to try out search options and other services available including: events, news, public outreach, learning modules, and resource pages on such topics as climate, invasive species, and conservation ranching. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0151 Post-fire Native Seeding Strategies: Results from a Wyoming Big Sagebrush Site in Northern Nevada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Matthew Fisk1, Erin Denney1, Robert Cox2, Nancy Shaw1 1 USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID, USA, 2Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management policies and regulations recommend the use of genetically appropriate native plant materials in wildland seedings to provide for diversity and sustainability, particularly in light of changing environmental conditions. Reestablishing mixtures of native species requires seeding equipment and strategies that provide seedbed conditions appropriate for seeds of various sizes and shapes. To compare the ability of a standard rangeland drill and minimum-till drill for seeding mixtures we established plots on a 2006 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis burn in Elko Co., Nevada. Small seeds were broadcast and large seeds drilled in alternate rows through each drill. Treatments included three seeding rates for each drill (no seed, low and high rates) and an undrilled control. The unseeded treatments were included to simulate a failed seeding. The seven treatments were applied on 0.2 ha plots in a completely randomized block design. Emergence, establishment and longevity of seeded species were evaluated in the first, second and fifth year post-seeding by estimating seeded species density, basal gap lengths, and cover. Following a dry winter, initial emergence of large seeded species was similar for both drills, but emergence of small-seeded species was greater when seeded through the minimum till drill. Both differences were lost by the second year. Results indicate the minimum-till drill may enhance the emergence of small-seeded species, but this effect may be lost when precipitation is inadequate. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0152 Reusable Teaching and Learning Objects for Range Science Education Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Available for Your Foraging Pleasure: Rangeland Knowledge Resources (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Mevin R. George, Cody Sheehy University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA A learning object is a collection of content items, practice items, and assessment items that are combined based on a single learning objective. Similarly a teaching object is shared content, such as an MS PowerPoint presentation, a lab exercise or a video that focus on a single teaching objective. From 2006 2008 the California Rangeland Research and Information System developed an online course entitled "Ecology and Management of Grazing". The purpose of this course was to provide online training for professional continuing education. However, all or part of the course has also been used for undergraduate education. The course is made up of 4 modules, each containing 4 to 6 learning objects (videos and lecture presentations using Adobe Flash). In 2010-2011 we developed a new teaching object entitled "Range Plant Growth and Development." In 2010 in collaboration with the multi-state USDA HEC project led by Karen Launchbaugh we began developing reusable teaching and learning objects (RTOs and RLOs) that describe the major U.S. rangeland ecosystems. We are also developing RTOs/RLOs for several Australian ecosystems as part of University of Arizona's Global Rangelands Project, also funded by USDA. Several of these RTOs/RLOs will be demonstrated while participants will be provided hands on assistance during this workshop. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0153 Does invasion by non-native Old World Bluestems reduce habitat for soil microfaunal groups? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Richard Packauskas, Jordana Lafantasie, Jessica Casey Fort Hays State University, Hays,Ks, USA Overwintering habitat is important in the retention of diverse soil arthropod communities, and, due to their important functions, ecosystem health. Non-native Old World bluestems (Bothriochloa ischaemum and B. bladhii) have been introduced for hay production and have aggressively exceeded the bounds to which they were introduced. Old World bluestems tend to exhibit growth habits that differ from native bluestems such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Previous researchers concluded that macro arthropod biomass was limited in Old World bluestem pastures compared to native pastures; however, the function of aboveground arthropods differs from soil mesofauna. Overwintering habitat may be different between the native and non-native bluestems, and as a result, mesofaunal communities occurring in soils dominated by either plant group may be different. Our objective was to compare soil mesofaunal numbers and diversity among these four major bluestem species located in the southern mixed grass prairie of the Fort Hays State University pastures by examining plant crowns. We used Berlese funnels to extract the mesofauna from crowns of all four species. We hypothesized that, in FHSU pastures, 1) soil mesofauna extracted from plant crowns of nonnative Old World bluestems would be significantly different in number and diversity from soil mesofauna extracted from crowns of native bluestems, and 2) that with increasing soil organic matter there will be an increase in mesofaunal abundance. We found that there was no significant difference between the native and non-native bluestems in number or diversity of soil mesofauna. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0154 LANDFORMS RELATED TO GRAZING PREFERENCE BY A SEMI-WILD BISON (Bison bison) HERD AT NATIONAL BISON RANGE, MOIESE, MT Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Narciso Garcia Neto, Clayton Marlow, Dustin Anderson, Kelsey Guffey Montana State University, Bozeman, USA Under natural condition a landscape should retain representative climax vegetation. Classic grazing ecology asserts that the more the site has been disturbed, the greater change in the climax vegetation. At the National Bison Range (NBR) in Moiese, MT bison stocking rates have been calculated based on production for the entire pasture; ignoring herd preference for certain landforms. Little to no change in climax vegetation would be expected based on this approach. We sampled vegetation communities through NBR, categorized and recorded species as climax, mid seral or early seral and compared these values with those from a 1990 assessment for the same localities. Comparisons were made using a wilcoxson test to address what species had changed and landscape analyses using GIS techniques. Initial observation suggested that on most preferred sites climax and mid seral species declined and early seral species increased. At less preferred areas there were no differences between groups of species. GIS summarization of herd locations from on-going behavioral studies indicates bison have been grazing 17% to 60% of pastures. Understanding landforms related to grazing preference improves the possibility that land management achieves sustainability. This indicates that without attention to landform preferences the calculated stocking rates over estimated bison carrying capacity. This over-estimation probably contributed to the change in climax vegetation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0155 Continental-scale characterization of molecular variation in quaking aspen Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Colin M. Callahan, Karen E. Mock Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) has the largest natural distribution of any tree native to North America, ranging from Alaska through the breadth of Canada and south to mid-Mexico. The Laurentide ice sheet occupied most of the current range of P. tremuloides until the late Pleistocene epoch, so this species has undergone a significant, geologically recent range expansion. Surprisingly, range-wide patterns of genetic variation in P. tremuloides have never been described. Using a sample set representing the full longitudinal and latitudinal extent of the species distribution, we have conducted a phylogeographic analysis for P. tremuloides. Because of the remarkably shallow genetic divergence among aspen populations, we use a set of rapidly-evolving molecular markers (microsatellites) to describe patterns of gene flow and diversity and to correlate those patterns with landscape features and histories. We analyzed eight microsatellite loci in over 800 individuals from 32 populations. Our results also allow us to assess the scale at which natural seed and pollen dispersal can overcome distributional barriers to minimize the effects of genetic drift. Further, our findings provide a solid foundation for a range of future studies on adaptive genetic and trait variation in this species. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0156 Learning and Teaching: An Ecological Perspective Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Chris Call Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Learning about rangeland ecology and management can be enhanced if range educators have a better understanding of underlying learning and teaching concepts and processes. However, due to differences in terminology and the structuring of knowledge in science and education disciplines, it can be difficult for range educators to fully grasp many concepts and processes described in the education literature. Yet, if we use analogies or familiar prototype models, we can find similarities between the structure and function of ecosystems and learning environments. State-and-transition models can be used to describe states, phases, transitions and thresholds for plant community development, as well as human intellectual development. Just as fire can be viewed as a disturbance event in a rangeland environment, learning can be viewed as a disturbance event for students and teachers in a classroom environment. Resistance to such disturbances can occur in both environments. Nutrient acquisition, transformation, storage, retrieval and use by plants are similar in many respects to knowledge acquisition, transformation, storage, retrieval and use by humans. Innovations in curriculum development, teaching practices and assessment methods to enhance learning can also be viewed in a successional management framework, similar to one developed for invasive plant management on rangelands. By relating new knowledge about educational theory to our existing knowledge of ecological theory, we can more fully understand the learning-teaching process. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0157 Rangeland management for multiple outcomes: Explicitly integrating ecosystem services into management models Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Leslie M. Roche1, Anthony T. O'Geen1, Valerie T. Eviner1, Justin D. Derner2, Kenneth W. Tate1 1 University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA, 2USDA Agricultural Research Service, Cheyenne, WY, USA In recent decades, there has been increased interest in ecosystem services among landowners, and a growing diversity of stakeholders on rangelands. Given these changes, management cannot focus solely on maximizing ranch proceeds, but must also incorporate ecosystem service goals to sustain resources and dependent ranch enterprises. Across the California oak woodland-annual rangeland, there has been a historical focus on large-scale removal of woody species for agricultural production goals. Although these practices have increased carrying capacities, provisioning of other potentially desirable ecosystem services has likely been diminished. We utilized state-and-transition models as a framework to explicitly incorporate multiple ecosystem service-based goals, allowing for assessing tradeoffs and synergies. To compare differences among vegetation-based states in ecosystem services provisioning (e.g., water supply, carbon sequestration), we surveyed indicators of multiple services over a gradient of oak woodland management. Ecosystem service integration revealed mixed results in terms of functional differences. Infiltration capacity was ~10X greater in woodland states than in open grassland states; however, even the lowest infiltration rates exceeded the 1 hour, 100 year rainfall depth by a factor of 4, indicating no real functional differences for water supply. Plant diversity and total carbon in oak woodlands were ~1.5X and 1.7X greater, respectively, than in open grasslands. However, agricultural productivity was 2.5X greater in open grassland relative to woodland states. Explicit incorporation of ecosystem service goals into management models will be valuable to both landowners interested in managing for multiple outcomes, and government agencies responsible for assessing outcomes of conservation practices and allocating funds. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0158 Seeding Wyoming big sagebrush in the northern Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Robert Cox1, Nancy Shaw2, Mike Pellant3 1 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID, USA, 3USDI Bureau of Land Management, Boise, ID, USA Erratic establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) from post-fire seedings has stymied efforts to restore communities of this landscape dominate. We examined the effect of drill type, seeding method, and seeding rate on emergence and establishment of Wyoming big sagebrush at five recently burned sites in the northern Great Basin. Treatments included: 1) Broadcasting Wyoming big sagebrush and other small seeded species and drill seeding larger-seeded grasses and forbs in alternate rows with a standard rangeland drill. 2) Using a minimum-till drill to broadcast and press the small-seeded species and drill the larger-seeded species in alternate rows. 3) Simulating aerial seedings by seeding larger-seeded species in alternate rows with each drill and leaving intervening rows open, then hand-broadcasting the small-seeded species over the entire plot immediately, or 4) in winter over snow. Wyoming big sagebrush seeding rates ranged from 9 to 500 viable seeds/m-2. Success rates ranged from 0 to 4 shrubs m-2 in the first year post-seeding. At some sites, high densities of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) appeared to interfere with establishment of emerged seedlings, which had emerged in greater density in areas seeded with the minimum-till drill. Although there is some indication that establishment of small seeded species is greater when seeded through the minimum-till drill, results are not consistent. Nevertheless, proper attention to soils, competitive species, and precipitation zones can improve seeding success of this important landscape dominant. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0159 Challenges of Early Detection and Rapid Response to Weed Invasion in the Western United States Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Corey Ransom, Kim Edvarchuk, Ralph Whitesides Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Invasive plant species pose a great challenge for land managers in the Western United States. The adoption of early detection and rapid response (EDRR) is a cost effective strategy for land management, by controlling weeds at the early stages of invasion. Weed surveys and inventories are important components of EDRR and provide weed species distribution information that is critical for land managers to identify weed management priorities, estimate costs, and to focus treatment on species with limited distribution. Inventory data can sometimes be used to measure progress or overall effectiveness of weed management approaches. Through years of conducting weed inventories on state and federal lands, the weed mapping program at Utah State University has gained experience with the challenges associated with invasive plant inventory efforts. Some of the greatest challenges are logistical. Other challenges are related to the objectives and priorities of various agencies and even different objectives between specific refuges or districts within an agency. The determinations of where and how to conduct invasive plant inventories can greatly impact inventory accuracy and cost effectiveness. The quality of weed distribution data is directly related to the expertise and training of the persons conducting the inventory and relies on the mapper's ability to identify plants new to the area. All weed inventory efforts should include resources for conducting quality assurance assessments. The large tracts of lands in the Western US often require that inventory efforts be focused on areas of high importance or areas with the highest potential for invasion. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0160 Fire and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Purple Threeawn in vitro fermentation and gas production Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Nickolas Dufek1 ,2, Lance Vermeire2, Richard Waterman2, Amy Ganguli1 1 North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Miles City, MT, USA Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea) is a native perennial bunchgrass with poor forage quality. This grass often dominates sites where soils have been disturbed and persists with continued severe grazing of preferred species due to livestock avoidance of threeawn. Nitrogen fertilization and fire have each temporarily reduced threeawn dominance, however, greater utilization of threeawn by livestock is required to extend treatment longevity. We evaluated effects of fire (summer, fall, no fire) and spring urea nitrogen fertilization (0, 40 , or 80 kg/ha) on threeawn forage quality in southeastern Montana during the growing season with a completely randomized design in a 3X3 factorial arrangement. Forage quality was assessed using a 96-h in vitro gas production. Asymptotic gas production was greater for sites burned during summer (68 mL/g) or fall (70 mL/g) than for non-burned sites (56 ± 0.9 mL/g), but was not affected by fertilizer treatment. Gas production lag time was also greater for non-burned (1.6 h) than burned sites (1.3 ± 0.08 h). During June, average in vitro gas production rates for threeawn differed among all fire treatments and were greatest for fall-burned (2.3 mL/h), then summer-burned (2.0 mL/h), and least for non-burned sites (1.0 ± 0.05 mL/h). For July sample collections, average in vitro gas production rates were similar between seasons of fire (2.3 mL/h) and continued to exceed those of non-burned sites (1.4 ± 0.05 mL/h). Results indicate that fire may enhance the rumen digestibility of purple threeawn as measured by fermentation gasses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0162 Cheatgrass Invasion "Engineers" the Soil to Facilitate Its Growth Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Robert Blank, Tye Morgan USDA/ARS, Reno, NV, USA We tested if cheatgrass occupation of a site "engineers" the soil such that it is more favorable for its own growth. Testing was done in a greenhouse using rhizotrons filled with either freshly-collected soil occupied by winterfat (A horizon) or a similar winterfat soil (A horizon) invaded by cheatgrass for 10 years. Six replicates of each soil were sown to cheatgrass and 2 replicates were unplanted controls. The experiment was conducted over two growth cycles of 70 days each. After each growth cycle, cheatgrass was harvested, dried, weighed, and analyzed for nutrients. Removable rhizotron backings allowed sampling of three replicate cores at the edges and center at 10, 40, and 80 cm. Roots were separated, dried, and weighed. The remaining soil was analyzed for nutrients. After the 1st growth cycle, aboveground cheatgrass biomass grown in the invaded soil was over 3 times greater than cheatgrass grown in the non-invaded soil. Root biomass was significantly greater for cheatgrass grown in the invaded soil, but only at the 10 cm depth. For both growth cycles, cheatgrass tissue from the invaded soil had significantly greater N concentration. After the 1st growth cycle, cheatgrass tissue grown in the invaded soil had significantly less tissue P, Mn, and Cu than cheatgrass grown in the non-invaded soil. Overall, the invaded soil had greater mineral N, which may explain superior growth of cheatgrass. These data support the hypothesis, that conditioning a soil with cheatgrass, over-time, enhances its nutrient availability and growth potential. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0163 the tri-soil experiment: do plants discriminate among vegetation soil types? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Robert Blank, Tye Morgan USDA/ARS, Reno, Nevada, USA We tested if rooting mass and root nutrient uptake of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) or creeping wildrye (Leymus triticoides) were influenced by vegetation soil type. Three soil types (A horizons), similar in gross physical and chemical properties, were freshly-collected. The soils varied in the vegetation they supported: big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanta), and winterfat invaded by cheatgrass for 10 years. Using a template, the three soils were placed in equal volumes in replicate 5400 cm3 cylindrical containers. Seeds of either cheatgrass or creeping wildrye (7 replicates each) were placed in the center of each container. Containers were watered evenly over soil type with deionized water and allowed to grow for 102 days. At harvest, roots in each vegetation soil type were dried, weighed, and analyzed for nutrients. In addition, each vegetation soil type was homogenized and several nutrients quantified. For both cheatgrass and creeping wildrye, root mass was statistically similar among vegetation soil types. Roots of cheatgrass grown in cheatgrass-invaded soil had greater Ca and less Mn than roots grown in soil collected from beneath big sagebrush. Relative to initial soil values, cheatgrassinvaded soil lost more mineral N, bicarbonate-P, and soil-solution K+, Ca+2, SO4-2, and Mg+2, than the other vegetation soil types suggesting greater nutrient uptake from that soil. These data support the hypothesis that occupation of a soil by cheatgrass for a length of time increases nutrient availability. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0164 Sagebrush recruitment following juniper mastication in western Utah. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Brad Jessop Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Pinyon-juniper expansion and infilling has led to sagebrush habitat degradation throughout the Intermountain West. Often, sites dominated by pinyon-juniper have nearly complete loss of sagebrush and other important understory species. In response, land managers in Utah are increasingly using mastication (mechanical shredding) as the treatment of choice to reduce tree cover and restore ecological resiliency. Tree removal alone can lead to substantial vegetative response if there is sufficient understory prior to treatment. When the understory is depleted, seeding desirable species becomes necessary. In Utah's West Desert, masticated juniper sites where sagebrush was present prior to treatment showed prolific natural sagebrush recruitment 3-5 years post treatment relative to adjacent untreated sites which showed virtually no recruitment. Seeding sagebrush in masticated sites, where it was lacking prior to treatment, has also been successful. It's not clear what the mechanism is that promotes sagebrush recruitment and successful seeding in masticated sites. Tree removal appears to invigorate remnant sagebrush potentially leading to greater leader growth and seed production, and the mulch produced by shredding may provide additional safe sites for germination. However, the majority of sagebrush recruits occur within the interspace rather than the mulch regardless of whether the recruitment was natural or from seeding. Our observations suggest that the disturbance created by mechanically shredding juniper can stimulate natural recruitment of sagebrush and create conditions suitable for seeded sagebrush to emerge and establish. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0165 Insects With An Attitude: Biocontrol Agents For Noxious Weeds Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Larry Skillestad USDA APHIS PPQ, Spokane, WA, USA Undesirable, invasive noxious weeds have become a scourge of both public and private lands and waterways in our country. The economic impact of these invaders is astronomical, considering the loss of forage and habitat which sustain wildlife and domestic species along with the time, equipment, and chemical herbicides used to combat these weeds. Various methods are used to suppress these nonnative weeds from chemical herbicides, to burning, to cultivation. Classical biological control in which selected host-specific, plant attacking insects, mites, nematodes, and pathogens are introduced from the invasive plants' native lands provide an additional tool for land managers. The presentation provides an introduction to the concepts of biological control of invasive, nonnative noxious weeds. It will describe techniques to determine if any of these agents are currently present at a site. The presentation will also provide participants with available options to access sources of biological control agents. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0166 Projected changes in hayfield riparian communities following cessation of flood irrigation Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Oral Clayton B. Marlow1, Sarah Summerford1, Dustin Anderson1, Neto Garcia1, Kelly McCloseky2 1 Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA, 2Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming, USA As a first step in the rehabilitation of historic hayfields within park boundaries, Grand Teton National Park Service ecologists requested information on how current plant communities might change with the cessation of flood irrigation. Because of the similarity in geomorphology and broad range in irrigation patterns we were able to substitute space (50+ years of flood irrigation; irrigation cessation for 60+ years; irrigation cessation for 45 years) for time to develop a trajectory for community change. Hayfields abandoned for more than 60 years were still dominated by introduced forage species but had soils with low organic matter (< 5%) and no gleying or redoximorphic features. Fields where irrigation was stopped in the mid to late 1960s were similar to the older fields. The relationship between the cover of wetland indicator species, organic matter content and soil redoximorphic features in the fields still being irrigated suggested that the length of time the soil profile stayed wet during the summer had a significant effect on how quickly or slowly dominant riparian species declined on a site. Obligate and facultative wetland indicator species dominated the plant community on sites where groundwater stayed between 0 (surface) and 0.7m depth for 50 to 90 days each summer. Facultative species dominated sites where groundwater levels only stayed above 0.7m for 20 days or less each year. These patterns suggest that riparian species will quickly begin to decline when irrigation stops and a nearly complete shift to facultative species will have occurred within 30 years. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0167 Innovations in demand-driven and student-centered learning Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral John Taylor Rangelands Australia, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia Through highly strategic and innovative approaches, Rangelands Australia (RA) has developed the only graduate coursework program specifically addressing current and emerging issues in Australia's rangelands, and has comprehensively met stakeholder expressed needs to build capacity for ‘triple bottom line' (ie. economic, environmental and social) outcomes, improve access to relevant professional development, and nurture a learning community. RA's curriculum and course development processes have engaged over 1000 stakeholders nationally and have been widely acknowledged as ‘best practice'. The output has been a set of twelve new courses, accessible in distance and intensive modes. Through innovations to attract and retain mature age students, and especially under-represented groups, participation in the program has grown strongly at a time when interest in agricultural education is waning. Student evaluations and stakeholder surveys underpin continuous improvement, and reveal that the courses are widely seen to be high quality, challenging, practical and relevant to current and emerging issues, and that both industry and the wider community are deriving significant economic, environmental and social benefits from the program/courses. This is clearly an effective model for range science and management education. The critical elements of success have been: understanding the market for learning (especially the barriers to learning, learner preferences and ways to engage and retain ‘passionate learners'), a focus on quality, and the application of participatory, demand-driven and student-centered approaches to curriculum/course development and the delivery of courses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0168 Implementing EBIPM to direct the establishment of desired species Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jeremy James, Roger Sheley, Brenda Smith USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA The ecologically-based invasive plant management (EBIPM) decision framework is a mechanistic and process-based model offering land managers the potential for planning and predicting the outcome of integrated invasive plant management. When implemented, the goal of EBIPM is to direct the establishment of desired plant communities. We provide examples of how the ecological processes link to the principles and the tools and strategies when implementing a step by step plan to manage invasive annual grasses. The five steps of the EBIPM model include: 1) Complete a rangeland health assessment, 2) Identify the causes of invasion and the associated ecological processes that are not functioning, 3) Use ecological principles to link to choices of tools and strategies, 4) Decide on tools and strategies and 5) Use adaptive management to plan and implement integrated treatments. Examples are extracted from a number of landscape scale field demonstration sites that have been established in the Great Basin region as part of the USDA-ARS Area-wide project for EBIPM of invasive annual grasses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0169 Big sky small acres: rural living in montana Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Tracy Mosley1, Toby Day2, Virginia Knerr3, Jeffrey Mosley4, Jodi Powell5, Adam Sigler6, Lori Valadez7 1 Montana State University Park County Extension, Livingston, MT, USA, 2Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 3Montana State University Broadwater County Extension, Townsend, MT, USA, 4Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 5Montana State University Powell County Extension, Deer Lodge, MT, USA, 6Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 7USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bozeman, MT, USA Big Sky Small Acres: Rural Living in Montana is a quarterly, full-color magazine published by Montana State University Extension, in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and support from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (WSARE). As more people make Montana their home, traditional farms and ranches are being divided into smaller parcels, resulting in increased need for widespread education on how to manage and sustain the resources on smaller acreage properties. This magazine, first published in 2007, provides Montana landowners with information they need to sustainably manage their land. Perfect for the small acreage landowner, new landowner, or backyard enthusiast, Big Sky Small Acres features articles that promote healthier crops, lawns, gardens, and animals while protecting water, soil, and plants. Each issue covers a wide range of seasonal topics that may include information on weeds, horticulture, grazing, wildlife, water, and livestock. Topics covered in recent articles with a range management focus include reseeding pastures, Montana Range Days, conservation easements, and grazing management for winter pastures. The magazine’s editorial committee, comprised of three Montana State University County Extension Agents, three Montana State University Extension Specialists, and one USDA NRCS Public Affairs Manager, meets quarterly to determine the composition of each issue. Additionally, the editorial committee is responsible for writing articles, identifying authors for articles, editing, and proofing. The magazine is currently distributed to subscribers across Montana and in 18 other states, is disseminated in local Extension and NRCS offices, and is dispersed at trade shows and conferences. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0170 Long-term Monitoring of Aspen within the NPS Upper Columbia Basin Network Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Eva Strand1, Stephen Bunting1, Lisa Garrett2, Gordon Dicus2 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, USA, 2National Park Service, Moscow, USA Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is one of fourteen vital signs of ecosystem health and indicators of change selected by the National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN). Aspen is monitored in two parks; City of Rocks National Reserve (CIRO) and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO) in Idaho. In these parks, aspen is considered a focal resource because of its biological and aesthetic significance. The overarching programmatic goal of the UCBN aspen monitoring is to obtain data that will inform management decisions pertaining to the perpetuation of the quaking aspen populations in the parks. The monitoring protocol addresses the current status and longterm trend in regeneration, mature stems, dead aspen stems, and conifer density of park aspen populations as well as individual stands. Base data was collected in 239 permanent plots in the parks in 2007-2009 and re-visit data was collected in 2010-2011. Data collected in CRMO in 2007 and 2010 were tested for a change in stem counts of aspen and conifers within size groups. No significant change in aspen stem counts was detected across age groups using plot level or stand level means. A significant increase in aspen regeneration counts was found in both analyses. When analyzing raw stem counts, a significant increase was found for aspen suckers and a decrease was found in mature trees, at the parklevel analysis, but these results were not obtained for the analysis of stand-level means. No significant change was found for dead aspen stems in either analysis. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0171 Overview – Building Decision Tools for Invasive Plant Management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Timothy Prather1, Woodam Chung2, Bahman Shafii1, Tyron Venn2, Lawrence Lass1, John Wallace1, Pablo Aracena2 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 2University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA Land managers have many specific control tools available once a management strategy has been determined. Decision tools can assist the manager with setting strategy and choosing tools for control. Decision tools are fundamental to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Strategy depends, in part, on the stage of the invasion curve. Species of limited distribution can be considered for eradication. If the invasive species is further along the invasion curve then either control or containment should be considered. Invasive plant species may be at different positions along the invasion curve and the location of infestations may vary among species. A spatial decision tool called Weed Treatment Planner will assist land managers when making decisions about the tools to select and the resources needed to prevent further spread (containment) or to reduce the area infested (control). Site-specific tools are also being constructed to assist land managers in evaluating which tools are appropriate given the ratio of perennial grasses to annual herbaceous or annual grass invasive plant species. Site-specific tools discussed will include tools for yellow starthistle, meadow hawkweed, and African wiregrass. An IPM approach for invasive plants on rangelands must encompass the multiple scales a land manager may need to consider. Decision tools that inform potential strategy should result in invasive plant management decisions that meet control objectives. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0172 Impermanence Factors and Rangeland Management in the Desert Southwest Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Oral Samuel Parry, Rhonda Skaggs New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA Impermanence syndrome has been defined as a condition of anticipation or even apprehension by farmers due to their perception of increasing urbanization pressures on cropland. This condition has been found to account for disinvestment as well as an erosion of producer confidence and long-run planning. This research attempts to determine the degree to which impermanence fears threaten western rangeland livestock producers operating on federal lands in the southwestern United States. Factors other than urbanization are explored as potentially contributing to impermanence conditions. Results from a survey of southwestern New Mexico ranch operators in six counties located in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District were subjected to frequency as well as spatial analysis in order to identify ranch planning and management impacts related to proximity to the Mexican border, multiple-use issues, public perception, as well as economic and regulatory issues. This paper will present results of the survey and data analysis, discuss ranch management and planning implications, and explore policy implications of impermanence issues on public rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0173 Comparison of two methods for estimating shrub canopy cover Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Katie Santini, Stephen Bunting University of Idaho, Moscow ID, USA Shrub canopy cover is a common indicator used in monitoring rangeland ecosystems, as it provides information about hydrologic and vegetation site function. While many methodologies are available to quantify this indicator, few comparisons of precision among methodologies have been conducted. We compared the precision of cover estimates taken with line intercept and line- point intercept methods in Wyoming and Mountain big sagebrush communities, as well as in a GIS simulated environment where actual shrub cover was known. Shrub cover for the field sites varied from 0 to 47.5%. Cover estimates produced by line-point intercept method tended to be greater than those produced by line intercept method for both the field sites (69%) and the simulated vegetation (71%). However, the average difference across the gradient of sagebrush coverage was only 1.45%. When comparing the cover estimates to the actual cover, the line intercept tended to over predict shrub cover (59% of the time). The line point method tended to over predict and under predict shrub cover equally (52 and 48%, respectively). While the difference between the two methodologies was statistically significant for both field site and simulated trials (p = 0.0002, 0.0004), the difference between the two methodologies may be relatively small in comparison to other sources of error in monitoring of these ecosystems. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0174 Long term vegetation change in California Park: evidence for alternate states? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Emily Kachergis1, Monique Rocca2, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez2 1 USDA-ARS High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Understanding shifts in ecosystem state is a frontier in ecology with important implications for land management and human well-being. The goals of this study were1) to describe long-term vegetation change in a high-elevation sagebrush steppe park (California Park, Colorado) and 2) evaluate evidence that this ecosystem exhibits alternate state dynamics. We examined change in species composition over 50 years (15 permanent transects, six sites) and related it to management and climate drivers using nonmetric multidimensional scaling. We found that species composition has changed over time in response to management but not climate. Spraying herbicide resulted in short-term increases in native palatable grasses and forbs and decreases of shrubs and the dominant, unpalatable forb, mule's-ears. Native grasses have since decreased again and shrubs have recovered, coincident with increases in cattle stocking rate and elk populations. The non-native pasture grass, timothy has become a dominant grass in California Park. Changes in species composition generally did not match alternate state dynamics. Instead of sudden, large, persistent shifts, composition changes were small and gradual and fluctuated through time. Two possible exceptions are 1) lack of recovery of the dominant forb mule's-ears after spraying, possibly indicating a shift from a state induced by overgrazing and 2) the recent increase in the non-native grass timothy. Long-term changes in species composition suggest that vegetation in California Park changes gradually in response to management rather than shifting suddenly between alternate states. The increase in timothy raises the question of whether gradual changes can still be irreversible. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0175 Geology and landforms can affect riparian water availability Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Oral Dustin Anderson, Clayton Marlow, Brian McGlynn, Neto Garcia Montana State Unversity, Bozeman, Montana/, USA Studies in the 1960’s and 70’s have shown that water takes various flow paths from hill slopes to the stream channel based on the local geology and that streams are continuously gaining and losing water to groundwater aquifers . Recent studies have shown that the geology and landforms function as drivers of groundwater and surface-water exchange. These can mitigate watershed processes via groundwater availability to shape riparian processes; e.g. discharge, seasonality. However, most riparian assessments fail to address these basic processes focusing instead on floristic composition and structure. We hypothesized that groundwater surface-water exchange is a first order process and that it dictates riparian water availability and that the underlying geology and landform can serve as a tool to gain greater understanding of a properly functioning riparian ecosystem. We tracked groundwater surface-water exchange using wells, piezometers, water temperature, conservative tracer injections and solute conductivity on an alluvial fan in the Gallatin valley. Hydraulic head was manually recorded while water temperature and electric conductivity was captured through recording sensors. Conservative tracer injection indicated 3% tracer losses over the 1.5km reach. Through spring and summer 2011 groundwater wells and piezometers showed flashy transient water. Given the amount of late season discharge (~300 l/s) present monitoring assessments suggests a larger floristic community then what is present. These metrics together suggest a disconnection between the surface-water and groundwater. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0176 The relative effects of grazing by bison and cattle on plant community heterogeneity in northern mixed prairie Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Adrienne Tastad, Nicola Koper Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Grazing by domestic cattle may mimic natural historic disturbance by bison in northern mixed prairie. However, there is no agreement within the literature as to whether cattle function as ecological equivalents to bison in a conservation context. Each herbivore exhibits different selective grazing behaviours at multiple scales, but it is unclear whether the sum of selective behaviours results in different impacts on ecosystem processes and biodiversity. This study examined the influence of bison and cattle grazing at different intensities on plant communities in Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan. The relative influence of each herbivore on floristic diversity, plant community composition, structure, and spatial heterogeneity was measured using Modified Whittaker plots, using dung pats as a measure of grazing intensity. Responses of the plant community to grazing intensity, and the interaction between grazing intensity and species of grazer, were analyzed using mixed-effects models. Cattle and bison had similar (but not identical) effects on plant community composition and structure after three and five years of grazing, respectively. The forb component increased with grazing intensity, while vegetation height-density and litter decreased. Floristic diversity varied significantly based on the interaction of grazing intensity and species, which may suggest either that the two herbivores had different impacts on plant community diversity, or that there were inherent differences between areas grazed by bison and areas grazed by cattle. This study will inform future management aimed at conservation of prairie habitat using bison or cattle to mimic historic disturbances. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0177 Ranchers subsidize public lands through stewardship Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Oral Sheila Barry1, Larry Forero1, Lynn Huntsinger2, Josh Davy1, Stephanie Larson1, Glenn Nader1 1 University of California, Cooperative Extension, USA, 2University of California, Berkeley, California, USA Livestock ranchers in California and much of the west rely upon a mix of public and private lands to sustain their grazing operations. Ranchers typically spend their own time, money and equipment on stewardship activities associated with leased public grazing land. These non-production costs are seldom quantified, but the benefits accrue to the broad society. Rancher activities may include providing security, monitoring change, maintaining and improving property infrastructure, managing vegetation, enhancing wildlife habitat, and weed and pest abatement. Documenting the value of rancher stewardship on public grazing leases should not only highlight the importance of partnership with public land and non-profit managers but also bring to light more of the true costs associated with land stewardship. In this first approximation study, interviews and cost assessments for 15 ranchers using federal, state, and/or local public lands are examined to reveal the spectrum of rancher investment in public lands and some of the factors that influence that investment. Costs were substantial and varied among ranches. In particular larger costs were associated with administration, maintenance of infrastructure, grazing management, and steward presence, while pest management was a smaller expenditure. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0178 Effects of grazing intensity on plant biodiversity and vegetation structure in a northern mixed-grass prairie Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Tonya Lwiwski, Nicola Koper University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada In the Great Plains of North America, grazing is considered a keystone process. Currently, livestock management practices on these rangelands strive for even use of forage, which create a homogenous landscape. It has been recognized that many grassland species have different habitat requirements; consequently, maintaining a heterogeneous landscape is imperative to conserve biodiversity. Grasslands National Park of Canada, located in the northern mixed-grass prairie of southern Saskatchewan, implemented a long-term study to assess the effects of grazing intensity of cattle on vegetation and habitat heterogeneity. Plant species diversity and habitat structure were assessed in nine pastures, each was approximately 300 ha. Three of these pastures were selected as controls and had no grazing, and six were grazed at a range of grazing intensities (stocking rates) from very low to very high intensities for this region (AUM of 0.23 to 0.83 per ha, approximately 20 to 70% utilization). Three years of postgrazing data were collected to date. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to evaluate effects of year, grazing intensity (AUMs/ha) and the interaction of grazing intensity × year. Results suggest that the effects of grazing are cumulative and increase over time. Plant species richness and diversity increased as grazing intensity increased. Conversely, habitat heterogeneity decreased as grazing intensity increased. All effects became more pronounced over time. To maximize overall biodiversity, the use of a variety of grazing intensities is suggested to maximize heterogeneity at the landscape level, while still allowing for increased plant diversity at elevated grazing intensities. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0179 Using Flickr TM to learn about public perceptions of cattle grazing on public lands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Oral Sheila Barry University of California, Cooperative Extension, USA Public land managers and livestock operators often question whether or not open space management objectives including public access for recreation are compatible with livestock grazing. Public concerns ranging from the potential environmental degradation to fear have led some public land managers to limit or curtail the use of grazing. Because land managers increasingly recognize the value of grazing, it is essential that they have accurate information about the public's concerns regarding cattle so that they are better equipped to address concerns, educate the public and continue the use of grazing as a land management tool. With the exponential growth in social media and the willingness of people to share ideas with internet communities there is a growing interest in what we can gleem from a photo sharing website like Flickr.comTM. This project used Flickr to develop a data set from photos and comments taken on grazed open space lands (33 different parks) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Only photos which included comments or tagging with terms such as cattle or grazing were included in the data set. The data set, which included 1087 photos and over 700 comments, illustrates how park users respond when they encounter cattle or impacts from cattle grazing. The comments which were categorized as descriptive, negative, positive, or indicating fear revealed that while many park users providing photos and comments had positive feelings towards cattle and grazing they were also curious about livestock. The comments also demonstrated a need for education about cattle behavior. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0180 Historical Overview of the Sagebrush Seed Industry Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Richard Stevens Maple Leaf Seed Co. Ret., Utah, USA In the 1960's and 1970's big sagebrush was somewhat accepted as a wild and disturbed land and wildlife habitat restoration species. With continued research, seed collection, storage, and seeding techniques and equipment were identified and developed. Through the years sagebrush species and subspecies taxonomic identification improved along with individual species site requirements and a better understanding of their palatability and compatibility characteristics. In the early years all sagebrush seed was identified as big sagebrush seed. By the early 1990's seed from up to 20 separate species and subspecies were being seeded. Seed testing standards and site collection certification programs were implemented. Federal and state agencies and the reclamation industry, seed purchasing and seeding programs have not always employed the most recent available seeding information. This has resulted in spotty seeding success and stand establishment, ranging from complete failures to moderate success. These varied results have negatively influenced seed purchase and use. Demand for sagebrush seed has resulted in the emergence of native seed companies. A good number of companies have come and gone. Sagebrush seed sales peaked from 2005 to 2007 with as much as 1/2 million bulk lbs. being sold each year. Sales have steadily decreased to 90 to 110 thousand bulk lbs. in 2010. In the early years seed sold for as little as $0.50 per bulk lb. During the peak years $90.00 per bulk lb. was common. In 2010 seed sold from $25.00 to $50.00 per bulk lb. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0181 Adaptive Grazing Management: A Case Study Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Grady Grissom Rancho Largo Cattle Co. LLC, Fowler, CO, USA Adaptive grazing managers report positive ecological and economic results from rotational grazing whereas controlled scientific studies show no positive response. The contrast of adaptive response versus controlled variables in complex systems drives this conflict. This work presents a 12-year case study of adaptive grazing management. The initial "grazing system" showed no positive results. Management adapted with specific goals; increase cool season grasses and shrubs. Management also moved to process-based decisions; deferrals that allowed seed production and graze periods determined by animal selection of plant species. These management actions were followed by desired ecological and economic outcomes. This temporal correlation suggests that: 1) long deferral periods facilitate plant species recruitment, 2) diverse plant species can improve animal performance, 3) diverse plant species can decrease supplementation cost. In addition, monitoring observations of ecological processes suggest a number of variable relationships important to adaptive grazing management: 1) plants selected by animals versus season, 2) plants selected by animals versus time in a pasture, 3) plants selected by animals versus rarity of the plant species, and 4) grazing pressure versus location in a pasture. These relationships are presented as hypotheses derived from adaptive management. The presentation of hypothesis by management, that views complex systems as a whole, for process-based scientific study, that reduces complex systems, is suggested as an effective coordination of management and science. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0182 Seed banks and land-use history of pastures and hayfields on an organic dairy farm Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Matt Sanderson1, Robert Stout2, Sarah Goslee2, Jeff Gonet2 1 USDA-ARS, Mandan, ND, USA, 2USDA-ARS, University Park, PA, USA Knowing how land-use history affects the seed bank in pastures would be useful in anticipating potential weed management needs. We characterized the seed bank in pastures and hayfields with different management histories on an organic dairy farm in New Hampshire. Three hay fields [two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and one grass] and five pastures (3 to 50 years old) were sampled in August 2007 and 2010. At each site, two soil cores (1.88 cm diameter by 5 cm deep) were taken at 27 georeferenced points within a 20- by 50-m Whitaker plot. Soil samples were placed in a greenhouse for 5 months and germinated seedlings counted regularly. In 2007, seed banks in the hay fields had the fewest seeds (8 to 83 seeds per plot sample) and plant species (2 to 14 per plot sample) compared with pastures. Old permanent pastures had 98 to 277 seeds per plot sample and 12 to 25 plant species. The number of species and seedlings in pasture seed banks changed little from 2007 to 2010. Hayfields, however, differed dramatically in seedling density. Alfalfa hayfields increased from fewer than 50 to more than 400 seeds per plot sample in 2010 mainly due to an invasion by Capsella bursa-pastoris. Pastures appeared to be more stable in seed bank dynamics than fields with a recent history of cultivation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0183 The effect of mowing treatments on herbaceous plant production in Wyoming and mountain big sagebrush stands. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Aleta Nafus, Kirk Davies, Jonathan Bates USDA-ARS, Burns, Oregon, USA The sagebrush (Artemisia Nutt.) ecosystem occupies over 62 million hectares in western North America. It provides critical habitat for many wildlife species and constitutes a major forage base for western livestock operations. Wyoming and mountain big sagebrush communities are often mowed to increase native perennial forbs and grasses. However, there is limited information evaluating whether the expected benefits of mowing intact Wyoming and mountain big sagebrush are achieved. In addition, disturbances in sagebrush communities may promote exotic annual grass dominance. We found that mowing Wyoming big sagebrush stands failed to increase native perennial herbaceous vegetation, but slightly increased the exotic annual grass, cheatgrass. Mowing mountain big sagebrush stands, in contrast, did result in slight increases in herbaceous vegetation without increasing exotic annual grasses. However, native perennial forbs did not increase. Therefore, it appears that mowing Wyoming big sagebrush stands does not produce the expected increases in native herbaceous production but mowing mountain big sagebrush stands can result in increased native herbaceous production. However, it is important to note that cheatgrass was not a significant component of either community pre-disturbance and response may have been different if the understories were more degraded prior to mowing application. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0184 Medusahead spread along vector pathways and random transects Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Aleta Nafus, Kirk Davies USDA-ARS, Burns, Oregon, USA Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.)Nevski) is an aggressive exotic annual grass invading rangelands in the western United States. Its spread is a serious management concern because it reduces biodiversity, decreases forage production, degrades wildlife habitat and alters ecosystem function. Medusahead seeds have a long awn covered in small barbs which would facilitate dispersal by adhesion to animals and vehicles. Roads and animal trails are probably major vector pathways for medusahead; however, information is lacking quantifying medusahead spread along them. We found that medusahead presence was greater along roads than animal trails and random transects. These results suggest that roads should receive priority for efforts to prevent the spread medusahead. Other factors also contribute to the spread of medusahead and thus, a comprehensive plan for medusahead management will be needed for long-term success. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0185 Use of low-stress herding and protein supplementation to target grazing in central New Mexico Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Mitchell B. Stephenson1, Derek W. Bailey1, Kristin Romig2 1 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2USDA-Agricultural Research Service Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA A study was conducted at the Corona Livestock and Research Center in central New Mexico to determine if targeted grazing could be used to improve wildlife habitat and decrease the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Results from year 1 of a 3-year study are presented. Low-stress herding and low moisture block supplement (LMB) were used to target the grazing of 198 Angus cross cows within two study pastures (890 and 1601 ha). Three target and three control areas were chosen randomly from 6 paired 20-ha areas. Paired target and control areas were evaluated for 1 week with no herding and no protein supplementation (control period) followed by 1 week of daily herding to LMB located within targeted areas. Ten cows were tracked at 10-min intervals using geographical position system collars. Pre- and post-herding fecal abundance and standing crop data were used to evaluate the extent that grazing was targeted. No difference (P ≥ 0.61) in time spent in target and control areas during herding was detected. Similarly, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.51) in time spent in target areas during herding and control period. However, fecal abundance was greater (P ≤ 0.08) in the targeted areas than in the control areas. Standing crop was similar in target and control areas following treatment periods. Individual intake of LMB · -1 was lower than expected (0.07 kg day ), which may have limited the likelihood of cattle remaining in target areas and, as a result, decreased the impact of targeted grazing on vegetation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0186 Biomass production in Mongolia's desert-steppe: relationship to grazing and community based rangeland managment Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Chantsallkham Jamsranjav, Robin Reid, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez Coloardo State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA We assessed standing crop biomass along grazing gradients within several ecological sites in the desertsteppe region of Mongolia, in districts with and without formal community-based rangeland management (CBRM). Our objectives were 1) to better understand vegetation dynamics in response to grazing across varied soil types within the desert-steppe, and 2) to assess whether there were differences in standing crop between rangelands managed by formally organized CBRM groups and those under traditional pastoral management regimes. First, we classified ecological sites based on soil texture, landform, elevation, slope and aspect, and compared total biomass and biomass of plant functional groups among ecological sites. Next, in order to understand the impacts of management on desertsteppe rangelands, we assessed differences in total and functional group biomass along the grazing gradients in CBRM and non CBRM herding communities stratified by ecological site. We hypothesize that 1) we would find less litter, more forbs and less standing crop biomasss near impact point (100 m) than farther away (1000 m), and 2) that we would find less litter, more forbs and less biomass in non CBRM areas than CBRM areas. Field observations suggest some support for these hypotheses and these hypotheses will be tested and discussed in this presentation. This information provides an important test of the ecological impacts of grazing and community-based rangeland management in the Mongolian desert-steppe. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0187 Competition between cattle and black-tailed prairie dogs in the western Great Plains: assessing tradeoffs between forage quality and quantity Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral David Augustine1, Tim Springer2 1 USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Woodward, OK, USA Black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPD) can affect forage available to cattle by reducing forage quantity and increasing forage quality, but few studies have simultaneously measured the magnitude of these effects. During 2009 - 2010, we measured spatial and temporal variability in forage quantity (biomass) and quality (in vitro dry matter digestibility and protein content) on versus off BTPD colonies at a site in northern mixed prairie (South Dakota) and two sites in shortgrass steppe (Colorado). In northern mixed prairie, prairie dogs significantly reduced forage quantity by 63%, and increased in vitro digestibility by 16%. At one shortgrass colony complex, BTPD reduced forage quantity by 37%, but had no effect on digestibility. At the second shortgrass complex, BTPD increased forage digestibility by 5.2%, but had no effect on forage quantity, likely due to above-average precipitation. Measurements in 2010 revealed increasingly negative BTPD effects on forage quantity over the course of the growing season at all 3 complexes (30%, 36% and 48% reduction in May, July and September respectively). At the same time, BTPD enhancement of forage digestibility increased over the growing season, from 6.8% in May to 8.6% in July and 9.0% in September. Findings demonstrate substantial spatiotemporal variability in prairie dog effects on forage quality and quantity across the Great Plains, related to variation in dominant grass species and variability in precipitation. Data provide a basis to assess prairie dog - cattle competition relative to the proportion of a pasture occupied by colonies and cattle foraging patterns. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0188 Applications of remote sensing technology to assess landscape structure of pygmy rabbit habitat selection at multiple scales Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Virginia Harris, Eva K. Strand, Janet L. Rachlow University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a species of special concern in the Great Basin and adjacent mountain ranges in the western US. Its primary habitat is in the sagebrush steppe dominated by plant communities that include big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus spp.), however its preferences for levels of shrub cover and spatial arrangement of shrubs are not well known. This study evaluated selection for landscape structure by pygmy rabbits at two study sites in the Lemhi Valley of east central Idaho across a series of extents and landscape metrics. Specifically, we quantified the landscape composition and spatial patterns of shrub cover within 6, 60, and 120-m buffers around known pygmy rabbit locations on a map with 3-m pixel resolution and four shrub canopy cover classes (0-5%, 5-15%, 15-25%,and >25%). We used a sum rank non-parametric test to evaluate habitat selection in proportion to different shrub cover classes, patch shape, evenness, and patch interspersion. Selection by pygmy rabbits differed between study sites for some extents metrics. However, when looked at comprehensively, results indicated that pygmy rabbits were selecting habitat based on landscape structure. Specifically, the rabbits showed selection for areas of 15-25% shrub cover within the smallest buffer size and interspersion of cover levels at the largest buffer sizes. Furthermore, we conclude that fine-scale remote sensing and landscape pattern analysis are useful tools in assessments of habitat selection by pygmy rabbits at multiple scales. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0189 Sagebrush-steppe wetlands and meadows of the upper Sweetwater River: a historical analysis Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Oral D. Terrance Booth1, John C. Likins3, Samuel E. Cox2 1 USDA-ARS, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 2DOI-BLM, Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 3DOI-BLM, Lander Field Office, Lander, WY, USA Montane wetlands and meadows spread, store, and regulate water flow while providing other valued ecological services. We questioned if a grazing change from herded sheep to season-long free-roaming cattle on the high desert south of the upper Sweetwater River has diminished the region's wetlands. Areal extent is an ecological indicator for wetlands. We used aerial images (0.3- to 1-m ground sample distance (GSD)) collected at approximately 20-year intervals between 1948 and 2005 to test for decreased wetland area. We used a 2008 aerial survey (systematic, intermittent, nested 1-, 8-, and 18-mm GSD) along 150 km of streams to look for in-stream erosion features. The historical images provided no evidence of a wetland-area trend; however, we show that 1-m GSD imagery is inadequate for detecting regional channel erosion. Eleven named streams were surveyed in 2008 and all but three had headcuts. The three streams without headcuts were either <1,000 m long, or had been remediated. Approximately 90% of scenes showed distinct herbivore trailing. We conclude that active headcutting and channel scouring evident in 2008 images indicates past and on-going loss of wetland/meadow area and waterstorage capacity. Given the 2008 evidence of headcut erosion and high herbivore concentration on the region's riparian systems, we recommend grazing-management changes, headcut remediation, and monitoring the rate of soil organic matter replacement in area meadows and wetlands. We recommend riparian monitoring include systematic, intermittent sampling by acquisition of nested imagery on the order of 1, 8, and 18-mm GSD. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0190 Black greasewood community response to aminocyclopyrachlor application Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Jordana J. LaFantasie1, Brian A. Mealor2, Andrew R. Kniss2 1 Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, USA, 2University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA Black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.) is a widely distributed shrub on saline soils throughout western North America. Greasewood communities are susceptible to invasion by several invasive plant species such as Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens (L.), halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus (Stephen ex Bieb.), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum (L.) and others. Greasewood contains oxalates which are capable of poisoning both cattle and sheep if sufficient quantities are consumed, and therefore, may also be targeted for removal from some areas. Aminocyclopyrachlor, a new synthetic auxin herbicide, promises to be useful for target weeds often found in association with greasewood, but the effects of aminyclopyrachlor application on greasewood communities have not been documented. To evaluate the effects on greasewood communities, we applied aminocyclopyrachlor to three greasewood sites at 0 to 0.133 kg ai acre-1 within a randomized complete block design at each site. We recorded vegetation canopy cover using the line-point intercept method at 0, 1 and 2 years after treatment. We also evaluated greasewood control (% visual) and mortality at all three sites. Canopy cover of bare ground and annual forbs increased with increasing rates of aminocyclopyrachlor, whereas shrub and cool-season perennial grass cover decreased. While aminocyclopyrachlor application reduced the overall amount of shrub cover, greasewood mortality was ≤ 50%. These changes in canopy cover remained evident 2 years after application. Our results indicate that, as with many other broadleaf-selective herbicides, caution and proactive planning to avoid nontarget injury should be used when incorporating aminocyclopyrachlor into rangeland weed management programs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0191 Soil Organic Matter of High-Elevation Wetlands in a Sagebrush Ecosystem: Fence-line Contrasts Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Oral John C. Likins1, D. Terrance Booth2, Paul J. Meiman3 1 DOI-BLM, Lander Field Office, Lander, WY, USA, 2USDA-ARS, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 3Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Most wetlands are flow-regulating, water-storing features of hydrologic systems that without disturbance will usually have high soil organic matter (SOM) and a related high soil-water-storage capacity. It has been postulated that the 1960’s-era change from herded sheep to season-long grazing by free-ranging cattle in the sagebrush ecosystem of the southern upper Sweetwater River drainage, caused a significant loss of SOM in small, often linear wetlands contributing to perennial feeder streams of the River. In an initial assessment of this postulation, we measured wetland SOM in the top 25-cm inside and outside of fenced exclosures in three wetlands in the area of interest. The exclosures ranged in age from six to more than 50 years and we collected and analyzed a total of 123 samples from cross-channel transects located 10-m above or below exclosure fences. Among all wetland sites (inside and outside), the wetland with the oldest exclosure had the greatest SOM. Across wetlands, SOM inside exclosures averaged 30.7% compared to 23.3% (P = 0.001) outside. We conclude that protected wetland soils of the area have greater SOM than those exposed to season-long cattle grazing and we recommend wetlands grazed by livestock be monitored to determine if their SOM is decreasing. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0192 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Update on Wild Horse and Burro Populations and Management Strategies Implemented by the BLM Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Presenter TBD Presenter TBD Bureau of Land Management, Washington D.C., USA The Bureau of Land Management estimates that approximately 38,500 wild horses and burros (about 33,000 horses and 5,500 burros) are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states based on the latest data available, compiled as of February 28, 2011. Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control herd sizes. The estimated current free-roaming population exceeds by nearly 12,000 the number that the BLM has determined can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses. The appropriate management level is approximately 26,600. Off the range, there are more than 40,000 other wild horses and burros that are fed and cared for at short-term corrals and long-term pastures. (As of July 2011, there were approximately 10,100 in corrals and 30,200 in Midwestern pastures.) All wild horses and burros in holding, like those roaming the public rangelands, are protected by the BLM under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This information was obtained from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program Website. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0193 Modeling cover and grazing effects on runoff and erosion in a Pacific Northwest grassland Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Hussin Alshantiri1, Linda H. Hardesty1, William J. Elliot2, Joan Q. Wu3 1 Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA, 2USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID, USA, 3Washington State University, Puyallup, WA, USA To better predict runoff and erosion rates relative to grazing management and salmonid habitat requirements, the Water Erosion Prediction Project model (WEPP, v2010.1) was applied to 2 grazing units on Asotin Creek, WA. We assessed the effects of vegetative cover and grazing (wildlife and cattle) on runoff and sedimentation using site-specific climate, soil, slope, and management data. Analysis of variance was used to compare WEPP-simulated annual runoff and sediment yield as affected by grazing unit, aspect, and grazing scenario. Simulated runoff for the no-grazing scenarios were significantly different between units (P < 0.0001), aspects (P = 0.0006), and current grazing (P < 0.0001). The WEPP model accurately predicted more biomass on the north vs. south slope of the Smoothing Iron unit. WEPPsimulated runoff and sediment yield on north- and south-facing slopes at Smoothing Iron were significantly different (P < 0.0001). Aspect was not significant in the Pintler Cr. unit. Minimum runoff and erosion occurred when current year-round elk grazing was excluded from Smoothing Iron. Brief spring cattle grazing had no impact on runoff or sediment yield, even when the actual stocking rate was doubled. WEPP-simulated runoff ranged from 12.1 to 21.6 mm depending on the site, aspect, and vegetation cover under current grazing management. Previously reported (Browne et al. 1995) sediment yields ranged -1 from 1.9 to 8.2 t ha for these subwatersheds. The mean WEPP-simulated yield from a Smoothing Iron hillslope was 9.0 t ha-1 and 0.7 t ha-1 for Pintler Cr., near reported values. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0194 Wrap up and Symposium Summary Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Jeremy Drew Resource Concepts, Inc, Carson City, NV, USA Throughout the day the symposium on Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses will host a series of speakers from around the world who will discuss current knowledge about wild and feral horse populations, their ecology, habitat use and management. This discussion will capture the key points from each of the previous presentations and attempt so succinctly summarize a full day's worth of information. This recap and summary is intended to highlight the key points from throughout the day in an effort to facilitate an interactive and dynamic panel discussion scheduled to follow. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0195 Woodland thresholds and sagebrush steppe recovery after fire Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Oral Jon Bates1 ,2, Kirk Davies1 ,2, Rob Sharp3 1 Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, Oregon, USA, 2USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Burns, Oregon, USA, 3Bureau of Land Management, Burns, Oregon, USA Prescribed fire in post-settlement piñon-juniper woodlands has been increasingly employed to restore big sagebrush steppe plant communities. We compared vegetation recovery following cutting-prescribed fire treatments on Phase 2 (mid expansion) and Phase 3 (late expansion) western juniper woodlands on Steens Mountain, Oregon. Herbaceous vegetation on Phase II woodland sites was comprised of native perennial and annual vegetation before and after fire. Herbaceous vegetation in Phase 3 woodlands shifted from native species to dominance by cheatgrass and other invasive weeds after fire. Shrubs on Phase 2 sites were mainly comprised of sprouting species and snowbrush after fire. The shrub component on Phase 3 sites was dominated by snowbrush following fire. Mountain big sagebrush cover was less than 1% of preburn cover in Phase 2 and Phase 3 sites, 6 years after fire. The results indicate that woodland phase influence post-fire vegetation recovery and composition. This suggests that sagebrush steppe in Phase 1 or 2 woodland expansion stages are more likely to recover with their native vegetation components intact than Phase 3 woodland sites. The results suggest that sites transitioning from Phase 2 to Phase 3 woodlands have crossed a recovery threshold where there is a greater potential for invasive weeds to dominate rather than native vegetation after fire. Phase 3 sites that are burned are likely to require seeding and potentially weed control to restore big sagebrush steppe vegetation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0196 Data support for a state-and-transition model: what have we learned? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Ecological Sites and Thresholds Author's preference: Poster Brandon Bestelmeyer1, David Briske2, Maria Fernandez Gimenez3, X. Ben Wu2 1 Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, 3Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA State-and-transition models (STMs) were conceived as a means to synthesize knowledge about alternative plant communities and the processes that lead to transitions among them for specific land areas. STMs that have been developed over the past decade have often been limited by 1) a lack of detail on ecological mechanisms and management effects and 2) an over-reliance on expert knowledge and casual observations that are seldom critically evaluated. We used a state-and-transition model developed 10 years ago, in consultation with local experts, as a basis to examine how a model's structure would be changed via changes to model concepts, inclusion of a broad-scale, data-rich inventory dataset, and new experiments and monitoring. We found that elements of the initial model (Sandy ecological site, Chihuahuan Desert, Major Land Resource Area 42.2) were supported by the data, yet others were not. We found that the reference state was more resilient, an eroded shrubland state could attain higher grass cover, and that grasses and shrubs coexist over a wider range of values than previously assumed. We also found that the model could be simplified by reducing the number of states and quantitative criteria for ecological states and community phases were developed. This assessment suggests that a combination of local/expert knowledge and different kinds of data can be brought together to produce improved STMs. Even if this level of effort is not possible for all STMs in area, it should be possible for widespread or "benchmark" ecological sites in most Major Land Resource Areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0197 Development of a Smoke Modeling Prediction Tool in Support of the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Oral Tom Gross, Douglas Watson Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Topeka, KS, USA The Flint Hills region of Kansas is the last, large expanse of tallgrass prairie in North America. A long tradition of fire management by private ranchers to improve rangeland productivity has prevented the intrusion of woody and other undesirable plants into the prairie. Burning of the tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills generally occurs in April. With the majority of prescribed fire activities occurring during this time period, a large amount of particulate matter and ozone precursors are released into the air during a relatively short time period and has lead to air quality problems in downwind areas. To address these air quality issues, the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan (SMP) was developed and written by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in conjunction with a subcommittee composed of urban and rural representatives. One of the many tools developed as part of the SMP was a model prediction tool. This tool was developed to assist the land manager/rancher in making informed decisions as to whether the smoke from that fire would negatively affect air quality in downwind metropolitan areas. Two forecast models have been developed. The Cumulative Fire Impact map is generated by the first model. This map shows the predicted potential contributions of smoke from each county to air quality in urban areas. This information is based on the assumption that multiple fires will be occurring simultaneously across the Flint Hills. A second model shows the direction and extent of the predicted plume from a single burn. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0198 Applications of Molecular Tools for Rangeland Ecology and Management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Melanie Murphy1, Chris Funk2, Erin Muths1 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 3 USGS, Fort Collins, CO, USA Molecular tools are becoming commonly available and are frequently applied in management of natural resources. These applications are increasing due to the development of new technology, cross-training of professionals and reduction in laboratory costs. However, how can molecular tools be applied to answer questions in rangeland ecology and management? These tools can be very effectively applied to meet production goals, address rangeland assessment, monitor wildlife populations, develop landscape-level planning tools, and inform adaptive management. We give concrete examples of these applications, discuss the type of molecular data needed, and best practices for collecting/analyzing those data. Production goals may be more effectively met by identifying plant strains that are drought tolerant. Molecular methods can be used in rangeland assessment to identify presence of cryptic species and quantify genetic diversity within a species. Wildlife species of concern can be monitored for presence, genetic diversity, and movement within a management area. Ability of wildlife to move through a managed landscape can be difficult to assess. Genetic connectivity data can be applied on a landscape level to evaluate ability of species to move through the current landscape and evaluate potential future landscapes under alternative management plans. We conclude with a case study on chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) in mixed land ownership (Larimer County, Colorado), evaluating the effect of alternative land management strategies. We find that connectivity was higher in areas with active ranch land compared to alternative lands uses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0199 Refining the Rough Fescue Ecological Site Description for the Montane Natural Subregion of Alberta Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Ron McNeil1, Craig DeMaere2, Mike Alexander2 1 LandWise Inc., Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 2Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada The description of the Rough Fescue ecological site (cc) in southwestern Alberta encompasses 20 range plant community types, with most of the currently described locations representing the Rough fescue Idaho fescue-Parry oatgrass plant community type and related successional communities. Due to multiple plant communities, descriptions for the Rough Fescue ecological site span a wide range of conditions. For example, elevation ranges from 1300 to 1900 m, and slopes range from 0 to 70%. This lack of specificity presents difficulties when inexperienced personnel attempt to use the Rough Fescue ecological site classification. In order to refine the description of the Rough Fescue ecological site, detailed soil and site characteristics were collected at 17 long-term exclosure sites in the Montane Natural Subregion of Alberta or in transitional locations. Ecological moisture regime and nutrient regime were assessed in the field, and subsequently analyzed during a detailed office review, wherein the moisture regime was ranked from dry to moist, and nutrient regime was ranked from poor to rich. Production data from four of the 17 sites was used to determine that there was a correlation between production data and the moisture/nutrient regime. These results provide an improved understanding of the boundary conditions of the Rough Fescue ecological site, and provide a more specific description of typical soil and site conditions for the Rough Fescue ecological site. Consistent application of moisture and nutrient regime is recommended for development and/or modification of ecological site and plant community descriptions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0200 Teaching across disciplines and institutions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Karen Hickman1, Melanie Murphy2 1 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA, 2University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA Current rangeland ecology and management programs are being challenged by 1) the shifting demographics of students who are predominantly urban and have little to no rangeland experience, 2) increasing pressure to provide broad-based courses for a wider audience with the goal of increasing student enrollment, 3) the need for greater accessibility of high quality teaching materials/opportunities for educators who have little to no experience in traditional range management programs, and 4) increasing focus on importance of interdisciplinary education to produce effective rangeland managers and researchers. Program reductions and increased institutional research requirements have reduced the number of teaching faculty in many university rangeland programs, while the need for graduates in range science and management has increased. Thus, the value of education and training across disciplinary boundaries is increasingly recognized at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Teaching range management courses to more diverse student audiences and non-traditional students requires a unique approach, a broad skillset of teaching methodology, and typically requires teaching across institutional as well as disciplinary boundaries. Despite increasing focus on the importance of interdisciplinary education, barriers to interdisciplinary training remain. We will discuss ways to approach these issues at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, one approach to overcome these barriers at the graduate level is to pool resources across multiple institutions with elements of local teaching, distance education, and experiential learning to create a learning experience that builds interdisciplinary applied research skills. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0202 Defining factors that influence performance of CBRM institutions and their resilience to climate change Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Poster Tungalag Ulambayar1 ,2, Maria Fernandes Gimenez1 ,2, Batkhishig Baival1 ,2 1 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, 2Department of Forestry and Rangeland Stewardship, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Since privatization of livestock in early 90s, Mongolia has been experiencing steady growth of livestock populations and increased pressure on the pasturelands. However, climate extremes in the forms of dzud and drought and economic shocks like sharp falls of prices affect both humans and ecosystems, deteriorating their functions. Such external disturbances have led to worsened herder livelihoods and, potentially, increased degradation of pastures. This research aims to identify factors that influence the performance and adaptive capacity of community-based rangeland management (CBRM) institutions. It also serves the purpose of evaluating the effects of CBRM on resilience of pastoral systems to climate change. We carried out case studies of 39 groups in four pairs of soums (counties) with and without formal CBRM experience in three provinces of the desert steppe ecological zone of Mongolia to compare the performance of traditional neighborhoods with those of CBRM groups. Qualitative data were gathered at both soum and community levels using individual interviews and focus group discussions. The comparative analysis focuses on local perceptions about collective actions, CBRM performance, leadership qualities, internal management and the level of governance within a CBRM institution, its ability to learn and to integrate knowledge into practices. These analyses will result in identification of major factors that play important roles in the successful performance of CBRM institutions, leading to increased resilience to climate change. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0203 Ecohydrology of Invasive Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Adam Gebauer, Suzanne Schwab, Rebecca Brown, Camille McNeely, Carmen Nezat Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA Streams within the Eastern Washington Palouse Prairie and Channeled Scablands suffer from water quality impairment, including nutrient loading and high water temperature. Poor water quality is associated with low stream discharge, which lessens dilution of pollutants and allows water to warm more quickly. Reed Canary Grass, Phalaris arundinacea, is a pervasive invader in these riparian zones. Our goal is to determine if P. arundinacea modifies riparian hydrology as a result of a long growing season and high rates of evapotranspiration. We predicted that P. arundinacea will have higher evapotranspiration rates than other local riparian plants. Here we present evapotranspiration rates, at the leaf scale, of P. arundinacea and other herbaceous and woody species. We used a Li-Cor Portable Photosynthesis System to determine leaf evapotranspiration rates of twenty herbaceous and woody plants along three stream reaches. Two reaches are along Cow Creek, Adams Co., WA and the third is along Pine Draw in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Spokane Co., WA. Evapotranspiration was standardized per biomass of leaf tissue. P. arundinacea had higher evapotranspiration rates per biomass than eleven of the eighteen species tested. To better understand water use by these plants, we will determine their source water by comparing the stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of stem water with stream water, shallow ground water, and rain water. Our data will help assess one potential role of P. arundinacea in exacerbating water quality and watershed management concerns in the northwestern U.S. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0204 Innovative Outreach Methods for Educating the General Public Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Rachel Mealor1, Rachel Frost2 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA As professionals and educators in the field of natural resources, our job is to provide information to the general public, a poorly defined audience with a wide range of ages, cultures, interests, and educational backgrounds. Furthermore, most educators are limited in time and resources which raises the question of how educators can reach the "general public" more effectively and efficiently. We advocate that audience identification is the most important aspect in effective outreach. Individuals learn in a variety of ways, and identifying the audience and their preferred mode of learning will make educational efforts more successful with greater impacts. Experiences and ideas provided from outreach educators in various fields will be presented with a natural resource focus. Educators and natural resource advocates will learn the importance of identifying your audience to maximize effectiveness, ways to identify how your audience learns and teaching strategies that have been proven successful. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0205 Saltcedar in the Great Plains: Seed Ecology Considerations Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Sarah Burnette1 ,2, Amy Symstad2, Roger Gates1 1 South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD, USA, 2United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND, USA This project evaluated seed emergence of saltcedar (Tamarisk spp.) as it relates to conditions found in riparian habitats of the Great Plains. Emergence tests were conducted in controlled growth chambers evaluating the following treatments on two soil types (clayed and sandy) with two seed sources, all of which were collected locally: 1) sterilized vs unsterilized soil; 2) bare ground vs vegetation cover; and 3) moisture levels. Emergence rates were higher in unsterilized soil (p < 0.006) and seed source proved to make a slight difference in this treatment (p < 0.073). Saltcedar seeds preferred bare ground over grass cover (p < 0.0015) and seed source was a factor (p < 0.013). Moisture levels were tested, moisture to substrate, at: 8.2, 25, 57, 85%. Moisture level, soil type, and seed source were all influential (p=<0.001). Seedling rates increased with increasing moisture. Additionally, seasonality of emergence was monitored in two infested areas of Western South Dakota as related to soil moisture (study in progress). Sixty 1-m2 plots at each site were established to monitor natural emergence with 0.25 m2 sub-plots, seeded with locally harvested seeds. Plots were stratified into three categories based upon top soil moisture which was determined by topography (elevation from nearest standing water or obligate vegetation): 1) high moisture; 2) moderate moisture; and 3) slight moisture; which created a stratified block design. Presently, data suggest higher emergence within the high moisture category and least emergence in the slight moisture category. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0206 Grazing Management - A Tool for Invasive Species Management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Rachel Frost Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA Livestock grazing is the most prevalent use of rangelands throughout the world and has a tremendous ability to alter the amount and kind of vegetation present on rangelands. Understanding how and why animals make dietary decisions along with a solid knowledge of invasive plant life-cycles and vegetative characteristics aid in developing specific grazing prescriptions that can minimize risk of invasion and even curtail invasive plant populations. Careful management of livestock grazing can be a tool to 1) improve conditions for desirable plants, 2) decrease invasive species and 3) restore ecological balance to an area. Grazing plans should be developed individually for each area based on invasive plant species, climate, soils and residual desirable vegetation. The power of grazing livestock can be used to control invasive plants through defoliation of the target plant, grazing the seed heads to suppress reproductive potential, and by trampling undesirable vegetation. Selecting the correct species of livestock is important to the success of the venture as well as refining the individual animal's dietary preferences and experiences. Grazing is a long-term commitment that, at times, may require managers to place a greater degree of emphasis on vegetation management than animal production. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0207 Evaluating the Sensitivity of Basal Gap Intercept for Evaluation of Rangeland Health in the Desert-Steppe of Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Retta Bruegger1, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez2 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA This research evaluates the sensitivity of basal gap intercept (BGI) to detecting degradation and interpreting landscape function in the desert-steppe of Mongolia, and compares it to line point intercept (LPI). We collected data along gradients from areas of high livestock densities (100-m from winter camps or wells) to areas of lower livestock densities (>1000 m from winter camps or wells) in three aimags (provinces) of the Gobi desert. Our analysis tested whether an increase in grazing pressure was correlated to an increase in average bare patch size, and assessed whether basal gap index (basal gap index = mean bare patch size x proportion of the line that is bare) increased with distance from highdensity gathering points. We hypothesized that average bare patch size would increase and basal gap index decrease with proximity to areas of high livestock density. We expected that total perennial cover (estimated using LPI) would decrease as average gap size increased. Total vegetation cover was expected to be a less sensitive indicator of degradation than average gap size, basal gap index, or percent perennial cover. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0208 Wildlife and Cattle Use of Locoweed-Infested Plots Treated With Targeted Grazing Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Weed Biology and Ecology Author's preference: Poster Laura Goodman1, Andres Cibils1, David Graham2, Lyndi Owensby1, Wendy Taylor1 1 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico State University, Clayton, NM, USA Targeted grazing (TG) programs use livestock to manipulate vegetation by placing the target (undesired) plant at a competitive disadvantage in relation to desired plants in the community. Subsequent preferential selection of treated sites by other herbivores could jeopardize the success of TG programs by neutralizing their competitive advantage. We monitored the presence of cattle and pronghorn antelope (Antilocarpa americana) on recently treated white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) plots at three ranches in NE New Mexico. At each site, two 200m2 plots that had been either grazed for five days by six ewes in June of 2009 and 2010 (TG), or untreated (control) were monitored with automated digital cameras with infrared heat and motion detectors for one year following treatment in 2009. TG treatments reduced white locoweed cover and density significantly. We analyzed a total of 1,551 and 60 cattle and antelope images, respectively. Contingency tables were built using PROC FREQ in SAS 9.2 and Chi square tests were conducted to determine whether experimental treatments were associated with differing proportions of cattle and pronghorn antelope image counts. Similar overall numbers of cattle and antelope images were obtained in TG (cattle:774; pronghorn:19) and control (cattle:777; pronghorn:25) plots. However, frequency of images with cattle or antelope grazing (vs. standing) was significantly higher (P Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0209 Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Community Restoration in Utah - 50 Years of Lessons Learned Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Danny Summers, Jason Vernon Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, UT, USA The Great Basin Research Center is a product of a very long and productive cooperative program between the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Forest Shrub Sciences Laboratory that began in the 1950's. When this unique cooperative program began, it was widely recognized that millions of acres of depleted western ranges need rehabilitation, however, no one had the plant materials, equipment or the knowledge to accomplish this daunting but important task. Today, range rehabilitation is a well established and economically important science that benefits both private and public lands. Plant development research continues to be conducted on improving existing habitat through plant selection and development. This research will improve the quality of forage on rangelands and provide quality habitat for wildlife. Long term research is being done to better understand plant community associations and responses on Utah's rangelands. It is vital to understand successional processes and competitive influences of species that are used in habitat restoration projects. This research provides valuable information (successes and failures) given the unique goals and objectives for each rehabilitation project. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0210 Comparison of initial seeding mixtures to existing botanical composition on roadsides in Nebraska. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Jonathan Soper1, Walter Schacht1, Carol Wienhold2 1 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA, 2Nebraska Department of Roads, Lincoln, NE, USA The Nebraska Department of Roads seeds complex seeding mixtures (>10 species) along roadways following highway construction. Establishment of permanent vegetation is expensive and, because of environmental conditions, often yields variable results. Seeding expense makes it imperative to evaluate long-term vegetation cover responses so that optimum seeding mixtures can be identified for variable roadside conditions. The research was conducted at 2 established roadsides (seeded 10 to15 years prior to study initiation) in each of the 5 eco-regions of Nebraska. The backslopes had been seeded with complex mixtures of native tallgrasses and forbs, which varied between sites and regions. Relative species composition of backslopes was determined using the modified step point method in 2008 and 2009. Botanical composition of backslopes differed by site, likely because of variability in seeding mixtures and diversity of environmental conditions across the regions. Invasive species were common on backslopes, with Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratenis L.) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyess.) composing 25 to 75% of the total. Rank correlation analysis was used to compare the current botanical composition (exclusive of the invasive species) to the relative species composition of the seeding mixture. Botanical composition of 4 of the 10 sites was positively correlated (p=0.05) to the seeded composition with the seeded, native tallgrasses dominant on these sites. Seeded forbs were generally uncommon at all sites. Overall, the complex seeding mixtures used on backslopes usually converted to a simple mixture of grasses dominated by invasive grasses and a few seeded tallgrasses. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0211 Seed removal patterns in burned and unburned desert habitats: implications for restoration Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Alexis Suazo, Donovan Craig, Cheryl Vanier, Scott Abella University of Nevada,Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA In desert ecosystems, selective foraging by seed consumers affects distributions of soil seed banks and consequently plant community composition. However, in burned habitats where direct seeding may be used to restore depleted soil seed banks, the roles of seed harvesters have not been assessed. We evaluated patterns of seed removal of nine seed species over 12 mo in burned and unburned Larrea tridentata scrub in the Mojave Desert, Nevada, USA. Seed removal patterns were influenced by season, habitat condition, and seed species. Percentage of seed removed was highest during spring (13% of offered seed) and summer (18% of offered seed). Rodents removed 45% of large mass seeds of Coleogyne ramosissima in burned and 18% in unburned habitats, and seed removal by ants was 7 and 19% in burned and unburned habitats, respectively. Ants removed the greatest amount of small mass seeded species, (Penstemon bicolor, Encelia farinosa, and Sphaeralcea ambigua) in unburned habitat. Seed removal imposes limitations on seed availability, particularly for large-seeded-species as both rodents and ants selected seeds of C. ramosissima. Protecting seeds from seed consumers significantly increased C. ramosissima emergence in unburned habitat, but seedling survival was higher in burned habitat. Through selective harvesting of seeds, granivorous rodents and ants may limit population recruitment of long-lived shrubs such as C. ramosissima. Successful seeding projects may require seed protection from granivore pressure, and seed selection and season for application need to be considered to reduce seed loss. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0212 Traditional Indigenous Community Mechanisms for Coping with Climate Change among the Ilchamus Pastoralists in Marigat District, Kenya Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Poster Clement Lenachuru, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Robin Reid Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA This study explores and describes the traditional/indigenous knowledge (TK/IK) that Ilchamus pastoralists in Marigat District, Kenya hold and how they use it to monitor and adapt to the unprecedented effects of climate change. It explores different sources of knowledge and how this knowledge is acquired, passed on, and used to predict weather conditions in the future. The study also identifies the roles of different community members in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We collected data in four focus groups and interviewed over 300 households in four villages. Preliminary results suggest that Ilchamus pastoralists hold knowledge about indicators of rainfall variability, and several biological and physical environmental factors that serve as advance warning of what the weather would be like in the coming days. They believe in the efficacy of indigenous knowledge and rely on it, but the knowledge is not effectively passed on in the community. Few members regularly consult "local experts" and other community members to learn about weather conditions. This means that few Ilchamus community members adapt their practices in anticipation of IK-based forecasts, partly due to limited consultations and availability of knowledge about weather conditions. The limited intergenerational transfer of IK currently threatens its existence over the longer term. One way to ensure continued existence and use of IK is to integrate local people and their knowledge with scientists and their knowledge into hybrid IK/scientific research on climate change. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0213 Impacts of Grazing on Spatial Heterogeneity of Vegetation in Sandhills Range Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Robert Vavala, Walter Schacht, Jerry Volesky, Jordan Johnson Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA Spatial heterogeneity of vegetation can be impacted by grazing. The selective nature of cattle can lead to patch grazing, that is, the utilization of small patches of vegetation or individual plants at the exclusion of others. Selective grazing can cause uneven patches of vegetation leading to inefficient use of forage resources. This study aimed to determine if different stocking densities and grazing period lengths would affect grass stubble height and spatial heterogeneity in Nebraska Sandhills pastures. Six treatments were used: season-long continuous grazing at moderate and heavy rates; 4-pasture rotation at moderate and heavy rates; and 50-pasture rotation at moderate and heavy rates. Grazing period length was 3 days in the 50-pasture rotation, 37 days in the 4- pasture rotation, and 150 days in the continuously-grazed pastures. Stubble heights were measured to determine if variability in patchiness existed between the different grazing treatments. Measurements were taken within two days after grazing was complete. Average stubble heights were 12.2±5.8cm in moderately-grazed pastures, 10.8±5.0cm in heavily-grazed pastures, 12.3±5.1cm in 50-pasture treatment, 10.6±4.3cm for the 4-pasture treatment, and 10.9±6.0cm in the continuously-grazed pastures. Mean stubble height in continuously-grazed pastures was significantly different than 50-pasture treatment (t=-5.02, p<0.01). Stubble heights in 4-pasture treatment differed significantly from those in the 50-pasture treatment (t=-7.08, p<0.01). Heavily-grazed pastures had significantly shorter stubble height than moderately-grazed pastures (t=-6.37, p<0.01). No significant difference between the continuous and 4-pasture treatments existed (t=0.99, p=0.31). In general, stubble height and spatial heterogeneity differed significantly between different grazing treatments. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0214 Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative: Results of Over 700 Partnership-Funded Projects. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jason Vernon1 1 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, UT, USA, 2Utah Department of Natural Resources, Salt Lake City, UT, USA Utah's Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) is a partnership-driven effort to conserve, restore and manage ecosystems in priority areas across the state. The WRI focuses on enhancing Utah's water quality and yield as well as its biological diversity. To achieve these results, WRI partners fund and perform physical and mechanical habitat manipulation, negotiate administrative changes in land management, and strengthen communication and team-building among the public and stakeholders. Launched in 2005 and managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the WRI has completed more than 700 projects and treated more than 600,000 acres. This partnership among state and federal agencies, conservation groups and private landowners has increased the scope and scale of ecosystemimprovement projects. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0215 Piñon and juniper tree mastication effects in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Jordan Bybee, Bruce Roundy, Leann Crook Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA Piñon and juniper (PJ) have been encroaching on the sagebrush steppe ecosystem since the mid-1800's, decreasing desired plant understory cover and diversity. To combat this encroachment, land managers in Utah are masticating hundreds of acres of PJ, without understanding the affects on understory plant communities. The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of PJ mastication as a management tool to increase cover and density of desirable understory plant species found in the sagebrush ecosystem. Research sites were selected using pre-treatment NAIP imagery and feature extraction (ENVI 4.5) to randomly select and pair untreated and treated subplots that had the same initial tree cover, across the state of Utah on public lands. Criteria for site selection was based on comparable untreated areas, woodland invasion phase, location, and time since mastication. Data was collected at 25 sites beginning in the spring of 2011. Data collection methods included line point intercept, herbaceous density quadrats, shrub density, and herbaceous biomass measurements. Preliminary observations suggest higher perennial grass cover following mastication than in untreated areas. While we did see some weed invasion, it was minimal where perennial grasses and shrubs were dominant. We also observed more shrub seedling (Artemisia spp) recruitment in masticated areas than in those areas that were untreated. By better understanding plant response (both desirable understory species and weeds) following PJ mastication, we will provide land managers information that will better support the management of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0216 Weather data, site variability, and probabilities of success: a practical perspective on adaptive management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Stuart Hardegree, Jaepil Cho USDA Agricultural Research Service, Boise, ID, USA Arid and semi-arid rangelands occupy over half of the earth's surface and are characterized by high variability in seasonal and annual precipitation. Invasive plants compete for soil and water and exacerbate inherent weather limitations for desirable plant establishment. Management guidelines for rangeland restoration are driven by actions designed to optimize water availability to desirable plant species during critical establishment periods, but climatological information is generally used only to make initial decisions about general species suitability. More detailed seasonal weather information is often available, but is commonly only used retrospectively to explain seeding failure. Current state-andtransition models acknowledge that there are a limited set of potential trajectories for moving between undesirable and desirable vegetation states. Ecological Site Descriptions include general climate information such as annual precipitation ranges, average monthly temperature minima and maxima, seasonality, and growing-season characteristics, but do not address the probabilities associated with transition pathways that are influenced by weather variability. Adaptive management alternatives should be viewed in the context of weather ranking during the establishment season being evaluated. If the seasonal conditions were significantly below average, it may not be necessary to abandon strategies that did not seem to work in that particular year. Lessons learned from successful management actions should also be weighed in the context of relative weather favorability. Multi-year evaluation should be considered when comparing alternative management treatments, and multi-year treatments may be necessary to achieve acceptable levels of establishment success at a given site. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0217 Modeling Erosion in a Southern New Mexico Watershed Using Agwa: Sensitivity to Variations of Input Precision and Scale Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Sarah Burnett1, Jason Karl2, Laurie B. Abbott1 1 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2USDA ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA Rangeland environments are particularly susceptible to erosion due to extreme rainfall events and low vegetation cover. Landowners and managers need access to reliable erosion evaluation methods in order to protect productivity and hydrologic integrity of their rangelands and make resource allocation decisions. Predicting erosion and its impacts, however, is a challenge due to the spatially variable nature of erosion and the difficulty of measuring it. One erosion model, the automated geospatial watershed analysis (AGWA), uses broad-scale GIS layer inputs to model erosion over entire watersheds to predict relative erosion rates and identify areas where erosion is high. In this research we conducted a sensitivity analysis of the AGWA model, to determine how varying the precision and scale of model inputs affects the magnitude and spatial distribution of erosion predictions. We compared AGWA outputs from three different scales and precisions of input data from a private ranch in Grant County, New Mexico: detailed vegetation and soils input layers derived from remote sensing and field measurements, ecological-site state mapping, and AGWA national-scale vegetation and soils layers. Additionally, erosion hotspots identified by AGWA from each input set were compared to locations within the ranch using rangeland health indicators to determine how AGWA predictions were sensitive to scale and precision in predicting areas susceptible to extreme erosion. The results of this study demonstrate how the AGWA model can be used to identify locations vulnerable to erosion and determine what scale of input is necessary to make useful predictions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0218 Genecology and Seed Zones for Indian Ricegrass Across the Southwest USA Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral R.C. Johnson1, M. J. Cashman1, Ken Vance-Borland1 1 USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, USA, 2The Conservation Planning Institute, Corvallis, OR, USA Restoration of rangelands is increasingly critical as biotic and abiotic stress compromise habitat quality. In the Western US, Indian ricegrass [Achnatherum hymenoides (Roemer & J.A. Schultes) Barkworth] is a native, widely distributed, highly desirable species in desert ecosystems. Yet there are no studies that match genetic variation in Indian ricegrass with climate across large areas of its natural distribution. Seeds from 106 locations across the Southwestern US were established in common gardens and phenological traits, production traits, and morphology traits were measured in 2007 and 2008. Analyses of variance revealed that all traits differed among collection locations, indicating genetic variation (P<0.01). Canonical correlation of garden traits and climate (annual and monthly temperature and precipitation) within phenology, production, and morphology categories resulted in one significant variate for phenology, two for production, and three for morphology (P<0.01). Linear correlations between monthly temperature and the first canonical variate for phenology, averaging r= 0.46, and production averaging r= -0.46 were all significant (P<0.01). However, correlation patterns for monthly precipitation for the same variates showed a strong seasonal pattern; highest during April, May, and June, averaging r= -0.43 and 0.48, respectively, and relatively weak in the summer and fall months. 2 Regression models of three canonical variates with climate (R = 0.72, 0.59, and 0.49) resulted in 12 mapped seed zones representing much of the Southwestern US. We recommend utilization of the seed zone map to guide and broaden germplasm selection for future restoration needs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0219 Information Exchange and Social Networks in Pyrenean Pastoral Communities Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Poster Maria Fernandez-Gimenez1, Federico Fillat2 1 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, Jaca, Huesca, Spain Socio-economic and demographic changes in the Central Pyrenees of Spain have accelerated in recent decades, resulting in a decline in the rural population and a change in the structure of pastoral livestock production characterized by a decrease in sheep husbandry, increase in cattle raising, decline in the practice of transhumance and use of natural pastures, and increase in feeding of cultivated fodder and hay. The demographic, socio-economic and policy drivers of these changes are well-documented, but other important aspects of this pastoral system remain little investigated, and could be key to maintaining its capacity to adapt to future environmental and socio-economic change. We interviewed 28 livestock producers in two Pyrenean valleys to investigate how herders acquire both traditional knowledge and new ideas and practices and explore the structure and role of social networks through which both traditional knowledge and new ideas and practices are transmitted. We found that bonding ties among family and peers were most important for transfer of traditional knowledge and that bridging ties with herders from other communities or technical, political or government entities were important for the introduction of new ideas and practices. The structure of herder social networks in two adjacent valleys differed and we also discovered differences in the information sources and social networks of mobile (transhumant) and more sedentary producers. Our results highlight strengths and vulnerabilities of Pyrenean pastoral systems as they face mounting socio-economic and environmental changes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0220 How cultivation history affects EBIPM success Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Lesley Morris1 ,2, Thomas Monaco1 ,2 1 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Logan, UT, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Cultivation is inextricably linked to the introduction and spread of invasive plants because it involves chronic disturbances (e.g., plowing, harrowing, fertilization) and the introduction of exotic species (e.g., crop seed and contaminant seed). The disturbances in cultivation are important because they can fundamental change one or more of the three causes of succession – site availability, species availability and species performance. Knowing cultivation history is an important component of the EBIPM framework because it helps identify which of these causes have been altered and are in need of repair. Without this historical understanding, it would be easy to misinterpret condition during the initial rangeland health assessment. In fact, formerly cultivated land can have very different conditions than adjacent noncultivated land, even on the same property. Cultivation can have surprisingly long-lasting legacies on vegetation, soils and hydrology, anywhere from decades to centuries. These cultivation legacies affect everything that happens on that land afterwards, so knowing this history can help to improve management success. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0221 Radial growth in aspen: influence of ploidy and climate on the Pando clone Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Justin DeRose1, Karen Mock2, Jim Long2 1 Forest Service, Ogden, UT, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Aspen stands in the western US play a disproportionately large role in harboring biodiversity and controlling large scale ecosystem processes such as fire and water relations. Sudden declines in putatively stable communities have led to an increased interest in the ecology of aspen. In this study we investigated the growth differences between diploid and triploid aspen ramets using dendrochronological techniques. Increment cores were sampled from Ramets within the Pando clone, controlling for potential error associated with competition, ramet age, sex, and ploidy. Results showed triploid aspen ramets grew more rapidly than diploids over the same time period, and this difference was most pronounced early in stand development. Growth response to climate varied little between triploids and diploids, where large ring width was associated with cool moist years, and small ring width was associated with above average spring temperatures. We hypothesize three mechanisms possibly controlling the observed differences in aspen ring width between triploids and diploids. Regardless of mechanism, the results have specific management implications. Maximizing aspen growth potential necessarily shifts the management focus to triploids. Because triploids reproduce asexually, artificial regeneration methods, which mimic wildfire, should be adequate for successful reproduction. However, in the absence of disturbance, it is unclear whether natural reproduction may rely on triploids or sexually reproducing diploids. Historically, genetic diversity in aspen landscapes has likely involved processes that promoted both sexual and asexual reproduction. In order to give aspen an evolutionary advantage, aspen management should focus on the long term maintenance of aspen genetic diversity. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0222 Aspen Restoration Efforts on the Fishlake National Forest: Lessons Learned Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Robert Campbell1, Allen Henningson1, Dale Bartos2 1 USDA-FS Fishlake National Forest, Richfield, Utah, USA, 2USDA-FS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Lab, Logan, Utah, USA More than 35 areas with aspen, totaling at least 70,000 acres, have been treated on lands administered by the Fishlake National Forest during the past 25 years. Aspen harvests, conifer harvests, prescribed burns, combinations of these treatments, and wildfires have resulted in vigorous stands of young aspen. Examples will be shown and discussed. Some of these areas had stable aspen stands and other areas had decadent aspen. Most of the treated areas were being encroached by conifers and included a component of Engelmann spruce, sub-alpine fir, and/or Douglas-fir. At times, protection is necessary for young aspen suckers to establish and thrive after treatments. Treatments in the Pando aspen clone, one of the largest in the world, will be discussed. We recommend, if possible, that only a part of a clone or area be treated at one time. We suggest using fire as an element of the treatment if advanced conifer regeneration is abundant and likely to compromise successful aspen regeneration. Prioritize treatments for landscapes that have the greatest risk for loss of aspen. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0223 Landscape Use of Cattle Used to Manage Fine Fuels in Southeastern Arizona through Targeted Grazing Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Retta Bruegger1, Larry Howery1, Derek Bailey2, Chuck Duncan3, Sean Lockwood4, Mitchell Stevenson2 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 3 U.S. Forest Service, Safford, AZ, USA, 4U.S. Forest Service, Nogales, AZ, USA A study was conducted in the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona to evaluate the efficacy of targeting cattle grazing to manage fine fuels in rugged terrain located far from water. Two paired control and target sites (5 ha each) were established before grazing. Cow-calf pairs were herded every other day to target areas for periods of 8 or 10 days during December and early January. Low moisture block (LMB) protein supplement was placed in target areas during herding, but it was not available during preceding control periods (8 or 10 days) when cattle were not herded. Three cows of the 51 cow/calf pairs in the study were tracked at 10-min intervals with global positioning system collars. During herding, cows spent more (P < 0.01) time in target areas (34.8% ± 4.2 SE) than corresponding control areas (0.3% ± 0.3 SE). Cows did not use target areas during the preceding control period when cattle were not herded and LMB was not available. Cattle used higher (P = 0.01) elevations (1284 m ± 13 SE) and areas farther (P = 0.01) from water (1547 m ± 105 SE) when cattle were herded and LMB was placed in target areas compared to the elevation (1212 m ± 12 SE) and distance from water (882 m ± 106 SE) of locations used during corresponding control periods with no herding or LMB. Preliminary results suggest that the combination of herding and strategic supplement placement can effectively focus cattle grazing in rugged mountainous rangeland. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0224 Ecological Trade-offs in Western Aspen- Differences in Resistance and Tolerence between Aspen Clones Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Richard S. Gardner1, R. Justin. DeRose1, Rick Lindroth2, Karen E. Mock1 1 Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 2University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests and woodlands provide important habitat structure and ecosystem services throughout much of the western United States. Individual aspen clones are capable of employing unique strategies for persistence through time, such as a drought or insect resistance. Clonally diverse aspen forests will likely have a greater amount genetic material enabling them to adapt to current and future environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated whether aspen display an ecological trade-off between resistance and tolerance with regard to folivorous insect attack. Genetic, dendrochronological, and phytochemical data have been collected for a replicated study of 18 distinct clones. Preliminary data analyses showed a negative correlation between phenolic glycosides (a class of chemical compounds representing a resistance strategy) and annual ring width, suggesting an ecological tradeoff may exist. Condensed tannins, however, were weakly positively correlated to growth, indicating that tannin production likely was not inhibited by increased growth. These results represent just one aspect of how individual aspen clones may allocate available resources for survival and persistence. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0225 Abundance Relationships Between Geyer's Larkspur and Other Coexisting Plant Species Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster J. D. Schroeder, P. J. Meiman, J. E. Brummer, J. Vaad Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Geyer's larkspur (Delphinium geyeri) is a poisonous, native, perennial forb that grows in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska. Larkspurs are responsible for a large number of cattle deaths on western rangelands, making them a very serious concern for livestock producers in these areas. Norditerpeniod alkaloids in Delphinium species make ingestion highly toxic or even fatal to cattle and other livestock. As part of an effort to identify plants that might compete effectively with Geyer's larkspur, we investigated correlations between larkspur abundance and the abundance of several other species in foothills rangelands of northern Colorado. An extended Daubenmire frame was used to estimate canopy cover from 81 3.5- x 10-m plots. Relationships between larkspur cover and cover of several other species were investigated using regression. Preliminary analysis suggests that Geyer's larkspur cover decreases as cover of needle-and-thread grass (Hesperostipa comata) and dwarf sunflower (Helianthus pumilus) increased. Interestingly, no relationships were evident between Geyer's larkspur cover and that of western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) or threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia), all of which are very prominent species within the plant community. The discovery of plant species capable of effectively reducing larkspur cover could lead to important advancements in integrated management strategies for controlling larkspurs on western rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0226 The economic and ecological potential for biological control using small ruminants of two invasive species of forest understory: Amur Honeysuckle and Common Buckthorn Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Allen Casey1, Charlotte Clifford-Rathert2, Michael Schulte2, Luke Wilbers2, Cody Cave2, James Caldwell2, Ronald Cordsiemon1, Jerry Kaiser1, Mark Kennedy1, John Turner1 1 USDA-NRCS, Columbia, MO, USA, 2Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, USA Amur honeysuckle (AH; Lonicera maackii Herder) and common buckthorn (CB; Rhamnus cathartica L.) are tall shrubs that are common invaders in forested lands across central and eastern United States. These shrubs grow readily in many soil types, climatic environments, and are often so prolific that they form dense understory thickets, which restrict native plant growth and tree seedling establishment. Mechanical and chemical control can be effective methods for controlling these species but are expensive, and generally require many follow-up treatments to be successful. If good economic returns can be demonstrated by grazing AH and CB with small ruminants, then this control method may be appealing to producers. During the 2011 grazing season (May - Aug.), mature Katahdin ewe hair sheep (n = 49) with lambs, grazed four paddocks of AH and CB to a height of 4.5 ft in Lincoln County, Missouri. Ewes had an average daily gain (ADG) of -0.37 lbs, total gain of -12.5 lbs, mean body condition score of 3, and mean FAMACHA© score of 2. Fecal nematode counts were conducted approximately every 21 days and counts increased on average by 485 over the course of the grazing season, whereas coccidia counts decreased (-648 average). On average, lambs had a birth weight of 13.4 lbs, end weight of 30.3 lbs, ADG of 0.4 lbs, and a total gain of 16.8 lbs. Therefore, grazing AH and CB to a height of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) may alter sheep performance but may not negatively impact lamb performance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0227 Effect of Aminopyralid and Clopyralid on Native Forbs and Grasses Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Pat Green1, Vanelle Peterson4, Carl Crabtree3, John Wallace2, Tim Prather2 1 USFS, Grangeville, ID, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 3Idaho County, Grangeville, ID, USA, 4Dow AgroSciences, Mulino, OR, USA An experiment was established in Idaho to determine effectiveness of aminopyralid and clopyralid for control of invasive species and to determine effects on native plants. Herbicides applied in the fall of 2009 were aminopyralid at 0.047 and 0.078 ai/A (Milestone® at 3 and 5 oz per acre) and clopyralid at 4 oz ai/A (Transline® at 11 oz per acre). Evaluations included canopy cover and nested frequency. Thirty eight species were present in 2009 and 50 in 2010. Exotic annual grasses and forbs dominated the site, but native grasses (bluebunch wheatgrass) occurred as well as native biscuitroots, lupine, milkvetch, and other natives. Evaluations of herbicide effects were based on changes in canopy cover compared to nontreated controls. Differences between treatments and treatment and control indicated that yellow starthistle, thymeleaf sandwort, black medic lentil vetch, and winter (hairy) vetch were readily controlled (>90 percent) by all of the treatments and other exotic forbs increased in cover. Aminopyralid at 0.078 oz ai/A (5 oz/A) reduced field brome and medusahead (40 to 50 % canopy cover ), but had little effect on downy brome. Ventenata dubia increased regardless of rate of aminopyralid or clopyralid applied. Bluebunch wheatgrass increased in plots where aminopyralid at 0.078 oz ai/A (5 oz/A) was applied. The relative cover and dominance of native species increased over the course of the experiment. Additional sampling is planned in 2011 to determine to further understand the long-term response of plant populations to herbicide treatments. ®Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0228 Can Biological Control and Targeted Grazing Be Integrated to Suppress Spotted Knapweed? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Rachel Frost1, Jeffrey Mosley1, Brent Roeder1, Tracy Mosley2, Gerald Marks3 1 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 2Park County Extension, Livingston, MT, USA, 3 Missoula County Extension, Missoula, MT, USA Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L.) is an invasive, non-native weed that threatens the ecological sustainability of western rangelands and the economic sustainability of western ranches and rural communities. Limited research to date has evaluated the synergistic, or potential antagonistic, effects of combining targeted sheep grazing and biological control insects for suppressing spotted knapweed. The goals of this project were to evaluate the effects of combining targeted sheep grazing and biological control to suppress spotted knapweed and to determine the effects of targeted sheep grazing on biological control insect abundance and activity. Treatments were biological control only and biological control with sheep grazing applied in either late July (spotted knapweed in late bud/early flower stage) or early August (spotted knapweed in late flower stage). Sheep grazing and biological control insects reduced the viable seed production of spotted knapweed by 99% compared with insect biological control alone (1 seed/m2 vs. 154 seeds/m2). Seedhead feeding biological control insects declined in grazed paddocks from pre-grazing to senescence, but insect numbers fully recovered to pre-grazing levels by early July of the following year. Abundance of the root feeding weevil, Cyphocleonus achates (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), did not differ between grazed and ungrazed paddocks. Targeted sheep grazing and the insect biological control agents we studied appear to be compatible and offer greater control of spotted knapweed seed production than insect biological controls alone. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0229 How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Rachel Frost1, Karen Launchbaugh2, John Walker3 1 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 3Texas Agrilife Research, San Angelo, TX, USA The use of targeted grazing for vegetation management faces a different set of challenges when applied on public land than on private land. These challenges can be daunting to both the agency personnel and the contract grazier or permittee. The objective of this workshop is to provide guidance and instruction to empower public land managers to employ targeted grazing on public lands by providing examples of contracts and documentation from successful targeted grazing programs. This workshop will be an informative training session that covers: identifying a potential project, selecting the appropriate grazer, writing the contract, the intricacies of NEPA, obtaining and handling the funding for the project and public relations. Instructors and presenters will be employees from different government agencies as well as experienced contract graziers. Agency employees will outline how they handled the permit process, attained funding, and got public buy-in. Contract graziers will provide insight of additional documentation needed when dealing with government agencies, timelines to set up contracts and special considerations when operating on public lands. The intended audience is public land mangers, and livestock managers and producers that operate on public land. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0230 Grazing Conflict and the National Park Service: Range Histories in Two Arizona National Monuments Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Bringing History into Range Management (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Robin Pinto University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA Grazing has been a continuing challenge for the Park Service in its ongoing quest to balance use vs. preservation. National monuments, created by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act, were required to permit continuance of most pre-existing land uses, including grazing. This was true for almost every national monument in the West. The National Park Service, unlike the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, had no personnel or expertise to manage such a grandfathered use. Saguaro National Monument (now Park) and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument were both established in the 1930s on lands grazed by cattle. Together these two range management histories provide two different examples of how the National Park Service administrators and employees struggled to maintain its mandate of landscape preservation and recreation use while permitting cattle grazing, dealing with unsupportive ranching communities, and appeasing hostile congressional representatives. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0231 Impact of soil type on vegetation response to prairie dog herbivory Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster John Hendrickson1, Mark Liebig1, Cory Barth2, Kevin Sedivec2 1 USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Mandan, North Dakota, USA, 2North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA Prairie dogs and their impact on vegetation have been the focus of numerous research projects. However, the effect of soil from this interaction has been less thoroughly documented. We evaluated prairie dog colonies (on-colony) and nearby sites without prairie dogs (off-colony) on Wayden, Cabba and Hurley soils near Mahto, South Dakota. Four prairie dog burrows were sampled on each soil type. Burrows were selected based on burrow opening size and signs of recent prairie dog activity. Four randomly located points were located on the same soil type nearby. Two 1/8 m2 quadrats were clipped one m from the center of the hole or the random point. All plants within quadrats were clipped at ground level and sorted to species. Plant biomass was dried at 60oC for three days and weighed. Individual plant species biomass was complied to determine total biomass for each quadrat. Number of species was also recorded for each quadrat. Biomass was not different between soil types on the prairie dog colonies (556, 497, 669 kg/ha for Cabba, Hurley and Wayden respectively), but off-colony, Cabba soils (2526 kg/ha) had more biomass than Wayden soils (1951 kg/ha) which had more biomass than the Hurley soils (966 kg/ha). The Cabba soil site had more species on-colony than off-colony, but this was reversed for the Wayden and Hurley soil sites. This information showed the importance of soils in evaluating the impacts of prairie dogs on vegetation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0232 Navigating NEPA for Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Chris French USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC, USA Preparing NEPA documentation for any vegetation management project can be a daunting task, especially for a new agency employee or an outside contractor unfamiliar with the process. The USDA Forest Service has 17 operating Enterprise Units that are "independent, financially self-sustaining entities that are funded by the customers they serve". Forest Districts can utilize the expertise of these units to help with NEPA documentation and training, or design monitoring programs. Direct training on the technical aspects of NEPA will be presented along with ways to document targeted grazing as a vegetation management tool. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0233 The Aspen Story: 100 years in the Western U.S. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Dale Bartos1 1 USDA-Forest Service-Research, Logan, UT 84321, USA, 2USDA-Forest Service-NFS, Richfield, UT 84701, USA The importance of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the western U.S. is well described and documented in the literature. Besides adding rich biological diversity to landscapes, aspen forests provide water, forage, wood products, wildlife habitat, and scenery for the public. An aspen clone is a group or grove of numerous, genetically identical stems. Regeneration in quaking aspen is primarily vegetative; the root sprouts are often called suckers. This paper summarizes the efforts involving aspen in the West over the past century. Four eras of aspen ecology will be examined: 1) the early 1900s' work of Baker, Sampson, and others; 2) research efforts by Intermountain Research Station and Rocky Mountain Research Station thru the mid-1990s; 3) recent research and applications at the landscape scale; and 4) quaking aspen's future in the western U.S. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0234 Show Me the Money - Funding Targeted Grazing on Public Lands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Carl Crabtree Idaho County, Grangeville, ID, USA Coordinated Weed Management Areas and other cooperative conservation groups, are fundamental to receiving funds for vegetation management at the landscape scale. Most landscape scale projects encompass a wide variety of land ownerships, both public and private. Coordinating funding from a variety of sources can pose challenges, but also opportunities for collaboration and achievement of the greater good that no one person or agency can accomplish on their own. I will discuss the pros and cons of obtaining and distributing funds through coordinated projects and the need for public buy-in on projects. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0235 Opportunities for Grazing as an Ecological Tool on Public Land Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Dave Bradford USDA Forest Service, Paonia, CO, USA Targeted grazing is currently being used as a vegetation management tool in western Colorado on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Most work is currently being conducted using existing grazing permittees. The Forest Service authorizes the treatment using existing term grazing permits or a Livestock Use Permit. Targeted grazing can also be conducted under contracts through a variety of ways. The importance of direct communication, understanding objectives of the project and a willingness to use adaptive management are key to a successful targeted grazing program. Examples of successful programs will be presented with an opportunity for questions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0236 Towards broad-scale perspectives on landscape dynamics: the National Ecological Dynamics Database Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecological Sites and Thresholds Author's preference: Poster Jeb Williamson, Brandon Bestelmeyer USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA Ecological site descriptions (ESDs) are a useful technology for conveying the ecological potential of specific land types and the possible responses of vegetation and soils on them to management. Yet some of the same traits that lend ESDs their management utility (e.g., narrative format and site-specific focus) also make them an inefficient resource for broader-scaled analyses, such as comparing ecological processes among regions or producing national maps of conservation needs. Such objectives would be better served by a database in which ecological information for a region can be (1) readily queried and (2) easily analyzed in a geographic information system. To help address this need, we have initiated development of a National Ecological Dynamics Database (NEDD), which aims to identify and describe ecological dynamics of primary management concern at the level of Major Land Resource Areas. This database will catalog information pertinent to such dynamics in a relational geodatabase format. The core objectives of the NEDD are to (1) promote nationwide consistency in ESD development and (2) provide a national view of potential ecological states (in the sense applied to state-and-transition models), their dynamics, restoration successes and failures, and the factors determining the patterns and types of ecological change observed at landscape to continental scales. As a first step in designing and populating the NEDD, data are being harvested from ESDs currently available. Here, we present insights from this initial exercise and describe in more detail the background, goals, design, and expected utility of this new database. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0237 Ecological Site Development Technical Workshop Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: ESD and STM Development (Workshop) Author's preference: Poster Jamin Johanson USDA-NRCS, Richfield, UT, USA Individuals tasked with writing ecological site descriptions (ESDs) and state-and-transition models (STMs) often have difficulty obtaining and summarizing the information necessary to produce documents that are useful to management. Without a standardized method for ESD development nationally, many new and innovative tools have been developed by individuals seeking to produce ESDs as accurately and efficiently as possible. This workshop will build on the ideas presented at a previous ESD development technical workshop where specific ESD development tools were shared by their creators (Billings, MT 2011). Part one will provide an overview of the history, concepts, assumptions and applications of the ecological site land classification system, as well as new information about the national ESD development process. Part two will consist of a poster session that presents new ESD development tools, in addition to a review of the tools presented previously in Billings. Free downloads of electronic tools will be available throughout the session. Part three will provide examples of STM development using commonly available data sources of varying type, quality and quantity. The fourth and final part will provide examples of innovative ESD and STM applications, including an introduction to riparian ESDs, userfriendly electronic ESDs, ESD-based field guides for pinyon-juniper woodlands, and an introduction to Forage Suitability Group Descriptions. This workshop is not meant to endorse certain methods, nor is it intended to set ESD development protocols. Participants are encouraged to share their ideas and experiences during question and answer sessions and to establish relationships with other ESD development professionals. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0238 Water use characteristics of Great Basin plants under different levels of summer watering Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Tracie Evans1, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez1, David Martin2, Terry McLendon3 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Bishop, CA, USA, 3Consultant, Fort Collins, CO, USA We examined water use of graminoids (Distichlis spicata; DISP, Leymus triticoides; LETR, Sporobolus airoides; SPAI, Juncus arcticus; JUAR), forbs (Glycyrrhiza lepidota; GLLE, Salsola tragus; SATR), desert shrubs (Artemisia tridentata; ARTR, Atriplex confertifolia; ATCO, Ericameria nauseosa; ERNA) and a riparian shrub (Salix exigua; SAEX). Three summer watering treatments were applied monthly: low (1.3 cm), medium (2.6 cm), and high (3.9 cm). Plant water use was determined by calculating soil water depletion during irrigation cycles using time domain reflectometry (TDR) at two depths (0-25 cm and 0-50 cm) in vegetated plots. Evaporation was obtained from bare ground plots and subtracted from evapotranspiration to calculate water use (transpiration). Water use increased 60% and 100% as water treatments increased to medium and high, respectively. Species with high water use (DISP, LETR, JUAR) utilized two times more water than species with intermediate water use (SATR, SAEX, SPAI) and 11 times more water than species with low water use (ERNA, ATCO, ARTR, GLLE). Water use was linearly related (P<0.05; R=0.53) to root-to-shoot ratio of species. The ratio of deep (25-50 cm) to shallow (0-25 cm) water use differed by species. The graminoids and GLLE had low ratios (1-2), SAEX, SATR, and ERNA had intermediate ratios (4-7), and ATCO and ARTR had high ratios (19-21). In general, desert shrubs relied more on deeper water sources than herbaceous species. The proportion of bare soil evaporation with respect to evapotranspiration was 70%. The large differences in water use characteristics of these species should be considered in land and groundwater management. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0239 Contract Grazing on Public Lands - Responsibilities and Opportunities for Grazers Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: How to Employ Targeted Grazing on Public Lands (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Ray Holes Prescriptive Livestock Services, Grangeville, ID, USA Ray Holes of Grangeville, ID has been in the livestock industry for over 25 years and for the past seven years has been in the contract grazing business full time. His company, Prescriptive Livestock Services, is the largest contract grazing company in the northwest, and he conducts projects as far away as Hawaii. Holes provides targeted livestock grazing services for weed control and fuels reduction on both public and private lands throughout Idaho and the surrounding states. Ray will speak on his experience conducting targeted grazing projects for vegetation management on public lands. He will expound on the additional documentation necessary, the additional lead time necessary to set-up projects and different ways that agencies handle money and contracts. Ray maintains that while challenges exist, an open mind and determined person can make things happen within the structure of the agency. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0240 Soil Temperature and Available Soil Water Characterization of Sagebrush Steppe Seedbeds in the Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Nathan L. Cline, Bruce A. Roundy Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Practical application of predicting germination of weed and revegetation species based on the summation of heat units over time (thermal-time models) depends on the amount of time wet seedbeds (> -1.5 MPa) exist at various field temperatures. From the literature, thermal-time models predict germination at moderate temperatures (5-30°C) fairly well (R2> 0.7). For extreme temperature ranges (<5°C and >30°C), thermal-time models have poor statistical fit. The objective of this study was to identify the wet seedbed duration at moderate and extreme temperature ranges. Also, the effect of site, season, year, and treatment were tested in order to better understand the variations in the seedbed environment. Using thermocouples and gypsum blocks, near-surface (1-3 cm depth) soil temperature and moisture were measured at 29 locations (a monoculture of Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey, 4 monocultures of Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn., 12 stands of Artemisia spp. and 12 stands of Juniperus spp. and Pinus spp. -Juniperus spp. woodlands ) in the Great Basin. Treatments evaluated included: (1) mow, (2) herbicide, and (3) prescribed burn for grasslands and shrublands, whereas woodland treatments included (1) cut and drop and (2) prescribed burn. Preliminary observations indicate that some locations exist a long time at cool temperatures (0-5 ⁰C) when the soil is wet, while the effects of site, season, and year appeared high. A significant amount of time at extreme temperatures at multiple locations would indicate the need for further examination of the thermal-time model at extreme temperatures associated with its relevancy to rangeland management. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0241 Ecological Site Description workshop Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Using Ecological Site Descriptions as a Decision Making Tool (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Pat Shaver, Homer Sanchez, George Peacock USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ft. Worth, TX, USA A four session workshop will introduce the basic concepts of ecological sites, how they are developed, and how ecological site descriptions can be utilized in making management decisions. The first session will define what ecological sites are, provide a review of the history of ecological sites, and discuss the ecological concepts utilized in defining ecological sites. Concepts and components of state-and-transition models will be reviewed. Relationship of ecological sites to soils maps and how information on ecological site description can be accessed will be discussed. The second session will describe the process utilized to divide landscapes into ecological sites. Steps utilized in developing ecological site concepts, collecting and analyzing data, and developing the ecological site description will be discussed. Guidance on developing state-and-transition models and the role of incorporating local knowledge in the process will also be discussed. The third session will provide examples of how ecological site descriptions can be utilized to inform management decisions. Presentations from various agencies, NGO's, and consultants will describe their experiences in utilizing ecological site descriptions as a standard reference for land management, monitoring, and assessment. The final session will continue session three. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0242 Rainfall interception by Pinus monophylla and Juniperus osteosperma in central Nevada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Samuel Lossing1, Tamzen Stringham2, Mark Weltz3 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 2University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA, 3USDA Agriculture Research Service, Reno, NV, USA Although piñon and juniper occurred historically throughout the western United States, the infilling of woodlands and expansion into sagebrush steppe has caused a reduction in understory vegetation abundance leading to impaired hydrologic function, increased surface runoff and soil erosion. We hypothesized that canopy interception by singleleaf piñon (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) plays a significant role in reducing understory plant communities. Our study was conducted on a piñon and juniper encroached site in the Desatoya Mountains of central Nevada. Simulated rainfall was used to test interception under four storm sizes 2.5, 7.6, 12.7 and 19.1 mm·hr -1 on several trees of each species varying in size and morphology. Interception was quantified using total precipitation applied minus stemflow and throughfall. Our results indicated that over 50% of rainfall was intercepted, suggesting that it is a critical part of piñon and juniper's dominance of site resources. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences in interception between species and storm sizes. A predictive model of interception based on tree species and metrics including height, diameter at breast height, stump diameter, live crown, and tree canopy area and volume was developed using regression analysis. This model will be useful to inform landscape management and treatment decisions. Results will be presented. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0243 Tired of Teaching to the Test? Alternative Approaches to Assessing Student Learning. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Laurie B. Abbott New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA Assessment of student learning is commonly viewed by teachers and students as a necessary evil, an unpleasant reality of educational systems in which final grades are the recognized index of achievement. Tests and other forms of traditional assessment are commonly criticized because 1) they often reward students' abilities to select correct answers or recall facts, but do not assess higher levels of learning; 2) test scores may better reflect students' test-taking abilities than actual learning, and 3) testing is a relatively contrived process that rarely reflects real life situations. Ideally, assessments provide information about both the learning process - how well students are learning, as well as an accurate picture of learning outcomes - the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students have developed through learning. As educators we seek to engage our students and instill in them a desire to learn about our discipline. However, although tests are one of the most common forms of assessment, they are rarely described as engaging, inspiring or memorable, as evidenced by typically low retention of information following examination. In this presentation I will describe various types of alternative assessments that can be used by educators to diversify their means of assessing student learning. These include the effective use of classroom assessment techniques that provide frequent, formative feedback about student learning, as well as authentic assessments that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate higher levels of learning by performing tasks and creating products that reflect practical, real world situations. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0244 The Wildland Fire Assessment Tool (WFAT) - A Tool to Spatially Model Wildland Fire Behavior and First Order Fire Effects Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildland Fire Assessment Tool (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Jeff Jones1, Eva Strand2 1 US Forest Service, Whitefish, Montana, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA WFAT provides an interface between ArcMap, FlamMap5, and the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM), combining their strengths into a spatial fire behavior and fire effects analysis tool in GIS. In the workshop, you will learn how to use WFAT to locate potential fuel treatment units and to evaluate the effects of a prescribed burn on soil exposure, emissions, and mortality. WFAT allows managers to compare management alternatives and saves the time and effort of converting data between multiple formats for use in ArcMap, FlamMap, and FOFEM. Downloadable LANDFIRE layers (landfire.gov) can be used as input GIS layers. The workshop will begin with a presentation describing the WFAT tool, followed by live demonstrations of the tools, and examples of applications. Time will be allotted for students to engage in hands on exercises using WFAT to assess fire behavior and fire effects. The instructors will be available to help students set up the modeling parameters for running a variety of weather and fuel moisture scenarios, to complete the exercises using sample data sets that include rangeland and woodland settings. Participants may bring their own laptop computer with ArcGIS 9.3 installed (including Spatial Analyst) if they would like to run WFAT on their own computer. Software, tutorials, and data examples will be provided in advance for those who register for the workshop. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0245 Responses of a Pacific Northwest Bunchgrass Food Web to Experimental Manipulations of Stocking Rate Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Patricia Kennedy1, Timothy DelCurto2, Sandra DeBano3, Robert Taylor4, Tracey Johnson1, Sam Wyffels2, Chiho Kimoto3, Heidi Schmalz5, Ryan Limb6 1 EOARC & Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife,Oregon State University, Union, OR, USA, 2EOARC & Dept of Animal Science, Oregon State University, Union, OR, USA, 3HAREC & Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hermiston, OR, USA, 4The Nature Conservancy, Enterprise, OR, USA, 5Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 6EOARC & Dept of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Oregon State University, La Grande, OR, USA In 2006-09, we compared effects of four different cattle stocking rates on grassland soils, flora and fauna (ground-nesting songbirds and invertebrates) as well as their impact on livestock performance. The study was conducted at The Nature Conservancy's Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in northeastern OR. We used a randomized complete block design with four replicates of each stocking rate to address hypotheses regarding changes in soil stability and structure, and population- and community-level responses of plants, invertebrates and grassland passerines which are of conservation concern. Soil compaction and amount of bare ground increased with increased grazing intensity, while soil stability, the amount of litter, and vegetation structure decreased. There was no effect of stocking rate on plant community composition. Invertebrate taxa showed differential responses to grazing intensity. The abundance of several taxa significantly declined with increased grazing intensity but other ecologically significant taxa appeared relatively insensitive to grazing intensity. Negative effects of high stocking rates on densities of two species and absence of a clear positive effect on densities of the other three species suggest high stocking rates as applied in this experiment may not provide suitable habitat for grassland songbirds. Given the absence of negative responses of density to low and moderate stocking rates, these grazing regimes generally provided suitable habitat for all species. Livestock performance was not significantly impacted by stocking rate although the data suggest foraging efficiencies declined at high stocking rates suggesting this stocking rate may not be economically sustainable over the long term in this system. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0246 Individual Grazing Distribution Patterns of Cattle in the Winchester Mountains of Southeastern Arizona Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Steven Lunt, Derek Bailey, Milton Thomas, Adrienne Lipka New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA A study was conducted in the Winchester Mountains north of Willcox, AZ to evaluate individual grazing patterns of mature Limousin cows grazing a 9,064 ha pasture. Cattle positions were recorded by horseback observers once a month during the fall of 2010 from August to November. Based on these observations, 10 cows found on the highest elevations and steepest slopes (hill climbers) and 9 cows sighted on the lowest elevations and gentlest slopes (bottom dwellers) were tracked for 91 days during January to April 2011 using global positioning system collars. Locations were recorded on each cow every 15 minutes. We did not detect differences (P > 0.25) in elevation use, slope use and distance traveled of hill climber and bottom dweller categories determined by visual observation. Average distance traveled varied (P < 0.01) among weeks from a low of 3270.6 m·day-1 ± 205.4 SE to a high of 4128.3 m·day-1 ± 317.2 SE. Terrain use varied among cows (P < 0.01) with differences ranging from 1319.8 m ± 9.2 SE to 1495.9 m ± 9.2 SE in elevation and 4.7% ± 0.7 SE to 11.1% ± 0.7 SE in slope use. Terrain use by rangeland cattle is temporally variable, but large phenotypic differences exist between animals. Characterization of terrain use of rangeland cattle will require either GPS tracking or a substantial number of visual observations. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0247 Determining Plant Growth Stages and Leaf Moisture Content in PHYGROW Using Daily Leaf Growth and Leaf Turnover Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster William Shaw, Jay Angerer, Edward Rhodes, R. Loren Naylor, Tim Brown, Wayne Hamilton, J. Richard Conner Texas A&M University, College Station, USA The PHYGROW model is a daily time step phytomass growth model that predicts vegetation production and other biophysical data. To support our fire modeling efforts, a new component was added to the PHYGROW model to determine the growth stage and moisture content of live vegetation. Plant physiological indicators including growth rate, leaf turnover, and net growth were used to determine the growth stage and moisture content of species using functional group data defined in the NRCS Range and Pasture Handbook Chapter 4. As PHYGROW runs, it calculates a daily heat stress and water stress value on a scale from 0 to 1.0. These values are added together and used to adjust the average moisture content derived from the NRCS data within the bounds of its growth stage. Verification of moisture content modeling was conducted across several ecosystems in the southwestern United States. PHYGROW transects and moisture contents were sampled at the Rangeland Research Area near College Station, TX, Fort Hood military installation near Killeen, TX, Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico and Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. These locations vary from temperate to arid and have a wide range of rainfall and daily humidity. Sampling was conducted from March 2007 2 through April 2009. Model output was plotted against the collected field data and produced an R value of 0.76 for all samples indicating significant correlation between modeled and actual moisture content. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0248 The Western Aspen Alliance: shared science for effective land management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Paul Rogers1, Dale Bartos2, Ronald Ryel1 1 Utah State Universtiy, Logan, Utah, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, Logan, Utah, USA Aspen scientists and managers formed the Western Aspen Alliance (WAA) in 2008 to coordinate and facilitate advances in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) ecology in Western North America. The focus of this presentation will be to describe the WAA, its current activities, and how land managers can become involved. There are currently about 240 members of the WAA network from universities, government agencies, conservation and industry groups, and the general public. Ongoing efforts strive to include similar entities working on issues in European aspen (P. tremula) systems. Our prime goal is to disseminate state-of-the-science aspen information to interested managers, scientists, the public, and other users. Natural events, some potentially related to climate change, have spurred interest in aspen ecology because of this species' vital role - in both North America and Europe - as an oasis of biodiversity. Ongoing issues include large ungulate herbivory, altered disturbance patterns, trophic cascades, sustainable biodiversity, and functional sub-type classification. The WAA incorporates recent research into an ongoing resource bank, both literature and expertise, for managers throughout our area. We engender a cross-disciplinary network of researchers interested in investigating contemporary aspen topics. In the U.S. teams are needed to assess Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD), extent of seral/stable aspen stands, and historic aspen cover change. Social and aesthetic values of aspen are underexplored though they are clearly at the heart of many aspen issues. Great advances are possible by addressing aspen issues collegially across disciplinary boundaries and the WAA is actively creating avenues to accomplish this. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0249 Cultivation Legacies Can Affect Rangeland Seeding Success Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Lesley Morris1 ,2, Thomas Monaco1 ,2 1 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Logan, UT, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA When the dry farming boom of the early 1910s buckled under pressure of falling wheat prices and drought, millions of acres of cultivated rangelands were abandoned. Natural recovery of the native plant cover on previously cultivated sagebrush ecosystems can take well over a century. Many of these abandoned farms were later reseeded with introduced grass species, like crested wheatgrass, in an attempt to improve forage production. We hypothesized that seeding success as well as natural succession would be negatively affected by the legacy of historical cultivation while the presence of exotic species would be favored. To test these hypotheses, we compared the density of seeded and native perennial grasses in rangeland seedings that overlapped adjacent previously dry farmed land and noncultivated land. We also compared the cover of native shrubs, exotic species, and ground cover between these two conditions. Our results suggest that both rangeland reseeding and the unassisted succession of native plants can be negatively affected by historical cultivation. Exotic forbs, in contrast, seemed to be favored in the previously cultivated lands. These results suggest that previously cultivated areas may be more difficult to restore through reseeding and that native vegetation recovery may take even longer to diversify and recover than seeded only sites. Unfortunately, the role of site history is rarely explicitly examined within the context of current management objectives for revegetation and restoration. Consequently, historical land uses, which are often unrecognized, could be limiting the management strategies that seek to alter the future trajectories of these landscapes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0250 Germination prediction from soil moisture and temperature in the Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Nathan L. Cline1, Bruce A. Roundy1, Stuart P. Hardegree2 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 2USDA-ARS Northwest Watershed Research Center, Boise, Idaho, USA Preventing cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) dominance associated with frequent wildfires may depend on successful establishment of desirable species sown in rehabilitation and fuel control projects. Ranking potential species success to develop more performance-based species selection for revegetation of rangelands can be done with thermal germination models. Using previously-developed germination models, we compared predicted-thermal progress toward germination (or germination progression) for eight cheatgrass collections, six bunchgrasses, and three forb species using near surface (1-3 cm) soil water potential and temperature at 31 sites in the Great Basin. We also compared the effects of fire, herbicide applications, and mechanical treatments on germination progression. Sites included grasslands (Elymus spp. and Agropyron spp.) and sagebrush stands (Artemisia spp.) either invaded or not invaded by woodland species (Juniperus spp. and Pinus spp.). Progress toward germination in field seedbeds was summed from field soil temperatures (> 0 ⁰C) when soil was wet (> –1.5 MPa) as measured by thermocouples and gypsum blocks. Soils were wet and warm enough in spring that germination was predicted for most species. However, some perennial grasses and forbs had limited germination progression and may not be suitable for seeding at some locations. In general, predicted germination progression was highest for most cheatgrass collections compared to germination progression of perennial grasses and forbs. Treatments had less effect on surface soil moisture and temperature and germination progression than did site, season, or year. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0251 Can seedling facilitation increase plant emergence and establishment? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Lauren Stoffel, Dan Mummey MPG Operations, Missoula, MT, USA Most restoration seeding strategies fail to account for plant interactions that drive plant community assembly. This is due in part to the paucity of information about how seeded species interact at all stages of development. Restoration seeding approaches are adapted from agricultural seeding strategies that attempt to minimize competition in annual crop monocultures. For example, seed drills designed for complex community restoration seeding grew from agricultural designs that aim to minimize competition. It may seem intuitive that decreased seedling competition would increase plant establishment success and vigor; however, some plants may have evolved cooperative strategies. We wanted to test whether multiple seeds planted together could improve species emergence and establishment versus a single seed planting. We planted two forbs (purple prairie clover [Dalea purpurea] and black-eyed susan [Rudbeckia hirta]), two shrubs (fourwing saltbrush [Atriplex canescens] and antelope bitterbrush [Purshia tridentata]), and two grasses (bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoegnaria spicata] and blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis]) as single seeds or in groups of three seeds. Twenty replications per treatment for each species were planted and emergence monitored. Our results varied for different species seeded. Emergence of both forb species increased when multiple seeds were planted together. No prairie clover seedlings emerged from single seed plantings. Although shrub emergence was low for both treatments, fourwing saltbrush emergence was greater when multiple seeds were planted together. Bluebunch wheatgrass emergence was high for both single and multiple seed plantings. These preliminary results suggest that mixed community seedling emergence can be increased by considering seed spacing. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0252 Effectiveness of sagebrush steppe post-fire rehabilitation projects: Short and long-term responses Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral David Pyke1, Troy Wirth1, Kevin Knutson1, Jan Beyers3, David Pilliod2, Jeanne Chambers4, Matt Brooks1 1 U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2 U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, ID, USA, 3 USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA, USA, 4USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV, USA, 5U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Station, El Portal, CA, USA Wildfires continue to threaten the foundational shrub of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem, Artemisia tridentata. Post-fire seedings have been used as a tool for rehabilitating sagebrush throughout the west, but a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of these treatments has never been done. We took two approaches to examine success of these seedings. First, we conducted a synthesis of the literature including a meta-analysis of rehabilitation project effectiveness determined at the end of the third year after the project was implemented. The synthesis provided insights into the importance of elevation and precipitation for aerial seeding success, while this was not the case for drill seedings. Secondly, we initiated a field evaluation of rehabilitation projects that were implemented between 5 and 15 years earlier. This study examined nearly 100 projects across the northern Great Basin including California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah and compared locations that were burned and seeded, burned and unseeded, and unburned and unseeded. In addition, the field study compared both aerial and drill seedings. In this presentation we provide our preliminary analysis of this study. We determine if the findings from the synthesis are supported by independent analyses of field data that were collected 5 to 15 years after the original seedings. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0253 Herbaceous plant diversity and productivity relationships across multiple states of an oak woodland-annual grassland system Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster D.J. Eastburn, Leslie M. Roche, Kenneth W. Tate University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA California's oak woodland-annual grassland system supports a suite of ecosystem services. Covering approximately 6.4 million hectares, this system produces 70% of the state's forage base, supporting a $3 billion/year beef cattle industry. It is also one of the most species-rich ecosystems in California, supporting over 300 vertebrate, 5000 invertebrate, and 2000 plant species. This ecosystem has been transformed via large-scale removal of native woody species for commercial wood harvest, brush management, and agricultural production goals-producing a mosaic of undisturbed woodland, thinned savanna, and open grassland states. On working landscapes, plant diversity-productivity relationships have been extensively studied in other systems including the Great Plains and pasture-based systems; however, there has been limited work on this topic across California's oak woodland-annual grassland system, which has numerous unique characteristics including high diversity, and Mediterranean climatic conditions. Elucidating plant diversity-productivity relationships across this transformed landscape will enable managers to assess potential tradeoffs between production and conservation goals for various rangeland practices. To provide insight into these relationships across multiple ecological states, we surveyed above-ground plant biomass production and species composition across a gradient of woody management in oak woodland-annual grassland system. We found an inverse relationship between diversity and plant biomass production: woodland states exhibited the greatest diversity and lowest production values, while open grassland states exhibited the lowest diversity and greatest production values. Savanna states exhibited intermediate values. This work demonstrates the importance of considering tradeoffs between production and conservation goals in working landscapes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0254 Web-based Decision Support Matrix for Integrate Weed Management. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Theresa Becchetti1, Stephanie Larson2, Joe DiTomaso3, Emilio Laca3, Mel George3 1 University of California Cooperative Extension, Modesto, CA, USA, 2University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Rosa, CA, USA, 3University of California, Davis, CA, USA Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and Barbed Goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) have infested over a million acres of California annual grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral, and Great Basin grass and shrublands. Once established the three species reduce biodiversity, commercial and wildlife grazing value, and recreation value of rangelands, and increase fuel loads. Research has been conducted at the University level to develop different control strategies for each species. Land managers need access to the information in a format that can be easily accessed to make management decisions based on the particular weed patch and site characteristics. We have been creating a web-based decision support matrix that allows managers to access research from the University. Once at the site, managers can learn about using an integrated approach to weed management, detailed information for each weed species, including photographs of the weed at different stages of growth, as well as research papers. Managers can then go through the Decision Support Matrix for each weed species and find management options that will be successful for each specific patch. From there an integrated approach can be created and a management plan printed as an end product. A web-based design allows easy access to managers and can be easily updated as new research is conducted. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0255 A Technique for Estimating Rangeland Canopy-Gap Size Distributions from HighResolution Digital Imagery Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Oral Jason W. Karl1, Michael C. Duniway2, T. Scott Schrader1 1 USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 2USGS-BRD Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, UT, USA The amount and distribution of gaps in vegetation canopy is a useful indicator of multiple ecosystem processes and functions. We describe a semi-automated approach for estimating canopy-gap size distributions in rangelands from high-resolution (HR) digital images using image interpretation by observers and statistical image classification techniques. We considered two different classification methods (maximum-likelihood classification and logistic regression) and both pixel-based and objectbased approaches to estimate canopy-gap size distributions from 2-3cm resolution color infrared aerial photographs for arid and semi-arid shrub sites in Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico. We compare our image-based estimates to field-based measurements for the study sites. We found a strong relationship (R2 > 0.9 for all four methods evaluated) between image- and field-based estimates of the total percent of the plot in canopy gaps greater than 50cm for plots with a classification kappa of greater than 0.5. Performance of the four remote sensing techniques varied for small canopy gaps (25 to 50cm), but were very similar for moderate (50 to 200cm) and large (>200cm) canopy gaps. Our results demonstrate that canopy-gap size distributions can be reliably estimated from HR imagery in a variety of plant community types. Additionally, we suggest that classification goodness-of-fit measures are a potentially useful tool for identifying and screening out plots where precision of estimates from imagery may be low. Our results are consistent with other research that has looked at the ability to derive monitoring indicators from HR imagery. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0256 Effect of GPS collar sampling interval on measures of free-roaming horse activity and resource use Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Craig Carr1, Steven Petersen2, Laci Bristow4, Douglas Johnson4, Gail Collins3, Pat Clark5 1 University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA, 2Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, 3 United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakeview, OR, USA, 4Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 5USDA Agricultural Research Service, Boise, ID, USA Management of wild and free-roaming horses is a significant issue on rangelands throughout the world. Appropriate management requires an understanding of animal behavior, movement patterns, and resource use; often over large spatial and temporal scales. Global positioning system (GPS) collars offer a robust approach to monitoring free-roaming horses. Recent developments in GPS collar technology provide up to 1-second logging intervals, however, tradeoffs associated with increased data resolution include the loss of data storage capacity and decreased logger battery life. As studies of wild and freeroaming horse activity generally occur over large time scales and the cost and logistics of frequent recapture are often prohibitive, we evaluated the effect of expanding the data logging interval on the detection of free-roaming horse activity and resource use. Three mares and three geldings were fitted with GPS collars logging spatial coordinates at 1-second intervals. The horses were part of a larger herd which were free-roaming within an 8 100 ha pasture in southeast Oregon. GPS collars recorded positional fixes between March 26 and April 1 2009. The 1-second data sets were winnowed to generate eight additional data sets (nine total data sets) with logging intervals of 1-, 30-, and 60-seconds; 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30-minutes; and 1- and 4-hours. The effect of GPS logging interval on the detection of horse movement patterns was evaluated by comparing distance travelled and movement within the pasture among the nine GPS logging intervals. Results indicated that expanding GPS logging intervals reduces data reliability and accuracy in measures of animal activity. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0257 Burning on the hot end: balancing ecological objectives of prescribed fire in sage-steppe with risk of annual grass invasion. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Jay Kerby1, Nathan Rudd2 1 The Nature Conservancy, Burns, Oregon, USA, 2The Nature Conservancy, Portland, Oregon, USA In 2005, The Nature Conservancy partnered with the Bureau of Land Management on a prescribed burn on the Juniper Hills Preserve. Juniper Hills Preserve is characterized as sagebrush-steppe with small, dispersed patches of old-growth western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). Key conservation threats are encroachment of western juniper into sagebrush-steppe habitat and invasion of annual grasses, primarily cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae). The management goal was to use a prescribed burn that approximated wildfire conditions to kill a significant component of western juniper and benefit native perennial bunchgrasses. Specific management objectives were: 1) reduce the density of western juniper by 75-90% for individuals < 3 m tall and by 30-60% for individuals > 3 m tall, 2) maintain exotic annual grass cover 7 years post-fire at a level equal or less than that before burning and 3) maintain or increase native perennial bunchgrass cover 7 years post-burn. Following FIREMON protocol, we collected pre-treatment data in 2004 and post-treatment data in 2006, 2008 and 2011 on perennial grasses, annual grasses, forbs, shrubs and juniper (by size class). We exceeded our management objective for large tree mortality, have met our objective for native bunchgrass cover and currently have not met our objective for annual grasses. However, annual grasses in control plots also increased significantly during the same time frame, suggesting our prescribed fire may have simply accelerated an on-going annual grass invasion. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0258 Piñon and juniper summer water source partitioning: stemflow vs. groundwater Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Plants/Plant Physiology Author's preference: Oral Amira Dittrich1 ,2, Keirith Snyder2, Samuel Lossing2 ,3, Tamzen Stringham1 1 University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, USA, 3University of Idaho, Boise, ID, USA Piñon (Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) trees have been encroaching into sagebrush communities throughout the Great Basin, which has reduced the cover of sagebrush and native grasses. This has affected wildlife habitats and impacted rangeland grazing areas. Piñon-Juniper (P-J) stands alter the hydrology of these systems by intercepting rainfall and competing for limited water resources that might otherwise be available to understory plants. Research on P-J interception found ≈10% of the water that is intercepted during simulated summer rainstorms is funneled to the base of the tree trunk via a process known as “stemflow”. We hypothesized this redistribution of rainfall into stemflow would improve the water status of P-J. The objectives of this research were to: 1)quantify how much water P-J use in summer and 2) determine if stemflow is used by P-J trees. The amount of stemflow for individual trees was determined by simulating a 19 mm rainfall on six piñons and six junipers and capturing all stemflow. After trees dried, this volume of water was then labeled with a stable isotope tracer and applied to the trees in a way that simulates stemflow. Total water use was measured with Granier sapflow probes and stable isotope methodology was used to determine plant water sources. Plant water potential was measured to determine plant stress. Data will be analyzed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, with species and days since stemflow irrigation as the main factors, to detect changes in stable isotopic composition of plant xylem water and water potential. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0259 Modeling Grazing Utilization on Fort Hood Texas Using Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Edward Rhodes1, Will Shaw1, R. Loren Naylor1, Tim Brown1, Wayne Hamilton2, J Richard Conner2 ,3, Jay Angerer1 1 Center for Natural Resource Information Technology, Temple, TX, USA, 2Texas A&M Dept of Ecosystem Science & Management, College Station, TX, USA, 3Texas A&M Dept of Agicultural Economics, College Station, TX, USA Fort Hood, located adjacent to Killeen, Texas, was established by the United States Government in 1942 through the acquisition of private lands. Ranchers displaced by the new Army installation were allowed to maintain grazing rights on the post's rangelands, which is practiced to this day. In 2009, a study was created to summarize grazing utilization distributions on Fort Hood. Seventy grazing exclosure cages were distributed across 35 grassland sites within Fort Hood training areas. Two cages were placed at each of the 35 sites. Field data collection consisted of clipping one 0.25m2 quadrat inside each cage, and a corresponding quadrat outside of each cage. In 2009, field data collection was conducted in May, September and December. In 2010, data was sampled at the end of the growing season in late November. Rainfall over the study area in 2009 and 2010 was 89.73cm and 75.12cm, respectively. Field data was compiled into a Geographical Information System (GIS), where Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation (IDW) was used to create a modeled surface of the installation's grazing utilization distribution. IDW predicts values for surfaces based on the distance-weighted values of neighboring points. Interpolated utilization in 2009 ranged from 12- 60%, with most values falling between 25-35%. Utilization in 2010 ranged from 0-87% with most between 30-50%. Our interpolations suggest that utilization increased from 2009 to 2010. This may be attributed to livestock numbers, precipitation, or displacement due to troop maneuvers. These maps show potential to foster stakeholder understanding of the interactions between grazing and military training. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0260 Repairing ecological processes to direct vegetation changes Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Thomas Monaco1, Christopher Call2 1 USDA-ARS, Logan, UT, USA, 2Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA The dynamics of species composition have been an important aspect of ecology for nearly 100 years. Defining these patterns is difficult without a clear understanding of ecological processes associated with colonization, propagule dispersal, and species interactions. In addition, because ecosystems often exist in alternative states, a resilience-based understanding of community change is needed to provide the organizational framework to predict how humans can intervene, augment directional outcomes, and predict how management activities will influence site dynamics. The Ecologically Based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM) framework recognizes three primary causes of vegetation change as proposed by Pickett et al. in 1987. We emphasize the underlying ecological processes and mechanisms that can be influenced by land managers within this framework to achieve desired outcomes via reducing the resilience of annual-grass invaded states and enhancing resilience of the desired vegetation state. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0261 Variability in range cow mineral use is associated with season and daily high temperature in Northern Great Plains Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster J.M. Muscha1, J.T. Mulliniks2, A.J. Roberts1, R.C. Waterman1, J.A. Paterson3, M.K. Petersen1 1 USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT, USA, 2New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA, 3Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA Accurate assessment of mineral nutrition in range cattle is complicated by seasonal changes in diet mineral concentrations, shifting requirements and lack of knowledge of seasonal mineral intake variability. This study was designed to evaluate variation in herd mineral intake, and individual cow mineral tub use due to influences of season and daily high temperature. Motion activated cameras were used to record ear tags of 80 mixed-age native English cross-bred cows as their heads approached the open range mineral tub (containing 34% salt, 57% minerals and 9% distillers grains) for one week each month from August 2010 to July 2011. The percent of cows at mineral tub each day differed (P<0.01) by season. In late growing season (July-October), 48±3.9% of herd visited the tub daily compared to 31±3.4% in fall and winter dormancy (November-March) and 27±4.1% during spring growth (April-June). There was a positive (P<0.01, r=0.28) relationship between daily high temperature and frequency at tub. Rate of mineral supplied to cows had poor agreement with cows' seasonal appearance at the tub. -1 -1 Average consumption was greatest (P<0.01) during forage dormancy and spring growth (53 g hd d ) -1 -1 and lowest during late growing season (38 g hd d ). There was a negative (P<0.05, r=-0.21) relationship between daily high temperature and quantity of mineral supplied. During the late growing season cow activity at mineral tub should not be linked to high rates of consumption and mineral composition may need to be more concentrated or animal acceptability enhanced to approach mineral intake goals. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0262 Litter Accumulation and Decomposition in Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Pastures Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster John Guretzky, Terry Klopfenstein, Walter Schacht University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA Litter is important to soil quality, hydrology, and nutrient cycling of grasslands. Our objectives were to evaluate how N inputs affect litter accumulation and decomposition rates in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures. From 2010-2011, we measured forage mass, litter mass, litter accumulation rates, and litter decomposition rates within an ongoing (6-yr) grazing experiment with (1) fertilized (90 kg N ha-1) pastures (FERT); (2) unfertilized pastures where cattle were supplemented with a N-rich ethanol co-product, dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS); and (3) unfertilized pastures (CONT). Forage mass varied with pasture treatment and sampling date. During the spring, forage mass averaged 4734, 3685, and 2699 kg DM ha-1 in FERT, DDGS, and CONT pastures, respectively. By late summer, forage mass averaged 1907 kg DM ha-1 across treatments. Across the season, forage N concentration averaged 18.4, 17.1, and 16.8 g kg-1 within FERT, DDGS, and CONT pastures, respectively. Despite these differences, N addition to the pastures did not affect litter mass, litter accumulation, or litter decomposition. Pastures contained on average 2000 kg DM ha-1 of litter; litter accumulation averaged 10 kg ha-1 d-1; and 30% of litter DM was lost through decomposition from mid-summer to spring the following year. Although litter may constitute an important organic matter pool in grasslands, results showed that N inputs from fertilization and supplemental feeds has limited effects on litter in pastures where increases in forage mass from the added N is lost through animal consumption. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0263 Multi-trophic effects of Russian olive removal and restoration: getting information from weed eradication Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Erin Espeland1, Mark Petersen2, Jennifer Muscha2 1 USDA-ARS NPARL, Sidney, MT, USA, 2USDA-ARS LARRL, Miles City, MT, USA Russian olive trees (Elaeagnus angustifolium) have spread throughout North America in riparian woodlands threatening native species like cottonwood and willow trees. We have developed a multiagency partnership with the goal of determining the responses to Russian olive removal and deliberate revegetation on extent of secondary invasions, forage production (quantity and quality), soil traits and recovery of insect and bird populations at Ft. Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT. Novel aspects of this investigation are to track recovery over time on multiple trophic levels (soils, insects, birds, plants), having multiple controls (no revegetation and no removal), and testing complete eradication of Russian olive against partial removal (a treatment where the riparian area is altered less). The partial removal treatment may permit more stable bird communities to persist through the period where restoration trees and shrubs are becoming established. In addition, we are conducting an economic analysis of removal and revegetation treatments. This is a report on the start of a multi-year collaboration. Tree removal in spring of 2011 by cut/stump treated with Element 4 (triclopyr) herbicide mixed with Basal Bark Oil in a 1:3 ratio (1 part Element to 3 parts bark oil) resulted in very few resprouts: 25,000 trees were removed and only 30 resprouts were recorded. Restoration will take place in 2012. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0264 Population Age Structure for Sickle Saltbush and Winterfat in the Catlow Valley of Oregon Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Casey Matney Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Little is known of the longevity or population age structure of many of the shrub species within the Great Basin of North America. A better understanding of the population age structure of these shrubs can better help land managers determine shrub population dynamics and the stability of the plant communities to which the shrubs belong. This study endeavored to determine the population age structure of sickle saltbush (Atriplex falcata [M.E. Jones] Standl.) and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata [Pursh] A.D.J. Meeuse & Smit) in the Catlow Valley of Oregon across a Silty 6-10 PZ Ecological Site. During September of 2007, we harvested winterfat shrubs and sickle saltbush shrubs across the Catlow Valley. Eight shrubs of each species were collected at 16 locations, n = 128 for each species. Shrub age was estimated by counting annuli along the cross-section of the stem at the point of the root crown. We found that on average winterfat shrubs were 21 years older than sickle saltbush. The youngest shrubs sampled were 19 years of age for winterfat and 4 years of age for sickle saltbush. Overall, winterfat had a longer lifespan than saltbush, with winterfat demonstrating little to no recruitment from 1987 to 2007. Sickle saltbush had a much shorter lifespan and more frequent recruitment from 1987 to 2007. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0265 The Effect of Prescribed Burning and Conifer Encroachment on Pygmy Rabbit Habitat. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Bonnie Woods, Meghan Camp, Janet Rachlow University of Idaho, Fish and Wildlife Department, Moscow, ID, USA As a sagebrush specialist, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) relies on big sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata spp.) for both forage and protection from predators. Fire and conifer encroachment can markedly alter sagebrush habitats and likely change both quality and quantity of habitat for this sensitive species. We investigated how spring prescribed burns, designed to reduce densities of conifer species at the conifer-sagebrush ecotone, affected potential forage and cover resources for rabbits. During JuneAugust 2011, we studied burns in Idaho and Montana rangelands that occurred from 5 to 32 years ago, as well as areas of conifer encroachment, ranging from slight to heavy densities. We compared habitat characteristics in both encroached and burned areas to those in adjacent, undisturbed reference sites. We predicted significant changes in sagebrush/conifer densities and alterations in understory plant composition and biomass would affect predation risk and available forage for pygmy rabbits. Preliminary results indicated that both alterations in sagebrush habitats (fire and conifer encroachment) significantly changed concealment and visibility, important functional relationships associated with predation risk. Quantity and diversity of potential forage plants also were altered, and those differences decreased with time since burn and increased with increasing conifer encroachment. We are analyzing data from both types of habitat change in the sagebrush to assess the magnitudes and trajectories of influence on cover and forage for pygmy rabbits. This information can contribute to habitat management plans for high elevation sagebrush sites. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0266 Soil Property Dynamics Relative to a Cattle Watering Point Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Casey Matney Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Large herbivores in arid and semiarid areas are known to influence soils surrounding watering points. Soils are often negatively impacted nearer watering points, with negative effects diminishing with increasing distance from the watering point. Even though effects on soil are known to occur around cattle watering points, there is a lack of quantitative information regarding dynamic soil properties. In 2007, we studied a number of soil metrics in relation to distance from a cattle watering point in the Catlow Valley of Oregon. The cattle watering point occurred on a winterfat (Krashenninikovia lanata [Pursh] A. Meeuse & Smit) dominated ecological site and had been used by livestock for over 50 years. Our results suggest that there was a clear cattle-use disturbance gradient apparent across a 2.41 km distance from the watering point. Areas closest to the watering point were characterized by heavy soil compaction, low soil surface aggregate stability, lack of biological soil crust, and elevated soil nutrient levels. Areas furthest from the watering point had lower levels of soil compaction, higher soil surface aggregate stability, and higher levels of biological soil crust. Our data suggest that distance between watering points must be considered when planning distribution of watering areas for cattle in the Catlow Valley, since watering points placed close together (< 5 km apart) are likely to overlap in zone of use by cattle. Lastly, our data suggests that distance from water is a strong predictor for determining long-term effects of grazing on soil properties. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0267 A provincial perspective on policy, regulations and management of feral horses in Alberta, Canada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Michael Alexander, Kevin France, Rob Kesseler Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta, Canada In Alberta, free-ranging horses on public land are descendants of domestic stock that were originally brought to the foothills by early settlers. Recognizing their domestic ancestry they are classed as feral animals. High fecundity, low rates of capture and increased rates of escaped and illegally released horses have significantly increased their numbers along the eastern slopes of Alberta. In the early 1990's, concerns about mistreatment of horses captured on public land lead to the creation of the Horse Capture Regulation under the Stray Animals Act. This regulation was developed to ensure humane treatment of feral horses during capture and removal from public land. Overall, the approach the government has taken is to control numbers by regulating removals of feral horses through a licensing system. Periodic population estimations are completed through aerial counts. Recently, the market value of horses for all uses has diminished which has led to a reduced interest in horse capture. As the horse numbers and area they occupy increase, there is a growing awareness that feral horses can be detrimental to natural resources. It is clear that feral horses are not just an agricultural issue but are a resource management issue affecting wildlife habitat, timber reforestation, public safety and rangeland health. However, many Albertans have a strong emotional and cultural connection with these animals and any issue related to them creates significant public and media attention. Alberta has recognized the need to develop a clear feral horse management strategy using science, conventional knowledge and public input. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0268 Equipment and strategies to enhance post-wildfire establishment of Great Basin native plants Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Nancy Shaw1, Robert Cox2, Mike Pellant3, Loren St.John4, Jim Truax5, Amy Ganguli6, Ann Hild7 1 USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID, USA, 2Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA, 3USDI Bureau of Land Management, Boise, ID, USA, 4USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen, ID, USA, 5Truax Co., Inc., New Hope, MN, USA, 6North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA, 7University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA Post-fire rehabilitation of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) communities is challenging due to limited and erratic precipitation and difficulties encountered in seeding mixtures with differing seed sizes, shapes and seedbed requirements. We examined the effects of drill type, strategies for seeding small-seeded species, and seeding rates for Wyoming big sagebrush on subsequent emergence and establishment of native seedings. Five blocks of 13 treatments each were installed at four northern Great Basin locations following wildfires. Drills were a standard rangeland drill and a minimum-till drill. Large-seeded species were drill seeded in alternate rows through the drills. Smallseeded species, including Wyoming big sagebrush at three rates, were either broadcast seeded through the drills in the intervening rows, hand broadcast in fall immediately after drill seeding, or hand broadcast in winter over snow to simulate aerial seeding. We monitored species richness, cover of all species, basal gaps, and density of seeded species for two growing seasons. Results varied widely with precipitation and the presence of competing vegetation, including residual native perennials or exotic invasives. Emergence and establishment of drill-seeded species was generally similar for both drills. There is some indication that the minimum-till drill, which presses small seeded species into the soil surface, provides greater emergence of small-seeded species. Careful selection of locations for seedings, consideration of seedbed requirements and competitive abilities of seeded species, and use of seeding equipment to provide appropriate seedbed conditions and to separate species with differing germination characteristics and growth rates can contribute to seeding success. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0269 Comparing Surface Cover Change Detection in Semi-arid Shrub-steppe With Land EKG® and Line-Point Intercept Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Author's preference: Poster Tipton Hudson Washington State University, Ellensburg, WA, USA This paper provides a comparison of the ability of two different rangeland monitoring methods, Land EKG® and the line-point intercept as described by Herrick et al. to detect change in surface cover attributes (percent basal area, litter, and bare soil) on high-condition shrub-steppe sites in central Washington. Land EKG relies on an ocular estimate to assign surface cover percentages within two or four 4.8 ft2 hoops on a transect line coupled with repeat photography. The line-point intercept uses point sampling at every meter on three 50-meter transect lines per site to collect canopy and surface cover data. Data were collected from 2007 to 2011 on six different sites within two large (~5000-acre) pastures managed with light stocking rates (<20% utilization). We have evaluated the two methods' ability to detect change rather than comparing the absolute values derived from the two methods. The direction of change in basal area was consistent across methods. Although the degree of change was not, this is a notable finding as basal area is notoriously difficult to estimate. Percent litter was relatively inconsistent across methods, we suspect due in part to the high spatial heterogeneity of this plant community, annual changes in litter distribution at the microsite level based on the timing and severity of precipitation events that move litter, and the significant difference between the methodologies for measuring litter. Bare soil values were consistent more often than not; new technology for image analysis could be used to make quantitative measurements from Land EKG photographs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0270 Landscape Use and Movement Patterns of Beef Cows and Bulls During the Breeding Season Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Adrienne Lipka, Derek Bailey, Steven Lunt, Milton Thomas, Shad Cox, Richard Dunlap New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA A study was conducted in central New Mexico to evaluate the consistency of grazing patterns of beef bulls and cows during consecutive years. Seven cows previously observed to use steeper slopes and areas farther from water (hill climbers) and 6 cows that used gentler slopes near water (bottom dwellers) based on locations recorded by visual observers in 2010, were tracked at 10-minute intervals with global positioning collars for 37 days in May and June 2011. Locations of six Angus bulls (3 to 7 years of age) were also tracked at 10 minute intervals. The 13 collared cows grazed with 97 other mature Angus and Angus x Hereford cows in a 1601 ha pasture with one water source. Locations recorded by visual observers in 2010 were not useful for predicting grazing patterns of cows in 2011. The average distance traveled in 2011 by bulls during the breeding season increased quadratically (P < 0.05) from the beginning of the season (9.5 km•day-1 ± 1.2 SE) to a peak approximately 21 days (13.9 km•day-1 ± 1.4 SE) after all cows were synchronized for estrus and bred by artificial insemination. Distance traveled by bulls then declined to the end of the season (4.4 km•day-1 ± 1.1 SE). Three year old bulls used areas farther from water (P < 0.05) than older bulls (4 to 7 years of age). Preliminary results suggest that movement patterns of bulls during the breeding season may be affected by bull age and estrus activity of cows. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0271 Learning EBIPM: Using the Learn by Doing Curriculum Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Chris Call Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA Education and technology transfer are central to implementing a long-term, self-sustaining EBIPM (ecologically-based invasive plant management) program for exotic annual grasses in the Great Basin. We are in the process of developing and delivering modular curricula for university students and land managers that align with the major components of the EBIPM framework and associated decision support tools, i.e., rangeland health assessment, causes of invasion, principles to guide decision making, treatment tools and strategies, and using adaptive management. The curricula are being developed in collaboration with scientists and managers involved in the EBIPM program, particularly those who have presented these topics at EBIPM field schools. Emphasis is being placed on active learning, which integrates fact-based knowledge with concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and experimentation, and enhances the relevancy and retention of weed ecology and management concepts. The modules in the university curriculum allow instructors to integrate portions of the EBIPM framework into their existing weed science, range management, and restoration courses. Responses from focus groups with private and public land managers are being used to inform the development of the land manager curriculum, which will be readily applicable to on-the-ground invasive plant management. Both modular curricula will be posted on the EBIPM website, where they can be accessed by university faculty and students, and land managers. The land manager curriculum will also be used in future EBIPM field schools. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0272 Survey of impacts of insect biological control on soil N transformations in Tamarix-invaded ecosystems in the Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster Shauna Uselman, Keirith Snyder, Robert Blank USDA-ARS, Reno, NV, USA Understanding impacts of insect biological control of Tamarix spp. on soil nitrogen (N) transformations is important because N supply changes could alter the potential for secondary exotic invasion, thus plant community succession. We investigated short-term and longer-term impacts of herbivory by the northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) on soil N availability in Tamarix-invaded ecosystems by surveying soils (organic horizon and mineral soil) from three sites and assaying for potential net N mineralization using laboratory incubations as an index of soil N availability. Results partially supported our hypothesis that herbivory would result in stimulated net N mineralization rates in the short-term (i.e. in the first year of exposure to herbivory), and did not support our hypothesis that herbivory would result in a sustained increase in rates in the longer-term (i.e. after several years of exposure). Short-term effects of herbivory differed by site, and were likely influenced by differences in the prevailing soil N status. In the longer-term, there was no impact on overall net N mineralization rates, even though there was a trend towards greater N immobilization in the mineral soil with more years of herbivory. This trend in the mineral soil was likely influenced by declining organic matter inputs to soil due to progressive growth limitation from herbivoreinduced stress. We suggest that soil N availability will increase in the short-term and eventually decrease in the longer-term at low fertility sites, while N availability will not be impacted by beetle herbivory at high fertility sites, but this hypothesis requires further testing. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0273 A Rangeland Energy Position Statement: Rangeland Assessment Committee Viewpoint Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Energy Position Statement (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral D. Terrance Booth USDA-ARS, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY, USA The Rangeland Assessment Committee (RAM) was established to provide professional leadership related to the development and implementation of rangeland inventory, monitoring, and assessment by government agencies and other public and private organizations. It is the aim of the committee to facilitate adoption of rangeland inventory and monitoring (survey) methods that are objective and scientifically sound with respect to statistical science and ecological principles. The application of appropriate sampling plans and statistical analyses are the basis for meaningful data interpretation in the context of rangeland assessments. To that end, RAM co-sponsored the 2011 symposium, Very-High Resolution Imaging for Resources Monitoring, a symposium on digital-image technologies for monitoring and management whose presentations made clear that now, as never before, the technology exists to apply objective monitoring, scientific rigor, and statistical science to the natural-resource questions that arise with the land disturbances of energy extraction on rangelands. A specific responsibility of the Committee is to assist the SRM in developing policy and position statements regarding rangeland monitoring and assessment issues. It is the viewpoint of the RAM committee that the SRM position statement should emphasize (1) pre-disturbance and post remediation surveys establishing ecological baselines and monitoring recovery of ecological benefits, (2) surveys having unbiased sampling designs meeting the assumptions of planned statistical tests, and (3) that optimal sampling methods may incorporate recent technological advances enabling economical acquisition of large sample numbers across the full area-of-interest. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0275 Perceptions of forest health among stakeholders in an adaptive management project in the Sierra Nevada of California Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Oral Adriana Sulak, Lynn Huntsinger University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA “Forest health” is a term that has been broadly used in community, collaborative, and university forestry programs throughout the United States. Though the term appeals to diverse public interests as a unifying goal for forest management, it’s meaning is not consistent or scientifically defined. However, stakeholders may have divergent ideas of what forest health is, and this can have implications for collaborative and/or participatory management projects. The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project, a US Forest Service and State of California collaborative and participatory project, evaluates the effects of patterns of forest thinning on wildlife, watersheds, and forest health. We present an analysis of the ideas and definitions for forest health brought to the project by diverse stakeholders, scientists, and agency personnel. We conducted phone interviews with 42 participants and non-participants and discovered that there are four main views of forest health apparent in the study area. In contrast to other US research on the term forest health, these four views are not mutually exclusive, and cluster around themes of biodiversity, ecological processes, historical reference points, and management imperatives. We found that these definitions imply differences about how participants view the Forest Service, its management, and adaptive management, but we found less divergence in what interviewees consider appropriate tools for forest management. These results have implications for collaborative projects elsewhere. If definitions of crucial terms are not mutually exclusive there may be more space for collaboration and agreement. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0276 Ultra High Stocking Densities on Nebraska Sandhills Meadows Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Jordan Johnson, Jerry Volesky, Walter Schacht, Robert Vavala University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA Management-intensive rotational grazing methods have been promoted as beneficial for the maintenance or enhancement of range condition, herbage production, and livestock production. Experimental evidence does not completely support such conclusions. The objective of the study was to compare herbage utilization and trampling by cattle on subirrigated meadow in response to different grazing methods: ultra-high stocking density with a single grazing period (mob grazing); 4-pasture 1-cycle rotational (4-PR-1); and 4-pasture 2-cycle rotational (4-PR-2). Cattle were rotated through 120 mobgrazed pastures and 4 pastures in each of the 4-pasture rotation methods in 2010 and 2011. Each method had the same stocking rate (8.2 and 7.4 AUM ha-1 in 2010 and 2011, respectively), but stocking density differed (224,170, 7,470 and 4,980 kg ha-1 for mob 4-PR-1, and 4-PR-2, respectively). Grazing period per pasture for the mob grazing 4-PR-1, 4-PR-2 grazing method was 0.5, 15, 10 days, respectively. Amount of herbage removed and trampled was estimated (1) weekly in the mob-grazed method and (2) when the cattle were moved from a pasture in 4-PR-1 and 4-PR-2. Cattle on mob-grazed pastures consumed between 35 and 40% of available herbage and trampled 50% for a total utilization of 90%. Cattle on 4-PR-1 pastures consumed 45% of available herbage and trampled 55% for a total utilization of 67%. In the 4-PR-2 cattle consumed 35% of available herbage and trampled 15% for a total utilization of 50%. This long-term study will determine the effect trampling on soil organic matter, physical properties, and vegetation dynamics. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0277 Cattle Selection for Aspen and Meadow Forage: Implications for Restoration Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Aspen Ecology and Management (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Bobette Jones1, David Lile2, Kenneth Tate3 1 U. S. Forest Service, Lassen National Forest, Susanville, CA, USA, 2University of California Cooperative Extension, Lassen County, Susanville, CA, USA, 3Department of Plant Sciences, Unviersity of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA There is concern over the decline of aspen and the lack of successful regeneration due to excessive browsing of aspen suckers by cattle. We conducted a two year study on Lassen National Forest, California, USA, to aid development of cattle grazing strategies to enhance aspen regeneration in stands with excessive cattle browsing. We evaluated seasonal biomass, forage quality, and utilization by cattle of aspen regeneration, aspen herbaceous understory vegetation, and meadow vegetation found within six aspen-meadow complexes. Aspen regeneration had greater forage quality compared to aspen understory and meadow vegetation regardless of season or year. Forage quality declined with season in all three vegetation types. Early season foraging by cattle focused on meadow and aspen understory vegetation. Mid-season decreases in meadow and aspen understory forage quality coincided with a marked increase in aspen regeneration utilization. By late growing season, utilization on aspen regeneration was significantly greater than aspen understory or meadow vegetation. Managers can use early season grazing to reduce aspen use by cattle, set stocking rates so that adequate herbaceous forage is available throughout the growing season, provide nutritional supplements to reduce demand for nutritious aspen regeneration, build protective fences, and implement grazing systems which insure years with mid and late season rest from grazing for pastures with aspen stands commonly subject to heavy browse. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0278 Overview and Goals of the Free-Roaming, Wild and Feral Horse Symposium Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Erica Freese University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA Wild, free roaming and feral horse population management is a current domestic and international rangeland issue. In the United States, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates over 38,000 horses and burros on BLM owned lands, with more than 41,000 in holding facilities. Horses found on state-owned or Native American lands add thousands more to the total number of wild and feral horses in the U.S. Similar to the U.S. wild horse populations, Australian brumby populations increase at a rate of about 20% per year. Currently estimated at over 400,000, Australia has the largest population of feral horses in the world. Additionally, Canadian feral horse populations have been increasing since the early 1900's and are a growing concern with respect to habitat management. This symposium will provide a scientific forum for dissemination of wild/feral horse research, with the goal of providing pertinent information to rangeland professionals tasked with managing rangelands and the animals they support. Presentations will include information and research on horse evolution and behavior, horse and wildlife interactions, impacts on vegetation, diet selection, population control, and habitat use and movement patterns. In addition, an international perspective will be included to present horse habitat use and requirements from different ecosystems, and alternative approaches regarding wild and feral horse legislation, policy, and management. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0279 A State-and-Transition Approach to Evaluating Trade-offs among Ecosystem Services Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Economics, Social, and Policy Author's preference: Poster John Ritten1, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez2, Emily Kachergis3, Willow Hibbs4 1 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA, 2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 3 Agricultural Research Service, Cheyenne, WY, USA, 4Natural Resources Conservation Service, Saratoga, WY, USA We developed a linked ecological and economic state-and-transition model (STM) to help managers understand the effects of economic decisions on land health, ecosystem services, and ranch viability and profitability. Parameterized for the Elkhead Watershed in Northern Colorado, our STM model was developed using both ecological data and local knowledge. States and transition probabilities were incorporated into a Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) model to determine optimal cattle management decisions that maximize an infinite stream of returns to a "representative" ranch in the watershed. Management options include stocking decisions, spraying, and haying operations while stochastic variables include precipitation and wildfire. The model was also developed with constraints on minimum levels of ecosystem services. Results showed that both current ecological states and economic conditions impact optimal behavior. Management decisions were altered by accounting for impacts on ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat, plant diversity and soil erosion potential. For our study area, some ecosystem services were in direct conflict with each other, requiring land managers to choose which service(s) were most important to maintain. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0280 Rehabilitation seeding and soil dynamics associated with invasive species in a semi-desert sagebrush shrubland Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Megan M. Taylor1, Ann L. Hild1, Nancy L. Shaw2, Erin K. Denney2, Matthew R. Fisk2 1 University of Wyoming, Department of Renewable Resources, Laramie, WY, USA, 2USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID, USA One goal of post-fire seeding in the Great Basin is to reduce weed entry, yet few studies address impacts of seeding methods on the establishment and persistence of invasive species. In summers of 2010 and 2011, we targeted invasive species presence and soil parameters on rehabilitation seedings on the Scooby wildfire in northern Utah. The site, which burned in August 2008, was formerly dominated by Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis. In fall and winter 2008 the site was seeded using treatments designed to compare rangeland drill, minimum till and broadcast applications of a native grass, forb and shrub mix. We collected aboveground biomass samples of invasive species (Halogeton glomeratus, Salsola kali, and Bromus tectorum), seeded native grasses and volunteer and seeded forbs in four replicate blocks of thirteen seeding treatments to test the hypothesis that exotic biomass production would differ among treatments. We collected soil samples for soil texture, chemical and soil microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis under exotic grass (B. tectorum), drill seeded grass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), and broadcast grass (Poa secunda) microsites. We hypothesized that the presence of exotics would alter soil chemical and soil biotic properties. Exotic species biomass was greater in control plots than in seedings in 2010, but did not differ among drill seedings. Exotic biomass increased in all plots in 2011 and cover of exotic species increased more in unseeded plots than in plots seeded with natives. Our results clearly document the reduction of exotic production with seeding of native species, regardless of the drill used. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0281 Ecological and Medicinal Trait of Some Trees and Shrubs in Rangelands (Case study: Mazandaran, Iran ) Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Seyed Zeynalabedin Hosseini, Samaneh Alsadat Hejaziyan Yazdi University of Goettingen, Goettingen/Niedersachsen, Germany Medicinal plants are increasingly being used because of their low cost, common availability, and low/or no side-effects. These characteristics result in their economical importance. Iran has a unique ecological condition because the country includes: 1) 11 out of 13 climatic area of the world, 2) differences between the temperature of coldest and hottest areas are 40-45 and 35-40 degree centigrade in winter and summer, respectively, 3) about 300 sunny days per year, and 4) 8000-11000 plant species. Iran, however, has only a small share of the medicinal plants export market. To increase its export of medicianl plants is necessary to identify medicinal plants, their habitat, ecological needs and their usage. This research was conducted in the Vaz area, located in Mazandaran Provinve of northern Iran. Botanical, ecological characteristics and usage of these plants were investigated. First, species identification was done in the field or herbarium. Then, using scientific references and communicating with local people, it was investigated whether these species of trees and shrubs were medicinal or not. Results showed that in this area, 9 of 34 species of trees and shrubs were considered medicinal. They include Berberis vulgaris, Berberis integrrima, Salix spp., Ribes bibersteinii, Alnus glutinosa, Carpinus betulus, Juglans cinerea, Fagus orientalis, Sorbus sp. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0282 Applying Patch-Burn Grazing in Tallgrass Prairie Rangeland Invaded by an Exotic Cool Season Grass Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster John D. Scasta1, Dave M. Engle1, Diane M. Debinski2 1 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA, 2Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA A patch-burn grazing field study was initiated in 2006 in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri. The study design includes three treatments: ‘Patch-Burn Grazing' (patch burning 1/3 annually with cattle accessing entire pasture), ‘Graze and Burn' (burning once every three years and grazing every year) and ‘Burn Only' (burning once every three years with no grazing). The study is replicated 4 times across 314.8 ha with 12 pastures averaging 26.0 ha. Stocking rates were light to moderate and consistent across pastures. Grazing was from May to October and prescribed burns were conducted from late March through early April. Potential vegetation is composed of typical tallgrass prairie species, but many of the sites were invaded to varying degrees by the exotic, cool-season grass tall fescue (Lolium aruninacea Schreb. S.J. Darbyshire). Tall fescue can be invasive on remnant and restored prairie and cause endopyhte toxicity in livestock. Recent findings also have documented its ability to alter fire behavior. Vegetation sampling was conducted annually in May and August using a modified Whitaker plot. This approach uses a nested quadrat that samples at different spatial scales (species cover is 2 2 2 2 sampled at 0.5m and 2.5m and presence/absence is sampled at 100m and 500 m plots). Sampling was at the patch level with 2 Whitaker plots per patch and 3 patches per pasture. Additional sampling assessed plant functional groups by documenting 90, 0.5m2 quadrats per pasture and 90 Robel pole obstruction readings. Analysis investigated changes in species richness and potential to mitigate tall fescue invasion. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0283 Intensive rotational grazing results in low species selectivity and low repeat defoliation of grass tillers Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Grazing Ecology and Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Ben Norton1, Matthew Barnes2, Motoko Maeno (deceased)1 1 Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA, 2Shining Horizons Land Management, Cimarron, Colorado, USA Intensive rotational grazing (IRG) may reduce species selectivity and have more benign impact on grazed rangelands than continuous grazing. We tested this proposition on Cedar Mountain, south-central Utah (2600m elev; 760mm MAP) on grass-forb mountain meadow with patches of oak, aspen and snowberry. Sixteen cow-calf pairs grazed paddocks of decreasing size and increasing stocking density, namely 4, 2 and 1 ha, in two replications, representing rotations of 16, 32 and 64 paddocks. Grazing periods ranged from 4 to 1 days so that the simulated rotation cycle (64 days, half a summer grazing season) and stocking rate (16 AUD/ha) remained constant. Species composition was estimated by the Dry Weight Rank method, and utilization by species was visually estimated using the same quadrat (50x50cm) and sampling grid. To assess repeat defoliation in paddocks grazed for 2 and 4 days, we measured height of 300 marked tillers in IRG paddocks before, at midpoint and after grazing. Utilization was light (11-23%), so there was ample opportunity for cattle to express selectivity. There was no difference between treatments in species selectivity, but a strong correlation between species relative abundance and % utilization (r = 0.822, P < 0.001) indicates selectivity was low regardless of treatment. Only 5.4% and 3.8% of tillers were repeat-grazed in paddocks grazed for 4 days and 2 days, respectively. These results imply that high stocking densities for short periods, as experienced under IRG, could achieve one of the goals of grazing management: spreading utilization more evenly across available forage resources. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0284 Impact of Patch-Burn Grazing Management on Fly Pressure on Range Cattle in the Great Plains Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral John D. Scasta1, Dave M. Engle1, Diane M. Debinski2 1 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA, 2Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA Patch-burn grazing was compared to traditional management and its impact on mitigating fly pressure on range cattle in southwestern Iowa in 2011. Monitoring focused on dung dependent flies, including: Horn flies (Hematobia irritans), Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) and Face flies (Musca autumnalis). Study design included two treatments: 1) Patch-Burn Grazing-PBG (patch burning 1/3 annually with cattle accessing entire pasture) 2) Graze And Burn-GAB (burning once every three years and grazing every year) and was replicated 3 times for 6 pastures and herds. Pastures averaged 27.2 ha and 7.8 head per pasture. Stocking rate was moderate and relatively constant. Cattle were all black angus (Bos taurus) and were evaluated 9 times from 7/15 to 8/19. One side of four unique cows per pasture was evaluated at a distance of 5 to 20 meters with the assistance of binoculars. Flies were counted individually up to 50. If there were more than 50, then groups of ten were counted from that point forward. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). PBG cows had fewer flies at 8 of the 9 observations. Significant differences (p<0.05) were only observed at 4 of 9 observation dates at alpha = 0.05. For all observational periods, PBG cows averaged 127.5 flies per side compared to 196.3 flies per side for GAB cows (p<0.05, LSD = 55.7). Additional years and locations are needed to further clarify the relationship between fire, grazing and fly pressure on range cattle. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0285 An assisted succession model using sainfoin? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Daniel Mummey, Lauren Stoffel, Philip Ramsey, Ylva Lekberg MPG Operations, Missoula, USA Assisted succession involves the use of a cover crop to "capture" a site away from weedy species prior to community diversification. Sainfoin has several potential advantages as an assisted succession species. Unlike crested wheatgrass and other introduced grasses, sainfoin is beneficial to a range of birds, insects, and wildlife of all sizes. Land undergoing restoration that is planted to sainfoin can have a rapid, positive impact on wildlife. To capture a site, assisted succession species need to be competitive. Although sainfoin is not a strong competitor under most circumstances, mature plants have been reported to be resistant to glyphosate (Roundup). No information is available concerning glyphosate resistance at the seedling stage when plants are most susceptible to weed competition. We found that sainfoin seedlings (< 6") were slightly stunted, but rebounded rapidly, after spring application of 1 pint per acre glyphosate. Spring seeded sainfoin (>6") tolerated 1 quart per acre glyphosate applied in July. Glyphosate application controlled cheatgrass, mustards and other invasive annuals on our field plots during sainfoin establishment. Kochia and pigweed were partially controlled during sainfoin establishment using glyphosate and mowing. Our results indicate that sainfoin can be effectively used to capture sites from invasive annuals. Cheatgrass and crested wheatgrass are known to facilitate negative feedbacks on native plant reestablishment. We are evaluating the potential for sainfoin (a mycorrhizal forb that hosts symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria) to alleviate these effects. Future work will examine methods for diversification of sainfoin stands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0286 Feral Horse Diet Selection and Forage Availability Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Megan Nordquist, Steven Petersen, Todd Robinson Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Feral horse management is a subject of much debate and controversy. With increasing numbers of feral horses on rangelands, land managers have been perplexed as to the most appropriate course of action necessary to appease parties involved as well as aid in goals of conservation and health of the horse herds themselves. This study looks at one particular aspect of feral horse impact upon rangelands, specifically forage consumption. This is accomplished through the use of stable isotope dietary analysis (δ15N and δ13C) of tail hairs. Tail hair isotopic values taken from feral horse populations were compared to plant isotopic values found in the same geographical area and source contribution of various plant species was determined through the use of the program IsoSource. Seasonal variation in plant consumption was observed. During summer months, shrubs (mostly Artemesia spp, and Purshia tridentata), Elymus elymoides, Juncus balticus, and Festuca idahoensis were the predominantly consumed vegetative species. During fall months, Leymus cinereus and Juncus balticus played a more significant role. In the winter, shrubs were more heavily consumed along with Poa secunda. Springtime showed a shift towards forb consumption. Changes in seasonal consumption of forages were most likely linked to forage availability as well as equine preference. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0287 A GIS Modeling Method for Predicting the extent of Land Resource Unit Subdivisions to assist with the Development of Ecological Site Descriptions. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Ecological Sites and Thresholds Author's preference: Poster Bill Drummond, Tamra DeCock NRCS, Miles City, MT, USA Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) are developed within the boundaries of Major Land Resource Units (MLRAs) and Land Resource Units (LRUs). Properly defined LRUs and MLRAs are critical to ensure the correct development of Ecological Site Descriptions and seamless joins between soil survey areas. The correct definition and description of LRUs and MLRAs greatly affects soil survey activities and proper assignment of ecological site to a soil map unit component. The geographic extent of a soil survey map unit is determined by the associated MLRA and LRU. Therefore, a method of GIS modeling of LRUs and plant community composition in MLRAs 58A and 60B was developed to assist with the establishment of LRUs. LRU and MLRA boundaries were verified and refined through field visits at multiple locations and on multiple ecological sites within each LRU. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0288 Stream conservation and riparian forests: hydrologic ecosystem services of riparian forests in Pacific Lowland Nicaragua rangeland. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Poster Ryan Niemeyer1, Alex Fremier1, Robert Heinse1, Fabrice DeClerck2, Wilfredo Chávez Huamán2 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 2The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica In much of tropical Latin America with distinct wet and dry seasons, livestock production is a primary source of income. Expansion of rangeland has led to reduction of primary forests, threatening river ecosystems from excessive sediment and chemical runoff, reducing dry-season stream flow necessary for watering livestock and increasing flooding potential. Riparian forest conservation provides one method to conserve much of the natural hydrologic ecosystem function while maintaining operational rangelands. Riparian forests in Rivas, Nicaragua were studied to assess the hydrological ecosystem services that are provided by these forests. We hypothesized that primary forests would have higher infiltration rates and lower simulated runoff than degraded forests, pasture, and cultivated areas. Soil, vegetation, and grazing impact characteristics were measured in fifteen plots: two pasture plots, two cultivated plots, and eleven forest plots of varying tree density and grazing impact. A simplified GASH model was used to model canopy interception and throughfall. Hydrus 1D was used to model runoff in each of the plots based on the modeled throughfall, measured infiltration, and soil texture measurements. Infiltration was found to be significantly lower in pastureland at 2.3 mm/hr, compared to both grazed and ungrazed forests at 39.4 mm/hr. Forests open to grazing livestock only moderately reduced infiltration. Runoff was significantly reduced in dense forests compared to pastureland and sparse forests. Riparian forests, even when open to adjacent grazed pastures, provide a viable source of hydrologic ecosystem services by protecting river ecosystems, reducing flooding potential, and increasing groundwater recharge necessary for summer watering and human consumption. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0289 Use of soil electrical conductivity for soil mapping in rangelands. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Daniel Mummey, Mike McTee, Lauren Stoffel, Philip Ramsey MPG Operations, Missoula, MT, USA Soil maps are usually coarse and of limited value to restorationists. Soil sample collection for mapping is problematic because the scales soils vary at are not known. Random or grid-based sample strategies could result in under-sampling or redundant sampling of different areas. A more informed approach is to constrain sample collection by topography but, without prior knowledge of soil spatial variability, sample information content may be low. A method for rapid, inexpensive and high-resolution detection of changes in soil properties across the landscape would inform sample collection to maximize sample information content. In non-saline soils, electrical conductivity is influenced by soil physico-chemical properties including water content, soluble salts (many nutrients), soil texture, and organic matter content, all of which influence soil quality. We measured EC across multiple sites to inform soil sampling. Soil physical and chemical properties were used to parameterize spatial models. Cokriging and conditional simulation were used to create probabilistic maps for soil property threshhold levels. Our results indicate that soil moisture content accounted for 60% of the variance in EC data. We used EC maps to direct soil sampling and found that predicted EC correlated strongly with soil clay content. Overall, our results indicate that soil EC measures allow for estimation of soil water holding capacity; a factor important to revegetation of arid rangelands. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0290 The Shifting of Ecological Restoration Benchmarks and Their Social Impacts: Digging Deeper into Pleistocene Re-wilding Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral David Toledo2, Marta Agudelo2, Amanda Bentley1 1 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 2Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA Current and projected rates of species loss prompt us to look for innovative conservation efforts. One such proposal is that large areas of North America be re-wilded with old world species that descended from Pleistocene mega-fauna. We argue that this approach overlooks many important ecological, evolutionary, cultural, and economic issues and detracts from conservation efforts by adding another arbitrary restoration benchmark. Our objectives are to specifically address the shifting benchmark for ecological restoration, explore the social dimensions of Pleistocene re-wilding which have been largely overlooked, and discuss why we think Pleistocene re-wilding is not a proactive approach for conservation. This is not intended as a critique of innovative approaches. Instead it is an argument that human and ecological factors need to be considered in depth before any restoration initiative can be practically implemented. Proactive approaches should consider historical conditions while managing based on the present, should plan for the future, and should allow adaptation to changing conditions. We support the strategy to restore ecological interactions using species that coevolved with these interactions, bearing in mind the complexities of the socio-ecological dimensions of any management action. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0291 Website Development for the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Oral Marsah Landis, Carolyn Blocksome Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA When there is a sudden need to distribute information, a website can serve as the core resource for outreach efforts. In December 2010, the Kansas Legislature approved the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan and it was immediately implemented. Conversely, the April Burning Restrictions, a critical piece of legislation, was not approved until the middle of March, 2011. With nearly all prescribed burning activity in the Flint Hills region occurring during April, the need for outreach was immediate and the time available for website development was minimal. K-State Research and Extension was asked to lead the outreach activities and a website was created to serve as the main portal for information (www.ksfire.org). Challenges of the project included: working with multiple agencies, targeting highly diverse audiences, and coordinating with a separate contractor for the website's additional modeling software. The following steps were taken in to consideration: how to incorporate a website into the overarching project plan, development of a functional and visually aesthetic design, setting attainable deadlines, and coordination with key players. The website was promoted through diverse media vehicles and used by emergency personnel and the public, primarily located in the Kansas Flint Hills Region. From February 15 - April 30, 2011, www.ksfire.org, including the Sonoma Technologies modeling portion of the site, was viewed over 8,100 times, with an average bounce rate of approximately 33%. Surveys have shown the average end users preferred the general information and weather forecasting, while emergency personnel preferred the modeling software. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0292 Classifying Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Patterns in Mojave Landscapes Using 40-Year Precipitation Composites Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral Janelle Downs, Jerry Tagestad, Valerie Cullnan Pacific NW National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA The Mojave desert ecosystem exhibits substantial variability in precipitation pattern, timing and magnitude, which in turn affects plant and animal species distributions, productivity, and may be a predictor of resilience or invasibility of plant communities. Precipitation regime and effects on productivity of exotic species may also affect fire frequency and extent, especially where summer monsoon storms increase the risk of lightning strikes. To better understand the spatial and temporal variability in precipitation and its influence on abundance and distribution of invasive annual grasses, we explored the use of PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) data to classify spatial precipitation patterns based on temporal pattern and precipitation amount. The 40-year record of PRISM climate data for the Mojave bioregion was first analyzed using hierarchichal cluster analysis to identify 3 distinct seasons in the precipitation regime for the Mojave Desert ecoregion: October through March (Winter), April to June (Spring) and July to September (Summer). These results agree with other analyses using meteorological station data for the Mojave. In addition to the seasonal patterns inherent in the Mojave precipitation regime, further investigation identified four precipitation classes within the ecoregion based on the timing and amount of precipitation. The four precipitation sub-regions can be mapped as Wet Winter/Dry Summer, Dry Winter/Dry Summer, Wet Winter/Wet Summer, and Very Wet Winter/ Wet Summer. Results of this classification provide spatial information that will be incorporated in invasive species distribution models and used to evaluate fire risk. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0293 The Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan: A Design for Improving Air Quality Associated with Prescribed Burning Activities Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Oral Carolyn Blocksome, Jeff Davidson, Mike Holder, Steven Graham, J. Pat Murphy Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA Approximately 2,500,000 acres of tallgrass prairie are burnt each April in the Flint Hills region of Kansas and northern Oklahoma by private landowners for ecologic and economic purposes. Smoke generated from these fires has caused air quality non-attainment in urban areas. To address these air quality issues, the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan was developed and written by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in conjunction with a subcommittee composed of urban and rural representatives. Public input was sought through open meetings. The Plan was completed and approved by the state legislature in December 2010. A major outreach campaign was conducted prior to the burn season by K-State Research and Extension, numerous agencies, and agricultural producer groups to inform the public and encourage compliance. Key components of the outreach effort included public meetings, distribution of brochures, development of a website, prescribed burning workshop presentations, and a media campaign. During the burn season, data were collected on the acres burned. Air quality monitoring indicated four days of ozone non-attainment (April 6, 12, 13, and 29). Post-season analysis of outreach efforts and compliance revealed high levels of knowledge of the Plan, but only moderate levels of compliance. Producers gave numerous reasons for non-compliance, with the single most important factor being the scarcity of days with weather conditions favorable for burning. Outreach needs identified for the upcoming burn season include educational efforts targeted towards county employees and commissioners, updating the website, and continued education of agricultural producers. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0294 Ecological site characteristics related to the formation of post-fire soil water repellency within piñon-juniper woodlands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Oral Daniel Zvirzdin1, Matthew Madsen2, Bruce Roundy1 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, 2USDA - Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA Ecological resilience in post-fire piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands may be compromised by the formation of a water repellant soil layer that alters natural hydrologic and nutrient cycles. Although the effects of this soil condition are documented in the literature, research is lacking that quantifies the extent of soil water repellency (WR) within piñon-juniper woodlands and identifies ecological site characteristics related to its formation. To help fill this knowledge gap, fires throughout Utah were selected for study. Within each fire, a stratified random selection technique was used to distribute study sites across a range of site characteristics important to the formation of soil WR in other systems. At each site, soil WR presence, thickness, and severity were measured. These data were then related to burn severity, soil, and PJ dimensional data collected at each site, and PJ canopy cover, precipitation, and various topographic data extracted remotely. Soil WR was found at 40% of all 1845 points sampled. Where found, soil WR averaged 16 mm thick, with a water drop penetration time of 300 seconds. Simple main effects models found WR presence most strongly related to PJ canopy cover, post-fire soil pH, soil texture, and PJ tree height, in that order. The best model of WR presence included PJ canopy cover and post-fire soil pH 2 as explanatory factors (adjusted R = 0.72). The results were significant in that they provide baseline data on the extent of soil WR in post-fire PJ woodlands and identify ecological site characteristics important to its formation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0295 Secondary Compound Interactions: The effect of condensed tannins on the toxicity of fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) to cattle Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Carolyn Wong1, Fred Provenza1, Mark Thorne2, Jim Pfister3, Dale Gardner3 1 Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 2University of Hawaii, Kamuela, HI, USA, 3USDA-ARS Poisonous Plants Research Lab, Logan, UT, USA Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed) occurs in Hawaii, Australia, South America and Africa. In Hawaii, fireweed reduces pasture productivity by 30-40% in severe infestations. Fireweed contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs; ~1800 ppm) that cause liver damage and photosensitization in grazing animals. Some studies have shown that tannins may bind to PAs resulting in increased intake and reduced toxicity of PAcontaining forages (e.g., endophyte-infected tall fescue) in cattle and sheep. The objective of this study was to determine if tannins complex with the PAs found in S. madagascariensis. Four tannin levels (0, 4%, 8% and 12%) were used in conjunction with fireweed in an in-vitro digestion system; replicate samples (n=2) were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours. Tannins are estimated to weigh 1700 Da and PAs that occur in S. madagascariensis range from 300-500 Da, therefore the molecular weight of tannin-PA complexes are expected to be greater than 2,000 Da. Micro filters (1 kDa) were used to remove compounds with a MW of 1000 or more, and unbound PAs were determined on filtered residues using LCMS. Results showed the 8% treatment level had significantly less amounts of free PAs at all sample times and therefore the highest amount of tannin-PA complexing. Compared to the amount of PAs in the control samples, the 8% tannin treatment bound 24%, 28%, 37%, 41%, 52% and 53% of the PAs over the sample time periods,respectively. These preliminary results suggest that tannins may bind PAs sufficiently in vivo to reduce chronic toxicity to grazing livestock. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0296 Effect of pinyon and juniper slash on surface hydrology following a prescribed cut-andlimb treatment in central Nevada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Sarah M. Noelle1, Craig A. Carr2, Tamzen K. Stringham2, Mark A. Weltz3 1 The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA, 3 USDA Agricultural Research Service, Reno, NV, USA The expansion and infilling of pinyon-juniper woodlands in the western United States over the last 100+ years has caused a decline in understory vegetation diversity and abundance, a loss of wildlife habitat, changes in surface hydrology, and an increased potential for soil erosion. Treatment of pinyon-juniper encroached rangelands for improving ecological function and ecosystem services is a priority for many land managers. An understanding of the effects of pinyon-juniper treatment on hydrologic processes is limited, thus research is required to assist in developing appropriate management prescriptions to improve hydrologic function. To investigate the impact of pinyon-juniper treatment on surface hydrology, we conducted a study to determine the effects of interspace slash presence or absence on infiltration, surface runoff, and sediment yield. The study was carried out on a 4.5ha southwest facing pinyon-juniper encroached hillside in the Desatoya Mountains in central Nevada. The research followed a prescribed cut-and-limb treatment that occurred in 2009. Small-plot rainfall simulation was used to measure infiltration, runoff, and sediment production within 28 plots, 14 with slash and 14 without. Simulated -1 rainfall was applied at an 8.6cmh rate, representative of the 100-year storm return interval for short duration, high intensity summer storms for the area. Plant community composition, foliar and basal cover, rock cover and fragment size, and slash cover and quality (soil contact) were measured within each simulation plot. Analysis of variance was used to test for differences in infiltration, runoff and sediment yield between plots with slash and those without. Results will be presented. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0297 Using MODIS NDVI Time Series Data to Assess Distribution and Abundance of Nonnative Annual Grasses in the Mojave Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral Jerry Tagestad1, Janelle Downs1, Matthew Brooks2, Robert Klinger2, Randy McKinley3 1 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA, 2Western Ecological Research Center, USGS, Sacramento, California, USA, 3Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, USGS, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA Non-native annual grasses, including Bromus madritensis rubens, B. tectorum, Schismus arabicus and S. barbatus, can be responsible for altering fire regimes and degrading habitats in the Mojave bioregion. Our objective was to combine field data sets describing presence and abundance of exotic annuals with satellite remote sensing data to develop NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) models that identify land areas where non-native annuals dominate the understory and ultimately increase wildfire risk across the landscape. Phenological differences in the onset of growth, increase in biomass, and timing of senescence for field sites with low and high cover of non-native annual grasses and forbs were identified using vegetation indices derived from hi-temporal resolution MODIS imagery. As expected, time-series greenness profiles for creosote (Larrea tridentata) shrub habitats, mid-elevation mixed shrub, and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) habitats exhibit significant differences in the timing and magnitude of peak greenness between locations with low and high cover of invasive annuals. Peak greenness values for sites with high levels of exotic annuals were 2 to 3 times greater than sites with low cover in spring 2005 (above normal precipitation year) compared to time series data showing differences of only 20 to 30% between sites with low and high cover in 2001 (below normal precipitation). Relationships between field measurements and multi-scale NDVI response are integrated with precipitation, topographic position and cover types to construct NDVI models predicting the spatial distribution and relative abundance of non-native annual grasses in Mojave landscapes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0298 Impact of grasshopper herbivory on rangeland production and species composition in northern mixed prairie: Results from a long term experiment. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster David Branson USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Sidney, Montana, USA Although grasshoppers frequently consume forage that could be used by livestock and wildlife, the impact of longer term grasshopper consumption on rangeland plant production has been largely ignored. Insect herbivores such as rangeland grasshoppers may modify plant production and nutrient cycling, because of their large overall biomass and short lifespans. Although grasshopper herbivory often reduces forage availability within a year, which has been used to justify grasshopper control efforts, this perspective ignores potential long-term (between year) effects of herbivory. A small scale experimental study was conducted from 2000 through 2007 in eastern Montana examining the effects of grasshopper herbivory on rangeland productivity. The experiment was conducted using two species of grasshoppers differing in food preference. Grasshoppers were maintained through the summer in 1 meter square cages at 50% of field grasshopper density, field density, and 150% of field density. Vegetation control cages with no grasshoppers were also maintained throughout the experiment. Vegetation composition, biomass and nutrient cycling were assessed throughout the experiment. Even when maintained at densities at 150% of field abundance, grasshopper herbivory had no significant detrimental impact on vegetation production when assessed over an 8 year period. Grasshopper herbivory did lead to differences in vegetation composition, with results dependent on grasshopper species. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0299 Investigating the potential for piñon and juniper mastication to influence soil health and invasibility Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Fire Ecology and Management Author's preference: Poster Deborah Rigby, Zachary Aanderud, Bruce Roundy Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Piñon-juniper (PJ) communities in the western US have become an important concern to land managers as they attempt to maintain a balance between wildlife, exotic plant invasion, and human needs. Due to increased tree density of PJ, in recent years, mechanical mastication has become a common method of management that may promote healthier ecosystems. This method reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires, but its influence on ecosystem invasibility remains unclear. Many questions remain unanswered, such as: are soils generally healthier following mastication; how do different tree species influence nutrient cycling; and, what are the effects of mastication on plant available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)? In this study, we investigated the potential for mastication to alter soil health and nutrient availability. We conducted an extensive soil survey across 25 PJ sites that varied in age since mastication. We removed soil samples beneath PJ trees (1/3 canopy and edge of canopy) and in interspace soils, and measured carbon (C) mineralization, N mineralization, and N and P availability. Soils were evaluated at two soil depths (0-2 cm and 15-17 cm). Based on preliminary findings: C mineralization rates were similar between masticated and control soils beneath both tree species; N mineralization rates were higher in surface soils and inorganic N concentrations were elevated in masticated soils; and P availability was also enhanced following mastication. These results suggest the availability of limiting plant nutrients increases following mastication, thus creating more N and P for any colonizing plant to exploit. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0300 Effects of Herbivory on Seedling Survival in a Riparian Forest of the Middle Sheyenne River Watershed Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Sarah Braaten, Shawn DeKeyser, Joseph Zeleznik NDSU, Fargo, North Dakota, USA There is a concern about the lack of regeneration of riparian hardwood forest communities of the Middle Sheyenne Watershed, N.D. The dominant tree species native to this watershed include: Quercus macrocarpa, Ulmus americana, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica. This study was conducted to test if seedling recruitment in this area was directly related to cattle grazing or browsing by herbivores (white-tailed deer) or other factors. Two manipulative treatments were applied in a Randomized Complete Block Design and were repeated in three replicates of planted seedlings (Q. macropcarpa, Populus deltoides, F. pennsylvanica, and Celtis occidentalis). A fence treatment (high fence, low fence, no fence) was used to test herbivory by the exclusion of white-tailed deer and/or cattle. A mowing treatment was used to control competition by Bromus inermus and Poa pratensis. The high fence treatment (excluded white-tailed deer and cattle) was significant (p=0.1) in survival of Q. macropcarpa, P. deltoides, and F. pennsylvanica when compared to no fence at the end of season 1 (75% vs. 59% survival) and season 2 (47% vs. 27% survival). The exclusion of cattle did not show a significant difference in seedling survival when compared to the no fence treatment. The mowing treatment showed a positive effect compared to no mowing for C. occidentalis at the end of season 2. Herbivory by white-tailed deer showed a significant impact on seedling survival in this study, and protection of seedlings with a high fence may be necessary. Mowing around C. occidentalis seedlings to control competitive grasses may increase the survival. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0301 Wild Horse Habitat Use Patterns within Riparian Areas of Northwest Nevada Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Steve Petersen1, Craig Carr2, Gail Collins3, Kirk Davies4, Chad Boyd4, Amy Gooch1 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 2University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA, 3Hart/Sheldon NWR, Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakeview, Oregon, USA, 4USDA Agricultural Reserach Service, Burns, Oregon, USA Effective management of free-roaming horses on western rangelands requires an understanding of their influence on habitat structure and resilience. Of particular interest to managers is the influence that horses have on critical or sensitive environments such as riparian ecosystems. To effectively characterize this influence, methods are needed that detect horse occurrence and habitat use patterns temporally. The purpose of this study was to quantify horse riparian habitat use patterns by determining the frequency and duration of free-roaming horse use within riparian areas of northwest Nevada. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, five motion sensitive digital infrared cameras were placed along five riparian areas located within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Cameras were programmed to take photos of each study site between April and October using 1) a set frequency with 15 minute timed intervals and 2) a motion triggered sequence. Motion sensitivity ranged from a 1-100' distance. Although photos were collected during the night, low visibility restricted data analysis to observations during daylight hours. Preliminary results indicate that horses were observed within riparian areas throughout the study period, however, the number and duration of horse visits increased as the summer progressed, in particular between mid summer and early fall. Understanding the frequency and duration of free-roaming horse use in riparian habitats can help managers determine when the greatest impacts may be occurring and investigate possible methods for protecting these sensitive habitats from high use. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0302 Challenges Associated with Commercialization of Biopesticides Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Chris Wend Northwest Agricultural Products, Pasco, WA, USA Many years of fundamental research are often necessary to identify a possible candidate for biocontrol. This is just the first step on a long trip toward a commercial product. The ideal biocontrol candidate coming out of a fundamental research program would have some intellectual property associated with it, have a clear mode of action, be very specific in its target, perform well compared to conventional tools, and attenuate in the environment once it has completed its mission. This is not a complete list and the absence of some items does not necessarily stop the initial investigation of the idea. Early evaluation includes market need, comparison and compatibility with conventional practices, and cost modeling to estimate whether a process can be scaled. Once a decision is made to investigate an organism for possible technology deployment, it must be brought into the lab and investigated for compatibility with engineered processes. Challenges from growth medium optimization and bioprocess conditions to final formulations are all part of the engineering and applied research necessary to scale up a bioprocess to commercial levels. Research will be presented to illustrate the dependency of bioprocess and post bioprocess conditions on the efficacy of a commercially formulated biopesticide (D7) for the suppression of cheatgrass. Evaluation of commercially produced D7 versus bench scale D7 demonstrated that the commercial formulation was consistent with the bench scale material. This supports the use of previous research performed using bench scale produced material in support of commercially prepared material. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0303 A Comparison of Stream Morphology and Vegetation of Cottonwood-Dominated and Open Reaches Within a Riparian Ecological Site in NW Colorado Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Riparian Systems/Water Author's preference: Poster Kira Puntenney, Emily Kachergis Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA Land managers in northwestern Colorado have identified that riparian areas are more important than uplands for the ecology, management, and economics of local ranches. We compare stream morphology and vegetation of nine 30 meter reaches with and without cottonwoods (open vs. closed canopy) on two adjacent streams (Elkhead and Calf Creeks ) to determine whether wooded vs. non-wooded reaches can be considered alternate states. Reach morphology was characterized using Rosgen stream classification based on slope, sinuosity, entrenchment, width, depth and channel bed composition. Vegetation cover by species was measured in each hydrologically unique component (near-stream vs. far). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine vegetation and stream morphology variables that were significantly different between open and closed reaches. Closed canopy reaches had a wider, finer sediment channel, a broader floodplain and lower forb and sedge/rush cover (near stream) that open reaches. This pilot study suggest that while some variation is found in vegetation and stream morphology according to canopy cover, the largest differences in both morphology and vegetation were between the two streams, even though they are adjacent and have similar management. This finding represents the challenge for generalizing the effects of management across multiple streams. Sampling on a large scale might reduce variation between streams and aid in the development of alternate riparian states. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0304 A Remote Sensing Approach for Evaluating Brush Management Caused Transitions Between Vegetation States Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Sapana Lohani1, Chandra Holifield Collins2, Philip Heilman2, Ronald L. Tiller3 1 University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2USDA-ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center, Tucson, AZ, USA, 3The Nature Conservancy, Tucson, AZ, USA State and transition models (STMs) have been gaining momentum in rangeland management. STMs are theoretical depictions of the variation due to climate, management, or both, of stable plant communities within ecological sites. For widespread application, maps of the vegetation states presented within these models are needed to allow managers to not only make better informed decisions about what management practices to employ to improve or maintain their rangelands, but to assess the effectiveness of management practices. This study used high-resolution satellite imagery and ground-based data to map vegetation states within identified ecological sites on the Empire Ranch, located within the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (LCNCA) in southeastern Arizona. The resulting state map was used to assess the effectiveness of brush management practices to drive vegetation communities on several ecological sites from one state to another. The combination of remotely-sensed images, field monitoring, and state and transition models shows great potential as a means of mapping states and evaluating the benefits of established management practices to drive transitions from one vegetation state to another across large areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0305 Snowfall influences potential fungal seed pathogens and the seedling recruitment of invasive and native grasses Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Zachary Aanderud1, Debbie Rigby1, Jeremy James2 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, 2United States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA Seedling recruitment is often a central limitation to ecosystem restoration; however, recruitment partially occurs under extreme winter soil conditions that remain relatively unexplored. Furthermore, climate scenarios forecast changes in snowfall that may enhance seed pathogen dynamics hindering restoration success. Our study evaluated the potential for snowfall and fungi interactions to influence invasive and native seedling recruitment in a shrub-steppe ecosystem (OR, USA). We created three snow treatments (snow removed, added, or left in place); seeded treatments with Bromus tectorum (Brte) Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pssp); and measured seedling densities and seed fungal dynamics through winter and spring. We used quantitative PCR and molecular fingerprinting to track endophytic fungal abundance and pathogenic fungal genera. We found snowfall removal altered soil conditions, stimulated fungal dynamics, and reduced seedling emergence regardless of grass species. Snow removal created dry and frequently frozen soils, while snow additions and ambient snowfall produced wetter and warmer soils. Seedling densities were 20% and 27% lower under snowfall removal than the other two treatments for Brte and Pssp respectively. Further, a higher abundance of endophytic fungi coincided with the decline in seedling recruitment. Fungal biomass within Brte and Pssp seeds were often an order-of-magnitude higher under snow removal. We detected the presence of and seasonal shifts in three dominant genera of fungal seed pathogens (Fusarium, Magnaporthe, and Rhizoctonia). Our results suggest snowfall change may alter pathogen dynamics and limit seedling recruitment. Restoration efforts may be maximized if seedings occur in years projected to have high levels of snowfall. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0306 Rangeland Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study of Scale and Resolution in Measuring Plant Community Structure Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Poster Ammon Boswell1, Steven Petersen1, Ryan Jensen1, Danny Summers2, Jason Vernon2 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 2Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, Utah, USA Long-term rangeland monitoring is essential for land managers to make informed and effective decisions. However, most management agencies are responsible for extensive areas, making effective monitoring both time consuming and expensive. Therefore, methods are needed for rangeland monitoring that are rapid, cost effective, accurate and robust. Remote sensing and GIS are tools that have been suggested to provide similar results of plant and bare ground cover as ground-based reference data with an acceptable amount of error. The purpose of this study is to compare plant community data obtained from four different remote sensing platforms with ground reference data collected from field plots in northern Utah. Remote Sensing platforms include Landsat (30m), NAIP (1m), High Resolution remote sensed imagery (0.26m), and very high resolution remote sensed imagery (0.06cm), Total percent cover were determined for trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and percent bare ground from each data source. Preliminary results indicate that total tree and shrub cover are discernable from high resolution imagery. Herbaceous plants and percent bare ground were more difficult to discern in comparison to ground-based reference data. This may be due to differences in vegetation sampling techniques. Using remote sensing, managers can monitor broader landscapes at more frequent intervals making it possible to effectively monitor plant community change, the invasion of weedy species, and the effects of disturbance on ecological structure. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0307 Influences of soil and spatial properties on Bromus tectorum distribution after fire Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Shawn D. Taylor, Beth A. Newingham Universty of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Moscow, ID, USA Sagebrush habitat has declined in the last century due to agricultural land-use, fire, and the invasion of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass). Bromus tectorum decreases the fire return interval of sagebrush habitat making it difficult for native plant recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Post-fire rehabilitation treatments in the Great Basin often include drill seeding non-native and native species to reduce B. tectorum invasion. On a 2010 wildfire in southern Idaho, we observed ‘seeded patches' where seeded vegetation established after treatments but were interspersed among large ‘cheatgrass patches'. 'Seeded patches' were dominated by planted Agropyron fragile (9.5% ± 0.98% cover) and had B. tectorum cover of 5.6% (±0.84%). Bromus tectorum cover in ‘cheatgrass patches' averaged 34.0% (±2.0%), while A. fragile cover was 1.2% (±0.2%). Dust flux, soil, and spatial measurements were made in the contrasting sites. Dust flux rates were lower in ‘cheatgrass patches' (7.0 ±5.2 g/m2/day) than ‘seeded patches' (16.17 ±5.11 g/m2/day). Comparing these two sites will help to 1) explain the patchy vegetation patterns across the landscape after fire, 2) understand mechanisms behind B. tectorum distributions, and 3) decide whether revegetation efforts should be altered across these landscapes. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0308 Feral horse (Equus caballus) impacts on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) use of watering holes on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Amy Gooch1, Steven Petersen1, Gail Collins2, Tom Smith1, Brock McMillan1 1 Brigham Young University, Provo, Ut, USA, 2Sheldon-Hart Mtn. National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Lakeview, OR, USA When resources become scarce, such as limited water availability in arid or semi-arid environments, interference competition between animals may occur. High water demand often results in spatial or temporal partitioning. Feral horses have large body size and aggressive behavior strategies, and typically dominate other animal species where they occur. The purpose of this study is to investigate the spatial and temporal overlap and interference competition for water by pronghorn and feral horses on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, NV. In this study, we placed motion-sensitive cameras at 22 water sources across the SNWR to examine spatial and temporal use of water by pronghorn and horses. Furthermore, we made direct observations of interactions between horses and pronghorn at water, and recorded changes in pronghorn behavior in the presence of horses. Where interference competition occurred, we expected to observe lower pronghorn use in high-horse systems, or a temporal shift in pronghorn use away from periods of high horse use and interactions between both species to result in pronghorn displacement, with corresponding changes in behavior such as greater vigilance when horses were present. Preliminary results from observations suggest that the majority of interactions result in pronghorn leaving water, sometimes due to horse aggression, supporting the hypothesis of interference competition for water in areas with high horse concentrations. These results will contribute to our current understanding of the impacts of high horse concentrations on native wildlife, an important element in wild horse management. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0309 Evaluating historic seeding treatments in western grasslands and shrublands using the Land Treatment Digital Library Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral David Pilliod U.S. Geological Survey, Boise, Idaho, USA Improving the effectiveness of post-fire seeding treatments partly depends on capturing and evaluating local and institutional knowledge about the successes and failures associated with previous seedings. The Land Treatment Digital Library (LTDL) was created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to permanently archive information about land treatments on Department of Interior lands. The LTDL currently houses >4,600 seeding treatment records collected across California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. The entire western U.S. will be completed by 2014. Potentially useful information about seeding treatments, including seed lists, seed application rates, and seeding success are available for about 20% of the records. Here I demonstrate the utility and limitations of summarizing data from the LTDL to evaluate historic seeding treatments. I conclude with a brief demonstration of the power of the LTDL as a tool to improve studies that examine post-fire seeding success. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0310 Field Response of Seed Agglomerate Technology: First Year Evaluation Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Matthew Madsen, Kirk Davies, Tony Svejcar USDA-ARS, Burns, OR, USA Rangeland reseeding efforts commonly experience poor seedling establishment. In the progression from seed to established plant, emergence represents a major developmental bottleneck, with mortality of unemerged seedlings commonly impaired from a non-biotic crusting surface layer. A potential solution to improve emergence is to use seed-coating technology to agglomerate seeds in groups so that emerging seedlings will collectively generate sufficient force to penetrate through the soil surface. We compared plantings of agglomerated seed to non-treated seed (control). Model species included the native perennial bunchgrasses Pseudoroegenaria spicata and Festuca idahoensis, and introduced bunchgrass Agropyron cristatum. A factorial combination of the two treatments and three species were sown on both a sandy-loam and a clay textured site. We measured plant density and sampled aboveground biomass in May and July. In May all seedlings were counted, whereas in July individual seedlings were no longer recognizable and we recorded the number of bunchgrass clusters. The agglomeration treatment provided the greatest benefit to the native plant species in the clay soil. For example, at the clay site, May seedling density and biomass from the agglomerate treatment was almost double, and over triple the control, for P. spicata and F. idahoensis, respectively. Final biomass per bunchgrass cluster, for the native species, in the agglomerate treatment was around double that of the control, in both soil types. This study indicates that agglomerate technology improves P. spicata and F. idahoensis emergence and early plant growth. Long term response of the agglomerate treatment is more variable and requires further evaluation. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0311 Distribution and maintenance of biological soil crusts in the Columbia Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Toolbox for Invasive Species Management and Native Restoration in Rangelands (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Eva Dettweiler-Robinson, Jonathan D. Bakker University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are composed of a diverse array of organisms that live at the soil surface in arid and semiarid lands. BSCs provide services such as carbon and nitrogen fixation, and erosion reduction. Maintenance of BSCs is therefore important in terms of biodiversity and of ecosystem services. BSC cover and composition are affected by landscape condition, biotic elements, and disturbance history. We examined the interactions among these factors in the sagebrush-steppe of the Columbia Basin. We sampled the BSC (moss and lichen) and vascular plant communities at sites spanning a range of landscape conditions, biotic elements, and disturbance histories, and examined how these factors directly and indirectly related to BSC cover and to BSC composition. Vegetation had the largest direct effects on moss and lichen cover; high native cover was a good indicator of mature crust composition whereas BSC was absent when cheatgrass cover was high. Fire history affected BSC cover directly and indirectly through its effects on vegetation. Small crustose lichens and mosses were more likely to occur at disturbed sites. Elevation and soil texture had indirectly affected cover but were strongly related to BSC composition. Overall, vegetation had a bigger influence than landscape condition. Maintenance of BSC requires preventing dominance by densely growing invasive species and reducing the frequency and spread of fires. These factors can be used to prioritize areas where BSCs have been negatively affected or are most likely to be in good condition, and thus can enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0312 Hydrologic function of native and exotic grasses in the Chuviscar River Basin in Chihuahua, Mexico Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Alfredo Rangel-Rodríguez1, Carlos Ortega-Ochoa1, Victor M. Reyes-Gómez2, Oscar A. Viramontes-Olivas1, Javier Camarillo-Acosta1 1 Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, 2 Centro de Investigaciones sobre la Sequía, Chihuahua, Mexico Grasses are the most abundant vascular plant in the world and they influence rainfall movement and distribution. Abundance and diversity of plants and landscape characteristics can affect rainfall water distribution. This study was conducted on the Chuviscar River Basin in Chihuahua. The effects of two groups of grasses, native (Bouteloua gracilis, Digitaria californica, and Heteropogon contortus) and introduced (Eragrostis lehmanniana, Eragrostis superba, and Melinis repens) were evaluated using the rainfall simulation method and the Beerkan protocol. Four sites were established at each site with a 1m2 erosion plot installed over homogenous grass areas from the six selected grasses. Equal intensity was used for every rainfall simulation (40mm hr-1), and each plot received two simulations to obtain hydrographs for dry and wet conditions. Hydrodynamic variables were measured (infiltration coefficient (Ki), runoff coefficient (Ke) and hydraulic conductivity at the hydrodynamic equilibrium (Kh)). The Beerkan protocol methodology described by Reyes-Gómez et al., (2007) was used on E. superb, E. lehmanniana, B. gracilis and D. californica. Six repetitions were made at each site, inside and outside the vegetation selected. No significant differences (p > 0.01) were found between both groups in any of the hydrodynamic variables. Cover type treatment had significant effect on all hydrodynamic variables. In the Beerkan experiment, a significant difference was found between species (p < 0.01). This knowledge could be applied to areas with erosion and where exotic species are a problem. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0313 Estimating age of mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) using morphological characteristics Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Melissa L. Landeen1, Steven L. Petersen1, Stanley G. Kitchen2, Loreen Allphin1 1 Brigham Young University - Department of Plant and Wildlife Science, Provo, UT, USA, 2Rocky Mountain Research Station - Shrub Science Lab, Provo, UT, USA Sagebrush age, while difficult to quantify accurately, can be useful for understanding sagebrush structure and ecological function. Although age can be roughly estimated from time since the most recent disturbance (i.e. fire), current literature lacks non-destructive methods for estimating plant age using shrub morphological characteristics. The purpose of this study was to develop a non-destructive fieldbased method for accurately estimating the age of mountain big sagebrush. A total of 155 mountain big sagebrush plants were measured and then harvested from five locations in central and south-central Utah. A suite of measurements were taken from each plant including total plant height, crown diameter, average litter depth beneath the shrub canopy, average litter depth at the base of the shrub stem, percent crown mortality, average depth of bark furrows, length of average bark fibers and circumference at the widest segment of the shrub stem. Each plant was cut at the base of the primary stem and a crosssection cut of each plant was collected to determine the actual age of the plant. Cross-section samples were sanded and annual growth rings were counted. The relationship between plant age and morphological variable were identified using simple linear regression in program R. Results suggest that stem circumference is most highly correlated with plant age. The ability to determine mountain big sagebrush age provides a valuable technique for assessing plant community structure and for characterizing wildlife habitat and the species that depend on it. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0314 Evaluating prescribed fire effects on wildlife habitat used as a restoration tool Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Elise Suronen, Beth Newingham University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA The northern Idaho ground squirrel (NIDGS, Urocitellus brunneus brunneus) is a threatened species endemic to west-central Idaho. Habitat loss is of primary concern and is presumably due to tree encroachment into historically open meadows, which is caused by fire suppression. Management practices include thinning and prescribed fire to open up encroached habitat. In 2010, three areas were designated as habitat restoration sites for the NIDGS. We collected pre- and post-treatment data to determine how thinning and burning changes habitat and if it generates habitat features commonly associated with the threatened species. Treated sites had higher densities of ponderosa pine and higher levels of regeneration across trees size classes compared to areas occupied by NIDGS. Treated sites had canopy cover greater than 25%, which was not reduced by the treatment while understory vegetation structure was lowered to levels comparable to currently occupied squirrel habitat. Litter layer was reduced by the treatments and post-treatment litter layer depth was similar to currently occupied habitat. Our results provide the initial effects of a thinning and burning treatment, which will help managers tailor their practices to reach recovery plan goals. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0315 Best Management Practices on Rangelands to Influence Ecosystem Services Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Education and Extension Author's preference: Poster Stephanie Larson, Sheila Barry, Theresa Becchetti, Morgan Doran, Larry Forero, Holly George, Mel George, Roger Ingram, Valerie Eviner UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA Rangelands comprise the largest land mass in several western states. These rangelands have traditional been a source of forage for a marketable crop, such as livestock, which is a leading agricultural commodity and a traditional source of revenue to local economies. However, in addition to these marketable services, rangelands also provide ecosystem services to these communities. And rangeland owners and managers have the potential to receive additional resources from these services their lands provide. To assess the potential of payments for ecosystem services, this project developed a decision support system which identified best management practices used on rangelands and documented increased ecosystem services based on research results. The project's approach used management practices associated with Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), i.e. increased forage production, etc. and cites associated research that documented increased services. This project was accomplished through collaboration between University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) farm advisors and UC Davis researchers, along with key partners such as the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. Information developed was used to educate rangeland owners and managers on assessing ecosystem service enhancements through implementation of best management practices. Data generated also developed documentation for potential payments to landowners for ecosystem services provided by western rangelands. The project strived to build partnerships with local landowners, agencies, NGOs and policy makers to acknowledge the importance of managing local rangelands, not only for the benefit of the manager, but for the extended benefits to the community receiving the subsequent increases in ecosystem services. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0316 Microhabitat use by northern Idaho ground squirrels in response to prescribed fire Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Poster Christina Sullivan, Elise Suronen, Beth Newingham University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA The northern Idaho ground squirrel (Urocitellus brunneus brunneus) is a threatened species that prefers open meadow habitats in ponderosa pine forests. Prescribed fire has been used in habitat restoration; however, little is known about the squirrel's response following prescribed burns. We investigated microhabitat use one year post-fire at two sites in Adams County, Idaho. We monitored squirrel microhabitat use in fire-treated and untreated plots. Each plot was visually observed for 1.5 hours and squirrel microhabitat use was recorded. Microhabitat in this study included food acquisition sites, food consumption sites, and safe spots for individual squirrels. Canopy cover for squirrels was greater at burned sites (40%) than at untreated sites (17%); however, squirrels were observed more often in untreated sites (59%) than burned sites (41%). These results indicate that squirrels may not prefer burned habitats one year post-fire, which suggests habitat characteristics may not yet be ideal. Monitoring in subsequent years is suggested to determine whether responses to prescribed burning treatments are forthcoming. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0317 Evaluating Wyoming Big Sagebrush Transplant Establishment in Grass-Dominated Sites Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Kent McAdoo1, Chad Boyd2, John Swanson3 1 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Elko, NV, USA, 2USDA Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR, USA, 3University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA As part of the USDA-ARS Area-wide Project for Ecologically Based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM) for invasive annual grasses, we evaluated methods of Wyoming big sagebrush transplant establishment by plant source, site, planting year, and herbaceous competition reduction. Study sites were established at 3 locations: a cheatgrass monoculture, a monoculture crested wheatgrass seeding, and a native postfire grass-forb community. At each site, treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with 5 replications. Each block included 8, 5 x 5m plots representing each factorial combination, with 10 sagebrush planted in each plot. Results for the 2009 trials showed that significantly more (p<0.05) nursery stock established than wildling transplants in each of the 3 plant communities where herbaceous cover was reduced with herbicide. In all plant communities combined, mean establishment rate of nursery stock was 54.7%, compared with 16.7% for the wildling transplants. For the 2010 plantings, establishment was more variable by plant community, with no significant differences between nursery stock and wildlings with equivalent herbaceous control treatments in the crested wheatgrass and native herbaceous communities. However, wildings in the cheatgrass monoculture site, with herbaceous control, significantly outperformed all nursery stock (p<0.05). For all sites combined, both wildlings and nursery stock in glyphosate-treated plots had significantly higher (p<0.05) establishment rates than their counterparts without herbicide control. Plant robustness, as measured by relative height, was significantly greater (p<0.05) for both wildlings and nursery stock each year in plots with herbaceous cover control in each of the plant communities except the crested wheatgrass seeding during 2010. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0318 BLM's Early Detection Rapid Response Program - An Overview Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: National Early Detection Rapid Response network (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Christina Ramos Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, USA Of the 246 million acres of public lands that the Bureau of Land Management manages for multiple uses, 35 million or more are infested with invasive and noxious weeds. Other infestations of pathogens such as Sudden Oak Death, insects such as the Cactus moth and aquatic nuisance species such as the New Zealand mud snail are slowly invading, but have the potential to rapidly increase and infest public lands and waters. With an increasing demand on public lands for recreation, renewable and non-renewable energy, etc., may lead to unintentional and intentional introduction and spread of weeds and other invasive species. While the first line of defense for the BLM is prevention, the second line is Early Detection and Rapid Response. In comparison to other land management agencies personnel, the BLM is small in size, but large in the number of public land partners. The presentation will show how the BLM is building upon its renewable and nonrenewable resources staff and their partners to increase their awareness of weeds and other invasive species "on the ground". BLM specialists are coordinating with other BLM programs to increase their knowledge of weeds and invasive species to recognize and report new infestations as well as the potential vectors for introduction. By doing so, the BLM can respond rapidly to treat infestation sites and/or modify the public land use to ensure there is no threat of other introductions of invasive of weeds or invasive species. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0319 Soil salinity mapping using satellite images and regression models in desert rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Remote Sensing and Technology Author's preference: Oral Seyed Zeynalabedin Hosseini, Martin Kappas, Ammar Rafiei Emam, Pavel Propastin, Stefan Erasmi University of Goettingen, Goettingen/Niedersachsen, Germany This study was conducted to map soil salinity in desert rangelands using satellite data in Poshtkouh rangelands, Yazd, Iran. ETM+ images of the study area were geo-referenced using digital topographic maps. Different image enhancement techniques such as contrast enhancement, band rationing, false color composite, PCA and vegetation indices were applied. 110 samples were selected using systematic random sampling method from soil in different vegetation types. Coordinates of sampled points were recorded using GPS instruments. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil samples was determined in the laboratory. Correlation and stepwise regression analyzes between extracted DN and measured soil EC were evaluated using SPSS software analysis tools. Results showed that the correlation coefficient between EC and all of bands, except band 6, were significant. Soil salinity maps can be produced by ETM+ satellite images using the following model which is obtained through stepwise regression model: EC=1.1Band5-3.02Band4+4.1Band3-2.05Band7-2.1Band1 (R=79.5%) Finally we produced a salinity map of Poshtkouh rangelands using aforementioned model. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0320 What can ecological science tell us about opportunities for carbon sequestration on rangelands? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Kayje Booker, Lynn Huntsinger, James Bartolome, Nathan Sayre, Bill Stewart UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA Rangelands store approximately 30% of the earth’s terrestrial carbon. On typical rangeland sites annual fluxes are small and unpredictable over time and space, varying primarily with precipitation, but also with soils and vegetation. There is broad scientific consensus that non- equilibrium ecological models better explain the dynamics of arid and semi-arid rangelands than equilibrium models, yet proposed carbon sequestration policies and associated management practice recommendations have failed to take this into account. Carbon uptake on arid and semi-arid rangelands is most often controlled by abiotic factors not easily changed by management of grazing or vegetation. Climate change mitigation policy must recognize that it is easier to prevent carbon release than to increase rates of carbon storage on rangelands: managing to maintain stored carbon is more effective than managing to enhance carbon fluxes to vegetation and soils. Additionality may be impossible to achieve consistently through management on rangelands near the more xeric end of a climatic gradient. A preliminary analysis of policies supporting carbon sequestration, including cap and trade, payment for avoided conversion, and carbon taxation, illustrates the misalignment between policies targeting vegetation management for enhanced carbon uptake and non-equilibrium carbon dynamics on arid rangelands. It is possible that proposed carbon policy such as carbon credit exchange or offsets will result in a net increase in emissions, as well as investment in failed management. Instead initiatives should target protection of rangelands and rangeland soils for the long term and for a broader range of environmental and social benefits. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0321 Long Term Recovery of Native Prairie from Industrial Disturbance: Express Pipeline Revegetation Monitoring Project 2010 Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Oral Jane Lancaster1, Marilyn Neville2, Laura Hickman3, Barry Adams4 1 Kestrel Research Inc., Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, 2Gramineae Services Ltd., Lundbreck, Alberta, Canada, 3Independent, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 4Rangeland Resource Management Program Rangeland Management Branch | Lands Division | Sustainable Resource Development, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Long term recovery of Mixedgrass and Dry Mixedgrass native plant communities from soil disturbance during pipeline construction was studied at 51 sites using time series data collected one, two, three, five and fourteen years post-disturbance. The study provides data on; long term performance of native cultivars in the seed mixes; and compares recovery and succession of seeded sites versus unseeded natural recovery sites. Methods included cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling analysis. Range Plant Community Guides and Rangeland Health Assessment Protocols were used to categorize control and successional communities, interpret seral stages and assess ecological health. A number of colonizing, early, mid and late successional communities were differentiated within each range site/soils group. Analysis indicates a positive successional trend on most seeded and unseeded disturbed soils, with 40% of the disturbed sites developing into late seral plant communities after 14 years. Persistent seeded cultivars that were still expanding or maintaining relative cover beyond natural levels are influencing the trajectory of plant community succession on some sites. Native plant communities established on all the natural recovery sites. Of the dry mixedgrass natural recovery sites, 78% support late seral communities. After 14 years, 43% of the sites have the same ecological status as the adjacent range; another 43% have reduced status due to the continuing lack of a groundcover layer. There were no discernable differences in range health between seeded and unseeded sites. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0322 GF-2791, a new herbicide containing aminopyralid and clopyralid, for honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) control in southwestern rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Oral D Chad Cummings, Vernon Langston, Pat Burch Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, IN, USA Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) is a native, encroaching, woody legume found in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Honey mesquite spread and increase in density has been, in part, facilitated by livestock and fire suppression. Chemical control of honey mesquite is most effective when recommended herbicides are applied between 40 and 90 days following axillary bud emergence. For almost three decades, a mixture of triclopyr (280 g ae/ha) and clopyralid (280 g ae/ha) has been the industry standard for chemical control of honey mesquite. GF-2791, containing 276 g ae clopyralid olamine salt/L + 60 g ae aminopyralid potassium salt/L is a new herbicide for honey mesquite in western rangelands offering a favorable environmental profile and combining the proven efficacy of clopyralid with the strength of aminopyralid. In 20 research trials conducted from 2009 through 2011, aerial applications of GF-2791 at 2.4 L/ha (equivalent to 560 g ae clopyralid/ha + 120 ae aminopyralid/ha) gave 78% control of honey mesquite at about one year after application, compared to 66% with the current standard of 280 g ae/ha triclopyr + 280 g ae/ha clopyralid. A wide spectrum of common undesirable woody species including, black brush, cat claw mimosa, twisted acacia, and locust were also controlled. The addition of 280 g ae/ha of triclopyr ester increased the spectrum of the woody species controlled. GF-2791 is a new standard herbicide formulation that provides improved control of honey mesquite in North America. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0323 Linking Metrics of Sage-grouse Habitat Suitability to Ecological Site Descriptions Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Amarina Wuenschel, Ann Hild, Ginger Paige, Khoda Zabihia University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA Management efforts to maintain and improve habitat for western North American wildlife species are limited by our understanding of key vegetative components, how scale alters our perception of habitat and the ability of ecological sites to meet wildlife habitat guidelines. In the past decade habitat for greater sage grouse has been greatly altered by energy development in the Green River Basin, Wyoming. Near Pinedale, Wyoming we performed intensive vegetation monitoring centered on sage-grouse nests and in random locations on two identified ecological sites to document habitat structural characteristics. Using detailed vegetative monitoring methods including basal and canopy gap, intensive shrub canopy and spatial arrangement data we developed spatial vegetation structural metrics to examine the influence of ecological site and spatial scale on habitat characteristics. We relate spatial habitat configurations to ecological site, nest versus random locations and nest success. In general, shrub canopy and density were greater within 5 m of nests and shrub heights were taller within 3 m of nests. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0324 Vegetation heterogeneity within and among prairie dog colonies on Northern Great Plains grasslands. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster Jack Butler1, Lan Xu2, Eric Boyda2 1 US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Rapid City, SD, USA, 2Department of Natural Resources, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA Prairie dog colonies contribute substantially to the biotic diversity of Northern Great Plains grassland ecosystems at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The objective of this study was to contrast a variety of key vegetation characteristics within and among colonies on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in southwestern South Dakota. Seasonal and annual estimates of standing crop, plant species composition and cover, and percent bare ground were made on 13 colonies, including adjacent off-town sites, during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Within colony variability was evaluated at the plot (0.25 m2) and transect (5 plots/transect) levels while among colony variability was evaluated at the transect (4 transects each for interior, edge, and off-town sample sites) and colony levels (13 colonies on 2 Ecological Sites). The amount of biomass produced at each study site and percent difference in standing crop between on- and off-colony sample areas varied considerably within and among colonies. Although mean percent bare ground was also highly variable, the amount of bare ground generally decreased from the interior of the colony through the edge to the off-colony sample sites. Outlier analysis (percent dissimilarity) was used to evaluate unusual combinations of species and species cover values within and among plots, transects, and colonies. With few exceptions, vegetation characteristics within and among sites generally demonstrated a gradient of varying strengths. Inter- and intra-site differences in vegetation attributes were likely the result of combination of interacting factors related to current and historical environmental conditions and land management activities. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0325 Success of Broadcast Seeding Big Sagebrush in the Northern Great Basin Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Mike Pellant Bureau of Land Management, Boise, Idaho, USA Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) has been greatly reduced across its range due in large part to invasive annual grasses and wildfires. Efforts to reestablish sagebrush after disturbance are quite variable depending on climate, soils, and competition from exotic or seeded species. The effects of posttreatment livestock management can also alter successional pathways of sagebrush establishment. For example, introduced grass seedings established in the 1950's and 60's were quickly repopulated with sagebrush if a seed source was available and livestock use levels were high. More recently, reestablishing big sagebrush after wildfires in the Great Basin has been a priority given the high wildlife, ecological, and social-economic values of this shrub. Broadcast seeding in the winter is commonly employed to distribute sagebrush seed over the large acreages associated with wildfires. Aerial broadcasting sagebrush seed has produced variable and often unsatisfactory results. Sagebrush establishment following aerial distribution of sagebrush seed in the low elevation Snake River Plain of Idaho resulted in a failure on 23 of 35 fire rehabilitation projects evaluated. Average density of sagebrush in aerial seeded projects was 513 plants per acre while unseeded controls averaged 37 shrubs per acre. In northern Nevada, aerial sagebrush seedings appear to be more successful if seed was applied in early winter on the more mesic sites. Another application option is to ground broadcast sagebrush seed on a firm seedbed. A better understanding of sagebrush seedbed ecology and effects of post-fire management will improve seeding strategies and success in establishing this important shrub. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0326 Ecological genetics of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Technology and Equipment Workshop (RTEC - Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Bryce Richardson1, Joshua Udall2, Nancy Shaw3 1 USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Provo, Utah, USA, 2Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 3USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID, USA Knowledge of intraspecific adaptation to the environment and evolutionary relationships is critical for mitigating climate-change impacts on wildland plants. At the phenotypic level, common gardens have been the primary experimental approach to address adaptive variation. Such approaches would allow the development of landscape-scale models of adaptive genetic variation, which could define seeds zones that are responsive to climate-change scenarios. At the genotypic (DNA) level, analyses can resolve taxonomic complexity and population genetic structure. For big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) both approaches are ongoing in a range-wide study of 56 seed collections from three subspecies: A. t. tridentata, vaseyana and wyomingensis. We report on 1) the preliminary analyses of quantitative trait responses in three common gardens associated with subspecies ecotypes and 2) molecular genetic analyses based on transcriptome and amplicon sequencing. Measured growth responses in the common gardens have varied considerably among and within subspecies. For example, a positive response between height and site warmth and length of growing season is found in first-year measures of subspecies tridentata. At the genotypic level, approximately 330 million bases of DNA have been sequenced from expressed genes. From this data, 33 genes associated with secondary metabolites were selected and sequenced in 370 individuals. As a whole, phylogenetic analyses defined clades associated with the three subspecies. However, an analysis of individual genes suggests hybridization is common between subspecies. The results of the molecular genetic and quantitative genetic projects will be discussed. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0327 Development and Implementation of Landscape Scale Projects on the Burns BLM District Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Ecology of Rangelands and Dry Forests (Special Session) Author's preference: Oral Jeff Rose USDI Bureau of Land Management, Burns, OR, USA The BLM manages approximately 64% of the sagebrush-dominated ecosystems in eastern Oregon. A number of ecologic, social and economic challenges face public and private land managers across this region. Recent developments related to threats to sagebrush plant communities and the greater sagegrouse have highlighted the need to plan and implement at a larger scale. Over the last 15 to 20 years, the BLM has implemented a number of large scale initiatives to conserve and restore large tracts of sagebrush ecosystems throughout the west. Working at the larger landscape scale requires that management actions be based on biophysical characteristics and not strictly by land ownership. The Burns District BLM has implemented a number of these projects over the past 15 years. These projects have evolved from single treatment implemented within one pasture addressing only one major resource issue, to multi-year projects that span a number of grazing allotments and involve multiple private, state and federal partners that address a number of resource issues. Two large landscape scale projects, the Five Creeks and North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Projects have been implemented on the Burns District that address multiple resource issues across ownership boundaries. The presentation will discuss project development and implementation in relation to current agency policy and local resource issues related to sagebrush and sage-grouse guidance. Coordination with adjacent landowners and inclusion of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife sage-grouse guidelines will also be discussed. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0329 Retrospective Analysis of Vegetation Recovery Following Grazing in a Ponderosa PineBunchgrass Ecosystem Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Oral Robert Strahan1 ,2, Jonathan Bakker3, Daniel Laughlin4, Margaret Moore1 1 School of Forestry; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 2Ecological Restoration Institute; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 3School of Forest Resources; University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, 4Dept. of Biological Sciences; University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand We used long-term data from 1-m2 permanent chart quadrats in ponderosa pine-bunchgrass forests in northern Arizona to examine vegetation recovery when protected from livestock grazing between 1912 and 1941. Our goal was to isolate the effect of domestic livestock grazing during this ~30 year period (1912-1941) by controlling for differences in tree overstory dominance, soil texture, and elevation. Specifically we asked; 1) how did the understory plant composition respond when released from grazing between 1912 and 1941? 2) Did the plant strategies of the understory plant communities differ between grazing treatments during this time period in terms of functional diversity, functional group composition, and functional traits? Understory plant composition was similar between grazed and ungrazed quadrats at the time grazing exclosures were established but diverged by the 1920s and remained significantly different in the 1940 time period. Between the 1910 and 1940 time periods the average basal cover of C3 graminoids and forbs in the ungrazed quadrats decreased by 22% and 56%, respectively, while C4 graminoids increased 58%. Between the 1910 and 1940 time periods, specific leaf area (SLA) declined by 7% in ungrazed quadrats, in contrast to leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific root length (SRL) which increased 8% and 10%, respectively. These results suggest that the herbaceous community in the ungrazed quadrats shifted to a more conservative resource use strategy, dominated by C4 and C3 bunchgrasses. These results highlight the importance of long-term studies in understanding the dynamics of vegetation change in response to disturbance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0330 Greater Prairie-Chicken Nest and Brood Site Selection in the Eastern Nebraska Sandhills Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Wildlife Habitat and Management Author's preference: Oral Lars Anderson1, Walter Schacht1, Larkin Powell1, Jeffrey Lusk2, William Vodehnal3 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA, 2Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE, USA, 3Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Bassett, NE, USA Greater Prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnata) are a grassland species of conservation concern. Although prairie-chickens have experienced decline over much of their range, the Nebraska Sandhills has one of the few stable populations. We studied prairie-chickens on rangelands in Rock and Brown Counties from 2009-2011 to determine nest and brood success rates. We fitted 139 hens with radio collars to locate nests and brood sites. Hens were trapped during the breeding season and were monitored throughout the summer. Nests or broods were considered successful if ≥ 1 egg hatched or if ≥ 1 chick survived, respectively. At nest and brood sites, we collected vegetation structure and composition data. We also identified the ecological site and plant community at these locations. We determined the area (ha) of ecological sites and plant communities in each pasture and a preference index was calculated for each site and community. Apparent nest success for 2009, 2010, and 2011 was 60%, 31%, and 15%, respectively. Brood success at 21 days post-hatch was 57%, 50%, and 63%, respectively. For nest locations in 2009 and 2010, hens selected patches with relatively dense cover (15.34 and 11.93 cm VOR, respectively) compared to random points (6.26 cm VOR in 2009). Nests were most commonly located within the Sands ecological site in the Bluestem/Prairie Sandreed/Switchgrass plant community. Overall, vegetation structure and composition appeared to have mixed effects on reproductive success. However, standing vegetation was important to prairie-chicken hens when they select nest sites. Our data suggests that prairie-chickens would benefit from heterogeneous vegetation structure at the nest and brood scale and at the ecological site scale within a management unit. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0331 Traditional knowledge of Mongolian nomads to respond to land degradation and desertification Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral A. Chultemsuren International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilization, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Mongolia's climate is characterized by cold winters, dry and hot summers, low precipitation, high temperature fluctuations, and a high number of sunny days (about 260) per year. Accordingly, there are four sharply distinct seasons, but also quite distinctive months within each season. The annual average air temperature for Mongolia is 0.7oC. It is +8.5oC in the warmest regions, and -7.8oC in the coldest region. Mongolia has reason to be concerned about climate change. The country's vast population depends on livestock and other climate-dependent sectors. The subsector of animal husbandry employs 47.9% of the population, produces 34.6% of agricultural gross production, and accounts for 30% of the country's export. Rangeland ecosystems and pastoral systems are complex, with numerous interactions among the biotic components of the system and with the human society. Any adverse impacts of climate change on pasture availability would threaten forage yield, livestock productivity, and, ultimately, local and national food production capacity. Hence, environment and climate conditions play a key role in the sustainable development of the country. Climatic variability appears to be the major driving factor of livestock dynamics in Mongolia. The rising temperature and uncertainties in rainfall associated with global warming are likely to increase the frequency and magnitude of climate variability and extremes. On the other hand, changes in climate also increase the risk of unexpected changes in nature and environment. The greater the rate and magnitude of change, the greater the risk of negative impacts. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0332 Condition of the mountain steppe grassland in the core area and buffer zone in Hustai National Park of Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Kh. Oyunbileg1, Ts. Tserendulam2 1 Khustai National Park, Tuv aimag, Mongolia, 2National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, This study involved observations of the condition of the mountain steppe grassland in the core area and buffer zone in Hustai National Park (HNP) and some adverse effects that influence the grassland. Steppe and mountain steppe grassland make up 49.87% of the 50,000 ha in HNP. Festuca occupies 19.86% of the area on northern slopes of the mountain steppe mostly above 1400m. Forests cover very little area. Two sites were chosen for monitoring of grassland in the core area and buffer zone of the park. The core area mountain has pale brown soil, and contains a Stipa Klemenzii-Convolvulus ammanii-Caragana- small Poa community. The impact of grazing is not serious. The buffer zone has pale brown soil and a Stipa klemenzii-Achnatherum splendensConvolvulus ammanii-small Poa steppe community. This area is grazed by livestock for the entire year. In 2003, 21 species and in 2010, 30 species were counted in the core area, while in 2006, 29 species and in 2010, 28 species were recognized in the buffer Zone. The core area had 42% plant coverage, 47% litter coverage, 11% bare soil and 9.42±2.53 c/hа maximum biomass. The buffer zone had 47.7% plant coverage, 7% litter coverage, 45.3% bare soil and 3.9±1.7 c/hа maximum biomass. Most precipitation occures between April and September (88% of the total precipitation) and with only 11% occuring from October to March. Precipitation and growth relation was R=0.74 in the core area, but precipitation and growth relation was R=0.41 in the buffer zone due to the many herders in these areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0333 Soil seed bank of Dalbay and Turag Valleys in Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral S. Sumjidmaa, B. Oyuntsetseg National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia The Dalbay and Turag Valleys are located on the east Shore of Huvsgul Lake. Livestock numbers and grazing intensity vary between the valleys. We compared number of seeds in the seed bank by valley. Soil samples were taken from two different depths, 0 - 5 cm and 5 - 10 cm. Ninety two percent of seeds found were in the near-surface sample, therefore, that depth is sufficient for soil seed bank study. Dalbay Valley and Turag Valley had on average 202 and 39 seeds per plot, respectively. Difference in seed numbers between valleys related to grazing intensity and species richness. We also compared habitats by seed numbers. Riparian areas had particularly high seed numbers, possibly due to high plant species richness, and/or accumulation via wind deposition and run-off. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0334 Australian wild horse science and management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral David Berman Wild Horse Management Consultancy, Wellcamp, Queensland, Australia Horses were introduced into Australia by early European settlers over 200 years ago. With a lack of disease and few predators, horse populations invariably increase until there are now over one million wild horses (brumbies) living in Australia. Overabundant horses suffer from lack of food, damage native plants and animals, are a reservoir for exotic disease and pose considerable risk to themselves and people travelling in vehicles. This paper describes research and management conducted in Australia to reduce the damage caused by overabundant wild horse populations. During drought horses were walking more than 50 km from water to find food. Many horses were dying as their waterholes dried up and suitable food became scarce. All interest groups agreed control was necessary. Reduction in numbers by mustering and then shooting unmusterable horses, combined with death of horses due to drought reduced the central Australian feral horse population from 82000 to 12000. Mustering and transport to abattoir and shooting from helicopter are essential tools for managing wild horses in remote and rugged areas. Closer to cities where there are smaller wild horse populations, shooting is not accepted by the community and capture of horses for rehoming is a common practice. All management options including fertility control must be considered and be available for use in the most appropriate situations. Furthermore, adequate scientific work to estimate numbers, predict rate of increase, determine movement patterns, measure damage and monitor the progress of control operations is essential for successful management of wild horse populations. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0335 Tulare County WMA: Leading Edge Cost-Share Yellow starthistle Control Program Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Invasive Species/Weed Management (two ½ day sections) Author's preference: Poster James Sullins1, Andrew Isner2 1 UC ANR UCCE, Tulare County, CA, USA, 2WMA, Tulare County, DA, USA Few noxious weeds have caught the general public's attention as has Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstilialis). Yellow starthistle (YST) proliferation is a serious threat to the biodiversity and the productive potential of California's rangelands and natural areas. YST has continued to colonize susceptible habitats including an estimated 20,000 acres of Tulare County foothill range. UC Cooperative Extension Tulare County (UCCE) office conducted various research trials from 1997-2008 to determine effective control strategies for yellow starthistle. The Tulare County Weed Management Area (TCWMA) was established, in 2000. The TCWMA acquired a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) grant in 2001, which funded an YST cost-share spray control program. Between 2002 and 2011 a total of 2228 acres of infestations have been controlled with Transline® (clopyralid) and/or Milestone VM® (aminopyralid). In 2011, the cost-share program experienced the highest level of participation. The cost-share program has significantly reduced infestations within rangelands and provides small landowners an affordable method of control. Landowners contribute a cost-share of $50 up to three acres and $15 per acre for greater than three acres. In 2009, based on increasing invasive threats to the National Park and Forest lands, CDFA and USFS ARRA funds were acquired to enhance the cost-share program, hire a program coordinator, and to develop a "Leading Edge" program effort. Acquisition of a program coordinator increased the program's impact through various community outreach efforts, improved surveying and monitoring strategies; as well as improved use of GIS for monitoring and data analysis. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0336 Ranch Level Economic Impacts of Western Juniper Encroachment in Owyhee County, Idaho Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster Ashley McClain, Neil Rimbey University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA This project details the ranch-level economic impacts resulting from encroachment of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook) in Idaho's Owyhee County. We used a dynamic multi-period linear programming model that was run over a 40 year planning horizon on two representative ranches in Jordan Valley and Bruneau areas. Analysis was conducted to measure the economic impact of forage reductions due to increasing levels of encroachment, and the profitability of removing juniper at different phases of invasion using either fire or mechanical methods. As the amount of western juniper invasion increases from phase 1 to phase 3, herbaceous vegetation production decreases. This reduction in herbaceous vegetation decreases livestock forage available, thereby impacting long-run profitability. The cost of different removal techniques increases as the amount of juniper increases. We balance the costs of each method of removal against the loss of profit incurred from not treating at each phase in order to determine the economic feasibility of removal methods. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0337 Seed drilling effects on soil infiltration properties in the sagebrush steppe after wildfire Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Vegetation Management and Restoration Author's preference: Poster A.C. Ganguli1, B.A. Newingham2 1 North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA, 2University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA Seed drills used on rangelands are designed to handle rough terrain and are used to create desirable seedbed characteristics for perennial vegetation re-establishment. With increasing emphasis on utilizing diverse seed mixes in restoration efforts, modifications have been made to drills to improve seedbed conditions and seed placement for establishment success. We investigated how physical modification of seedbed properties by two seed drills (rangeland and minimum-till) affects infiltration properties after wildfire at two sites in Utah and Idaho. Infiltration was measured with a mini-disk infiltrometer (2-cm suction) in unburned, burned, and burned plus drilled plots, measurements were also taken in furrows and areas for broadcast seed. At the Utah site, seedbed modification reduced infiltration in broadcast areas (between drill rows) for the rangeland drill plots. In contrast, seedbed modification at the Idaho site had no effect on broadcast areas but increased infiltration in the furrows for both type of drills. However, furrows in the rangeland plots had 35% greater infiltration rates than the minimum-till furrows at the Idaho site. At each location infiltration in the interspaces of the sagebrush canopy on non-burned plots were similar to burned controls, however, infiltration was considerably reduced under sagebrush canopy presumably due to subcritical water repellency. Differential effects of the seed drills on our sites are likely due to a combination of soil texture, soil chemistry, and soil erosion/deposition. Improved understanding of physical modifications of seed beds on hydrological properties could facilitate planning to promote seedling establishment and survival. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0338 Aspen crown dieback and mortality on the southwestern edge of its range Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Poster Category: Range Ecology Author's preference: Poster T. Zegler1, M. Moore1, K. Ireland1, M. Fairweather2, P. Fulé1, C. Sieg3 1 Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, 2United States Forest Service, Arizona Zone of Forest Health Protection, Flagstaff, AZ, USA, 3Rocky Mountain Research Station, Flagstaff, AZ, USA Aspen crown dieback and mortality were extensive within pine-oak and mixed conifer forest types of the Williams Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona. We collected data from 48 aspen sites to determine if site, stand, and/or damaging agents were associated with crown dieback and mortality. Overstory aspen mortality averaged 50% by TPH and 44% by BA. Elevation was the most significant site factor related to both overstory aspen crown dieback and mortality. The most significant stand factor related to crown dieback was live aspen TPH, while percent conifer was the most significant stand factor related to mortality. Significant damaging agents were canker diseases and wood-boring insects. Many sites did not have live aspen regeneration, therefore, sample sizes were low, and relationships were often inconclusive. The only significant univariate regeneration relationship was between animal damages and short sucker aspen mortality. Significant multivariate associations with overstory aspen crown dieback were elevation and incidence of canker diseases, while factors explaining the variation in aspen mortality were forest type, overstory percent conifer, incidence of canker diseases and wood-boring insects. The significant multivariate factors explaining the variation in short sucker aspen mortality were slope, short sucker percent conifer, and incidence of animal damages. The high amounts of overstory aspen crown dieback and mortality observed in this study were likely droughtmediated with interacting effects of site, stand, and damaging agents. We may be observing the early signs of climate change in the southwestern US, which is predicted to become warmer and drier. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0339 Species evaluation of native ecotypes and foreign cultivars of legumes and grasses in nonirrigated conditions of Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral D. Lkhagvasuren1, S. Jigjidsuren1, D. Tumenjargal2 1 MSRM, Mongolia, Mongolia, 2Mongolian State University of Agriculture, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Field experiments were conducted in the forest steppe zone of the Bornuur sum in the Central Province of Mongolia. Average precipitation for the growing season was 160-235 mm and an average air temperature of 15oC. The growing period is 90-120 days. The objective was to evaluate and select local ecotypes and imported varieties of grasses and legumes resistant to drought and cold and suitable for the introduction into degraded rangeland for forage production. Beginning in 2006, 54 samples of 29 species of native and imported species from Russia, USA, Inner Mongolia, China, Iceland and Canada were tested in nonirrigated conditions. Native species made up 27.8% of all tested samples, 27.8% were imported from the USA, 25.9% from Inner Mongolia, 12.9% from Russia and 5.6% from other countries (China, Canada and Iceland). The legumes varieties "Burgaltai" (native) and "Grassland 1" (Inner Mongolia) of Medicago varia and the grasses Stipa sibirica (native), Elymus dahuricus (Inner Mongolia) and Agropyron mongolicum (Inner Mongolia) have shown best winter survival, hay and seed yield. Astragalus adsurgens from Inner Mongolia is of interest due to its hay yield and protein content although it did not established well. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0340 Planting of Elymus dahuricus and E. sibiricus in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral P. Sukhbaatar Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Perennial plant cover is important to minimize the effects of wind and water erosion on rangelands and protect the Earth's precious natural resources. In addition, perennial plants provide critical forage for livestock and wildlife. Elymus dahuricus and E. sibiricus are two important grasses that have potential for revegetation of rangelands in Mongolia degraded by livestock overgrazing and mining activities. These grasses also have potential for use as lawn grasses in villages. Prior to 1990, E. dahuricus was the main grass used for rangeland revegetation. In Kharkhiraa Soum in Uvs Aimag (Province), plantings of E. dahuricus reached 8,000 kg/ha with optimum irrigation and fertilization. In 1996, the E. dahuricus cultivar Khuduu Aral was developed, which originated from a Mongolian ecotype. Khuduu Aral grows well in a variety of climatic conditions and has excellent forage and seed production characteristics. As a result, Khuduu Aral needs to be produced and made available for use in rangeland revegetation, mining reclamation, and lawn use. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0341 Legal and regulatory framework for pastureland management in Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral D. Dulamsuren1, S. Manibadar2 1 MSRM, Mongolia, Mongolia, 2Otgontenger University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Property rights in Mongolia, and who owned the pastureland, was not given much attention and the land was viewed as common property or not subject to any property rights at all. If the 20th Century situation relating to property rights in Mongolia is scrutinised, three periods can be detected. First, from 1924 to 1960, during the development of the livestock sector, most herders had and managed relatively few animals which did not cause many problems, as land uses was within the carrying capacity. Second, from 1960 to 1990 Mongolia was subject to a centrally planned economy system (Cooperative) and the State regulated the number of livestock. The state was also the prime owner of the livestock and cooperatives. Third, since 1990, the cooperatives have been disappearing and a new reality exists for herders under the new market economy system. As the current Law on Land has not been functioning properly, a proposal for new legislation on pastureland uses was submitted to the Mongolian Parliament in 2010; however, the proposal has not yet been accepted. The main objective of the proposal is to regulate further pastureland conservation, the utilisation of the land, its possession, and the authority of organisations that deal with pasture lands, and other related issues. The approach of the Mongolian Society for Range Management is the formation of pasture herders groups (PUGs), that will bear the main responsibilities, after the land has been divided into pasture use parcels, that create favourable conditions for sustaining nomadic, pastoral livestock husbandry. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0342 The effectiveness of a territory based collective action model of herder "Pasture User Groups" to address open access issues Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Ts. Enkh-Amgalan1, B. Batbuyan2 1 MSRM, Mongolia, Mongolia, 2Pastoralism Study Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Degradation of Mongolia's pastureland, which accounts for four-fifths of the country's 1.5 million square kilometre area, has reached an alarming state. Overgrazing is the primary cause and is mainly due to the post-transition opening up of access to pastureland combined with a lack of government and community control mechanisms. The "Green Gold" Pasture Ecosystem Management Project of the Mongolian Society for Range Management has been experimenting with an approach to transform open access into a managed system led by Pasture-User Groups (PUGs). Herders who share access to common four seasonal pastures form a PUG and enter into an agreement with the local government to use, in a sustainable manner, public pasturelands. The agreement involves definition of PUG boundaries, a seasonal schedule of rotational grazing and resting, the number of herder families and the number of livestock. The agreement provides PUG members with an incentive to invest in pastureland rehabilitation and negotiate the stocking rate within the PUG. A case study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of PUGs in addressing the open access issue in five soums. Among herders interviewed, 54.5% replied that they practice regular and scheduled rotational grazing, 38.9% of herders responded that pasture yield has improved in the past years whereas, 19.2% said they saw no signs of improvement and 53.4% said they have been moving within the PUG boundary. Over 70% of small herders with up to 300 animals responded that they have more social and economic opportunities by being a member of the PUGs. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0343 The effect of grazing on plant biomass partitioning Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral A Batbaatar, B Boldgiiv, L Ariuntsetseg National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Herbivores and plants have coevolved for a long time and thus plant biomass partitioning strategy is one of the interesting indicators of the interrelationship between grazers and plants. The strategy of most plants is determined by disturbance and resource availability. This study took place in the eastern shore valleys (Dalbay and Turag) of Lake Huvsgul, Mongolia, which are different from each other regarding grazing intensity. About 3000 livestock graze in Dalbay Valley while more than 6000 livestock graze in Turag Valley all year. The objective of our research was to identify how grazing intensity affects plant biomass partitioning strategy. Four dominant plant species in two valleys were selected for our research at two different mountain elevations, upper slope (Aster alpinus, Carex duriuscula, Stipa krylovii, Arenaria capillaris) and lower slope (Aster alpinus, Carex duriuscula, Koeleria macrantha, Arenaria capillaris). We collected above ground and below ground biomass from each species with 50 repetitions of soil core sampling. The root/shoot (below-ground/above-ground biomass) ratio increased with increasing grazing intensity. Our data indicate that grazing has affected plant biomass partitioning. In conclusion, these plant species have a different response to grazing by their functional type or root system (taproot or fibrous root). Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0344 Introduction to the Mongolian Society for Range Management Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Ts. Sukhtulga, D. Dorligsuren Head of Community Development Unit, MSRM, Mongolia, Mongolia The Mongolian Society for Range Management was established in 2007 by the initiatives of several people concerned about rangeland conservation in Mongolia. The Society's vision is to become the platform for the cooperation and harmonization of institutions and individuals aiming to contribute to sustainable pastureland management in Mongolia by growing into a nationally and internationally recognized membership-based NGO representing and protecting the interests of Mongolian herders. The Society has the following objectives: 1) provide quality member service, 2) provide expert analysis of rangeland issues, 3) foster high standards of education for all stakeholders, 4) influence public policy, 5) promote professional education and development and 6) enhance good external communication with partners. Currently the Society runs the "Green Gold" project awarded by the Swiss Development Agency in Mongolia and several contracted projects from the Millennium Challenge Account Mongolia and Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia for sustainable rangeland management across nine provinces of Mongolia, representing 4 main ecological zones. The Society aims to host international and regional gatherings\workshops on rangelands based upon experiences of hosting an International Rangeland\Grassland Congress post tour in 2008 and numerous domestic workshops and seminars. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0345 Strategy for the potential-based rangeland health monitoring program in Mongolia Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral D Bulgamaa1, U Budbaatar2, B Bolormaa2, L Otgontuya2, B Bayarmaa2, D Burmaa2 1 MSRM, Darkhan-Uul, Mongolia, 2MSRM, Mongolia, Mongolia There is national recognition in Mongolia that sustainable rangeland management requires the strengthening of existing monitoring systems, having experienced thousands of years of rangeland use and conservation and with one third of the population depending upon rangelands. Following the approval of a nationally standardized, quantitative, repeatable and precise methodology, local technicians and engineers of Hydro Meteorology Institutes are trained to use the new methodology and provided with needed equipment to monitor 1550 plots making up a national monitoring data base. Interpretation of rangeland health monitoring data requires information about how reference conditions and ecological resilience vary in space and time. Reference conditions used as benchmarks are often specified via potential-based land classifications (e.g., ecological sites) that describe the plant communities potentially observed in an area based on soil and climate. Aiming to develop the ecological site description conceptual model for the Mongolian context, MSRM is doing both intensive and extensive data collection on soil and vegetation focusing on the main ecological zones. Difficulties such as a lack of reference information and aerial photos, and the fact that the existing soil map is very coarse, indicate the long-term need for collaboration with international and national agencies. Expected outcomes of this activity will be the development of reference information for ecological sites within different ecological zones having different levels of resistance for utilization and resilience that might require different management. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0346 Is semi-intensive livestock farming an alternative to livestock herding? The case of periurban dairy farming Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Erdenebolor Baast Mongolian State University of Agriculture, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia This presentation provides background information on the emerging sub-sector of semi-intensive livestock farming in Mongolia, and illustrates the potential and pitfalls of its development in the case of peri-urban dairy farming. This work contributes to the current debate on the potential of semi-intensive livestock farming as an alternative to pastoralism. We argue that this is not possible since most rural areas lack the opportunities that led to the emergence of livestock farms such as established markets, effective infrastructure, availability of capital and knowledge resources as well as the social networks that exist in peri-urban settlements. Furthermore, the simplified assumption of replacing one farming system with a more efficient one is not justified if we approach Mongolian pastoralism in the context of its multifunctionality. While there is need for further comparative research and parallel development enabling both systems to learn from each other, substantial differences in their paradigms do exist and will most probably remain in future. Accordingly, specific policies and supporting mechanisms are needed for the development of each system. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0347 Yak wool value chain development Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Ts. Khishigjargal Executive Director, Mongol Yak Society, Mongolia, Mongolia Today herders supply raw materials from their livestock to markets without processing and think that the only way to improve their livelihood and income is to improve livestock productivity by increasing livestock numbers. However, the livestock sector has limited pasture carrying capacity. This raises the question: is there an alternative? In order to answer this question an experimental study was conducted. The study aimed to find out market demand-based potential to increase the value of raw materials and to produce value added products. The experiment on potential to develop a value chain of wool was carried out on yak wool in Arkhangai aimag, Zavkhan aimag and Khovd aimag. In the study the main activities of the value chain considered included: 1) increasing awareness of herders on market trend and customer requirements, 2) establishing a direct link between producers and herders in the value chain, and 3) transferring and implementing primary processing technology of wool in urban areas. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0348 Plant succession on sites disturbed by Mongolian gers Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Ankhtsetseg Batturl1, Boldgiv Bazartseren2 1 Mongolian Academy of Science, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia The study site is in the Dalbay Valleys on the eastern shore of the Lake Huvsgul. The objective of our study, carried out in 2009 and 2010, was to identify plant succession on the patches generated by displacement of Mongolian gers. Measurements were taken one, two, three and four years after a ger occupied a site only once and five and six years after a ger had occupied a site repeatedly. These were all compared with a control site, which had never had a ger occupying the site. Plant species information was collected to describe plant diversity using a similarity index. Although the percentage of perennial plants was higher than the percentage of annual plants in each site, the patches displaced repeatedly by Mongolian gers showed high disturbance with a high percentage of annual plants while those displaced once had fewer annual plants. Initially annual plants grew on the patches generated by displacement of Mongolian gers, and then gradually were replaced by plants similar to those found on the undisturbed sites. The plant diversity and similarity index were more similar with the control site three or four years after a ger had occupied a site only one time indicating that sites will restore themselves within 3 or 4 years in the Huvsgul region. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0349 Human behavior as a factor in ecosystem resilience Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Mark Brunson1, Hilary Whitcomb1, Bruce Shindler2 1 Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 2Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA Recent scientific interest in rangeland resilience has occurred alongside a growing belief that stewardship must be achieved by viewing managed landscapes as linked social-ecological systems. A fundamental premise underlying this approach is that, due to the pervasiveness of human influence, we can no longer separate ecological and human elements of nature when tackling management challenges. Resilience was a term applied to humans long before it became associated with ecosystems, yet discussions of resilience in range management tend to focus on the latter, largely because we don’t yet know how to account for the human component. Findings from the Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP) and related studies may offer insight as to how human behavior interacts with natural conditions and change processes to affect system resilience. Three public surveys since 2006 have shown that viewpoints about sagebrush ecosystem management are influenced by environmental disturbance, i.e., the large Great Basin wildfires of 2007, as well as socio-political change that followed the 2008 national elections. Public perceptions can affect system resilience in the Great Basin because loss of trust in agency motives and effectiveness, or an increased sense of urgency regarding management, influences how citizens act to support or oppose activities on public lands. Interviews with managers in 2006 and 2010 revealed links between individual characteristics, perceived agency priorities, and management choices that could affect ecosystem resilience as well. Enhancing resilience is likely to require adoption of “resilience thinking” principles that incorporate human as well as ecological factors. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0351 Fire Regime Condition Class: Concepts, Methods, and Applications Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Fire Regime Condition class: Concepts and Methods (Workshop) Author's preference: Oral Stephen Barrett, Doug Havlina, Wendel Hann, and others. National Interagency Fuels, Fire, and Vegetation Technology Transfer (NIFTT), (Nationwide), USA In this workshop, we described the Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) ecological assessment system from inception to date. Since the late 1990s, the Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) assessment system has provided natural resource managers with field- and GIS based tools for assessing ecological departure at the landscape and stand scales. For a given biophysical setting, an FRCC assessment compares fire regimes (frequency and severity) in tandem with vegetation seral stages between the reference (historical) versus current periods. Percent departure from reference values are then classified as follows. FRCC 1 represents ecosystems with low (<33 percent) departure from a defined reference period, that is, landscapes that are still within the natural or historical range of variability. FRCC 2 represents ecosystems that exhibit moderate (33 to 66 percent) departure, and FRCC 3 indicates ecosystems that exhibit high (>66 percent) departure from reference conditions. FRCC assessments provide both consistency and quantifiability for determining landscape conditions. The National Interagency Fuels Technology Team (NIFTT) continues to refine the FRCC methods, software, website, and other technology transfer tools. User support, reference condition models, data entry forms, and associated FRCC software can be downloaded from www.frcc.gov or www.landfire.gov, and an FRCC helpdesk is maintained at [email protected]. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0352 Symbionts on the Range. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Alternative methods in Weed Control: Use of Biocontrols (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral George Newcombe University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA Endophyte influences on resistance to pathogens can be demonstrated with both forest trees and range plants. With white pine blister rust, poplar leaf diseases, and Centaurea rust, we have shown that endophytes can have significant local and systemic effects against pathogens. Endophytes can also significantly influence plant growth, fecundity, thermotolerance, and competitiveness, all of which we have investigated with cheatgrass as our model. However, in spite of exciting, new research, endophytes remain more of a potentiality than an actuality in range and forest management. Of many upcoming challenges to endophyte applications, four will be discussed: 1) the assay-based, selection problem, 2) the question of replacement dynamics within complex, endophytic communities, 3) the need to complement the objectives of forest tree and crop improvement programs, and 4) the difficult decisions that will need to be made on deliberate introductions of selected endophytes outside sites where they were initially discovered. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0353 Understanding the importance of resilience and resistance to restoration of sagebrush rangelands Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jeanne Chambers1, Richard Miller2, James Grace3 1 US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV, USA, 2EOARC-Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 3US Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, LA, USA Both scientists and managers are increasingly using the concepts of ecological resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasives as a basis for managing and restoring sagebrush ecosystems. Resilience can be defined as the capacity of an ecosystem to regain characteristic structure, identity and processes over time following stress or disturbance. It can be used as a measure of recovery potential and it typically increases over gradients of increasing available resources (water and nutrients) and net productivity. The severity and/or frequency of disturbance required to alter states increases along these gradients. Resistance is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain characteristic structure, identity and processes despite various stressors or disturbance. Particularly relevant in sagebrush ecosystems is resistance to plant invasion which is a function of the biotic and abiotic factors and ecological processes in an ecosystem that limit the establishment and population growth of an invading species. Resistance to invaders often reflects the ecological amplitude of the invader or its ability to establish and persist. The ecological memory of an area, the severity and frequency of disturbance, and interactions among invasive species and disturbance all influence resistance and resilience. We illustrate these concepts based on our research with pinyon and juniper expansion and cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush ecosystems. We emphasize the importance of scale and discuss relevance for state and transitions models. We conclude with how these concepts can be used for prioritizing management and restoration activities. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0354 Soil moisture-temperature regimes: Influence on ecological resilience, resistance, and site response following piñon-juniper removal Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Richard Miller1, Jaime Ratchford1, Bruce Roundy2, Robin Tausch3, April Hulet2, Neil Frakes3 1 EOARC-Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, 3US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV, USA Ecological resilience, initially used by Hollings (1973), is the capacity of an ecosystem to regain characteristic structure, function, identity, and processes over time following a stress or disturbance. Resistance to invasives is the biotic and abiotic factors and ecological processes in an ecosystem that limit the population growth of an invading species. The diverse topography in the Intermountain Region creates a complexity of environmental gradients resulting in a wide range in resilience and resistance. Two potential attributes related to resilience and resistance are soil moisture and temperature, which are largely influenced by elevation, slope, aspect, and regional location. These attributes influence site productivity, nutrient cycling, resource availability, and species competitive abilities. To test the hypothesis that soil moisture/temperature regimes relate to site resilience and resistance we took the advantage of ten SageSTEP sites located across the northern portion of the Intermountain Region. Soil moisture/temperature regimes are mapped as aridic-xeric/mesic (4 sites) and xeric/frigid (6 sites). We evaluated the response of vegetation and ground functional groups prior to and following tree removal by cutting and burning. The two plant functional groups that most differed between the two soil regimes were exotic invasives and biological crusts. Although exotic species cover increased 2-2.5 fold in both soil regimes, initial and post treatment abundance was more than tenfold greater in the aridic-xeric/mesic sites. Abundance of lichens and mosses were five-fold greater in the warmer drier regime. Burning had the largest impact on both functional groups compared to control and mechanical treatments. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0355 Resistance and resilience of bird communities to pinyon-juniper removal by prescribed fire Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Steve Hanser1, Steve Knick1, Matthias Leu2 1 US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, ID, USA, 2 Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA Recovery of native sagebrush steppe is an increasing priority for management because habitats for associated wildlife, such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), have declined. Treatments to remove pinyon-juniper woodland are often conducted using large-scale prescribed fire treatments. We studied short-term (≤5 years) responses by bird communities to prescribed fire in sagebrush steppe/woodland ecotones at 14 sites across Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah using a treatment and control design. We plotted yearly changes in bird communities as a trajectory in ordination space using canonical correspondence analysis. Our preliminary results suggest that prescribed fire shifts the bird community towards species associated with sagebrush steppe. However, all species, regardless of habitat association, were resistant to the level of habitat reduction and persisted posttreatment although number of individuals changed. The community shift resulted primarily from declines in woodland species that lose habitat rather than changes in shrubland species. Large annual variations in the bird community indicate that large-scale regional dynamics strongly influence both resistance and resilience and can potentially confound our interpretation of treatment effects. Long-term monitoring will be important at these sites to detect true changes in bird communities as a result of prescribed fire. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0356 Effects of fuel treatment disturbances on soil water availability and potential resilience and resistance to weed invasion of sagebrush communities Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Bruce Roundy, April Hulet, Kert Young Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Fuel-control treatments reduce major water-users in sagebrush communities such as trees or shrubs and may increase soil water availability for both desirable and undesirable residual species. We measured hourly soil water potential and soil temperatures across the Great Basin on sagebrush communities that were either uninvaded (sagebrush sites) or invaded by pinyon and juniper trees (wooded shrublands). Measurements were taken on plots that were burned, mechanically-treated, or chemically-treated to reduce trees or shrubs and in relation to low to high tree and perennial grass density prior to treatment. Sites were ordered and treatment effects compared for seasonal time of soil water availability (number of days soil at 13-30 cm was wetter than -1.5 MPa), wet degree days (summation of hourly temperatures above 0°C when the soil is wet), and soil temperatures. Reducing trees by fire, cutting, or shredding increased the time of soil water availability in spring more than treatments that reduced shrubs by fire, mowing, or applying herbicide. Soil water availability was increased most on wooded shrublands with higher pretreatment tree densities. Increased soil water availability from tree or other perennial plant reduction carries both a benefit of increased cover of desirable understory species, but also a risk of dominance of undesirable weedy species. Communities with a higher cover of desirable species before treatment should be more resilient and more resistant to weed dominance after treatment. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0357 Assessing Resilience: What is the potential for a state change and how might we assess it? Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral David Pyke1, Paul Doescher2, Eugene Schupp3, Jeanne Chambers4, Jeff Burnham3, Andrew Lindgren1 1 US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, USA, 2 Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, 3 Wildland Resources Department and The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 4US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV, USA Resilient sagebrush steppe ecosystems exhibit an ecological state where plant communities range dynamically from grassland to shrubland phases. This dynamic is driven by fires that kill the fire sensitive sagebrush, but may only temporarily harm perennial herbaceous plants. A common state change that threatens these ecosystems is the introduction and later persistence of Bromus tectorum. However, annual grass dominance after initial disturbances may not dictate ultimate state changes if perennial grasses are sufficiently resilient to return to site dominance. The SageSTEP project hypothesized that cover of perennial grasses and their spatial relationships would relate to annual grass dominance and may aid in predicting annual grass responses after the implementation of fuel treatments. With only two years of post treatment data we cannot conclude these relationships, but there are indications of changes caused by treatments. Beyond obvious effects of fuel treatments reducing sagebrush, there are also additional impacts associated with fire, mechanical and chemical treatments. Cover of B. tectorum only increased above control levels in year two of the mowed treatment. Cover of perennial grasses increased in mow and tebuthiuron treatments while it decreased by the second year after fire. Bare ground doubled the first year after fire, but reduced to control levels by the second year as B. tectorum increased. Applying imazapic reduced cheatgrass cover to nearly 1%; however, bare ground was maintained after fires. Imazapic also reduced cover of Poa secunda and forbs. Interspace gaps among perennial plants increased and remained 1.5-fold greater with fires than with other treatments. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0358 Bunchgrass community structure as a factor influencing resilience of sagebrush steppe ecosystems Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Michael Reisner1, David Pyke2, Paul Doescher3 1 College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI, USA, 2 US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, USA, 3 Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA A diverse array of human-related stressors has gradually compromised the resilience of sagebrush steppe ecosystems to disturbance and invasion by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Using data from 75 sites across the Great Basin, we created a conceptual model of how sagebrush ecosystems are predicted to behave in response to different stressors (heat stress, water stress and cattle grazing) at the landscape level. The linchpin of ecosystem invasibility was the size of and connectivity between basal gaps in perennial vegetation, driven by shifts in the structure and spatial aggregation of the native bunchgrass community. Landscape orientation and soil physical properties determined inherent risk to invasion. Resident bunchgrass and biological soil crust communities provided biotic resistance to invasion by reducing the size of and connectivity between basal gaps and thereby limiting available resources and reducing safe sites for cheatgrass establishment. High levels of cattle grazing reduced ecosystem resilience by reducing native bunchgrass and biological soil crust abundance and altering bunchgrass community composition and facilitated cheatgrass invasion. Conserving and restoring resilience and resistance of these imperiled ecosystems will require reducing cumulative stress levels. As global climate change increases heat and water stress, reducing cumulative cattle grazing intensities by altering utilization rates and/or seasons of use may be the only effective means of accomplishing these goals. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0359 Hydrologic response of sagebrush steppe to woodland encroachment and subsequent tree removal: Implications for assessing sagebrush steppe hydrologic stability and resiliency Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Fred Pierson1, Jason Williams1 ,2, Patrick Kormos1 ,3, Osama Al-Hamdan1 ,2 1 Northwest Watershed Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Boise, ID, USA, 2 Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA, 3 Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA Woodland encroachment into sagebrush-steppe potentially amplifies runoff and erosion by altering site characteristics that dictate site hydrologic state. The amount and distribution of ground cover, soil erodibility, and climate (site productivity) dictate inherent resilience of a site relative to soil and water retention. Resource conserving sagebrush-steppe typically maintains 40-50% ground cover, has low erodibility, and resists soil loss by water. Tree encroachment into sagebrush-steppe promotes water and soil loss by increasing bare ground connectivity, and amplifying runoff generation. Initial tree encroachment (Phase I) minimally impacts runoff and erosion, but continued encroachment (to Phase IIIII) may cause a shift from a resource-conserving to a non-conserving state. Sites on soils with inherently low infiltration and high erodibility may rapidly transform to a non-conserving state (particularly under drought conditions) as tree dominance (Phase III) promotes bare interspace (area between trees) expanse/connectivity. Tree removal is most often aimed at improving shrub and herbaceous cover and structure, which increases infiltration and aggregate stability. This study evaluated: 1) the hydrologic effects of tree encroachment into sagebrush rangelands, 2) the short-term (0-2 years) effects of tree removal on hydrologic stability, and 3) variations in hydrologic resilience following tree removal across three woodland invaded sagebrush rangelands in the Great Basin, USA. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering ecological sites and inherent hydrologic properties (i.e., infiltration, soil erodibility) when choosing tree removal strategies and reveal potential hydrologic benefits of Phase I-II tree removal versus consequences of Phase III tree removal or long-term conversion of sagebrushsteppe to woodland dominance. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0360 SageSTEP as an integrative study of resilience and thresholds: Challenges, application, and next steps Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Disturbance, Resilience and Thresholds in Sagebrush Ecosystems (Forum) Author's preference: Oral James McIver EOARC-Oregon State University, Union, OR, USA SageSTEP was designed as a regression experiment, so that we could identify thresholds, and estimate probabilities of crossing them. Measurement plots were placed along gradients of presumed degradation, so that we could evaluate change relative to the initial state on the gradient, and estimate probabilities of transition from that state to different states. Both resistance and resilience can be studied with this design: resistance by the relative amount of change in a particular state, and resilience by the relative amount of rebound back toward the original state. Since SageSTEP is multivariate, we can compare measures of resistance and resilience for the flora, fauna, and hydrology. Since SageSTEP is multi-site, we can evaluate how different initial states influence resistance or resilience. Short-term results indicate that restoration treatments have complex and dynamic effects on sagebrush steppe ecosystems, and have implications for herbaceous plant community development, annual weeds, vertebrates, invertebrates and hydrology, with ecological site identity and inherent hydrological properties among the most important factors to consider when conducting restoration management. Moreover, enhancing resilience in ecological systems is likely to require adoption of ‘resilience thinking' principles that incorporate human as well as ecological factors. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0361 Making Cents: Economic benefits of implementing an EBIPM Program Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Kimberly Rollins Univerisity of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA Economic benefits of implementing a vegetation treatment regime based on the underlying ecological dynamics of rangeland systems are estimated using an economic modeling framework that explicitly incorporates the state and transition ecological approach that has been widely adopted for Great Basin rangeland systems. Benefits from ecologically-based rangeland weed management include: (1) net gains to ranching, (2) wildfire suppression costs avoided, which accrue to federal land management agencies, and (3) the value of ecosystem service losses averted, which accrue to the general public, MINUS treatment costs. Ecological and economic parameters in the simulations are varied systematically to demonstrate the value of improving treatment success probabilities and knowledge of ecosystem responses to treatments - both of which are EBIPM outcomes. Results are generated for two state and transition models common to the Great Basin. For Wyoming big sagebrush systems, wildfire suppression costs avoided are greatest for treatments applied to relatively healthy lands ($238 per acre using a 3% discount rate applied over 200 years). As rangeland condition deteriorates, the net benefits generally decline, but are highly variable (from $0 to over $500 depending on fire return intervals and treatment success rates). The probability of successful treatment and treatment costs are important drivers of net benefits for degraded systems; therefore as research and outreach continue to improve success rates and lower per acre treatment costs, these benefits can be expected to increase dramatically on degraded systems. However, the economic results are clear that prevention on healthier lands generates the highest benefits. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0362 Directing succession using herbicides in an EBIPM program Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Ecologically Based Invasive Grass Management: Science You Can Use (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Joseph DiTomaso University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA Herbicides are widely used tools for control of invasive plants in many ecosystems. Unlike cropland environments where all plants, except the crop, are considered to be weeds, on rangelands there is often only one or a few invasive plants that are the target of control measures. These plants are generally growing in association with several desirable species. Thus, selectively is a key issue in an herbicide control program and most herbicides are selective only within a particular set of parameters. Choosing the proper herbicide, applying it at the correct rate and at the most appropriate timing, and using application technology that maximizes its effectiveness and selectivity can give successful invasive plant control and minimize damage to non-target species. Thus, it is possible to use herbicides to direct successional trajectories that favor more desirable plant communities, which reduces the occurrence of invasive plants. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0363 Rangeland Education Programs for K-12 Classrooms Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Teaching to Learn and Learning to Teach (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Karen Launchbaugh University of Idaho Rangeland Center, Moscow, ID, USA The number of students majoring in rangeland management has declined over the last 20 years. The major reason for low student enrollment identified by educators and rangeland professionals is poor awareness of rangelands and range science among students, teachers and counselors. As the number of rangeland graduates decreases, the demand for trained professionals with the technical skill set necessary to conserve and manage rangelands is on the rise. Increasing the awareness of students and teachers about rangelands and rangeland management is the first step to increasing the number of students graduating from universities prepared to enter rangeland professions. There is currently no comprehensive curriculum focused on rangelands for use in grade school and high school classrooms. A strong foundation of education resources focusing on rangelands, connections to curricula in related fields, and a comprehensive rangeland curriculum fully integrated into science, history, and agricultural programs is needed to prepare students to matriculate into advanced degrees and rangeland careers. We will review existing resources about rangelands that exist for K-12 education and focus on opportunities to inform teachers through teacher education programs. We will also discuss education materials we have developed that are organized into the following sections: 1) Rangelands - What, Where, and Why We Care, 2) Rangeland Plants, 3) Rangeland Animals, 4) Describing and Monitoring Rangelands, 5) Ecological Forces that Change Rangelands, and 6) Integrated Management Strategies for Rangelands. Our research guide for educators has been used by teachers at all levels from across the country and world, and is available at: www.cnr.uidaho.edu/what-is-range/Curriculum/. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0364 Science support for managing America's wild horses Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Free Roaming Wild and Feral Horses (Symposium) Author's preference: Oral Jason Ransom USGS, Fort Collins, CO, USA Managing wild horses in the American West is a daunting task. Management tools based on science are becoming essential for meeting the diverse needs and mandates of agencies that manage public lands and the protected horses that inhabit them. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been working for more than a decade to provide science support for the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies through a strategic research plan for wild horses and burros that focuses on fertility control, abundance estimation, genetics, health and handling, and habitat. Within the fertility control element, USGS has conducted extensive research on the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP) in 3 populations of feral horses in the western U.S., including studies on effectiveness of two forms of the drug (liquid and time-release pellets) in reducing fertility, and assessment of contraindications such as injection-site reactions and potential changes in behavior. Controlling for age of mares and pretreatment differences in fertility, PZP significantly reduced foaling rates in all 3 herds. Behaviorally, treated females allocated their time differently than controls and received 54.9% more reproductive behaviors from stallions. PZP may be a useful tool in controlling fertility in some western U.S. horse herds, but reduction in population growth rates will depend on timely access to mares for inoculation and the proportion of mares that can be treated. Managers must also consider the scope and magnitudes of potential sideeffects associated with use of the drug and weigh the known effects against the benefit of reducing population growth. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0365 Climate Change and North American Rangelands: Evidence, Implications, and Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: SRM Climate Change Author's preference: Oral David Briske1, Wayne Polley1, Jack Morgan1 1 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA, 2USDA-ARS, Temple, Texas, USA, 3 USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Climate change science predicts greater climatic variability within the foreseeable future, including increased warming, drought, and storm severity associated with increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. A climate change footprint in the form of atmospheric warming, rapid glacial retreat, accelerated plant phenology, modified precipitation patterns, modified species composition, and a greater incidence of wildfires, is becoming increasing evident. These consequences of climate change are further complicated by large variability in expression among regions. We advocate that anticipation and preparedness for increased climatic variability represents a socially responsible course of action. It has been devastatingly obvious in the past decade that extreme climatic events (e.g., droughts, floods, heat waves) can have large impacts on both ecological and social systems to influence human well-being. Society can potentially minimize the detrimental consequences of these extreme events by adapting to and mitigating for increasing climatic variability, rather than assuming a continuation of past and often favorable climates. The objective of this symposium is to provide a clear, concise summary of the vast climate change literature that is of direct relevance to rangelands to inform management and policy decisions and guide future research programs. Specific objectives are to: 1) present evidence for recent and projected climatic change, 2) outline potential ecological consequences, and 3) identify probable mitigation and adaptation strategies. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0366 Painted into a corner: Rich County CRM. Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Bill Hopkin Utah Dept. of Agriculture & Food, Salt Lake City, UT, USA Rich County, is located in northeast Utah, along the North/South border with Wyoming. Livestock production has been the economic engine for this area since settlement and public land grazing provides the forage for most of the ranching operations from May until October. In 2001, an environmental group appealed the renewal on most of the BLM grazing permits within the County. The Rich County Commission held a series of meetings with local citizens and affected permittees and the Rich County CRM Committee was the outcome. This group of diverse interests developed a land use plan that included a vision for desired condition and goals and objectives to guide the process. This presentation will review the events that lead to the Rich County CRM, the difficulties encountered, and the landscape scale plans addressing social, economic, and ecological sustainability of the area. Discussion of a large scale (143,000 acre) allotment consolidation project, the Three Creeks Allotment, will be a highlight of this presentation. The economy and ecology of scale by combining 5 BLM and 5 USFS allotments into one management unit has sparked interest in other areas of Utah and surrounding states. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0367 PARKER MOUNTAIN: WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND WHEN THE TALKING IS OVER Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Terry Messmer1, Ron Torgerson2 1 Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, 2Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, Richfield, UT, USA This is a story about a group of people of diverse backgrounds and interests who forged a partnership to achieve a common good. In this regard, it is similar to many partnerships. However, we believe the group's commitment to mutual learning through experimental management sets this group apart from others. They call themselves the Parker Mountain Adaptive Management working group or PARM. Parker Mountain is located in south-central Utah in Garfield, Piute, and Wayne counties. Parker Mountain is approximately 107,437 hectares (265,584 acres) and is managed by private, state, and federal entities. They started out in 1997 with one central goal - they wanted to "grow grouse" to mitigate the risks of the species being listed. Although concerns about declining greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations first brought them together, their commitment to sustaining their community and its natural resources still holds them together. In the past decade, PARM's efforts have increased sage-grouse populations from about 600 birds to over 5000. Most of the habitat work conducted to "grow grouse" has been accomplished largely with funding provided through conservation provisions of the Farm Bill. PARM has implemented a 10-year adaptive resource management habitat monitoring and research program to evaluate the effects of management actions on greater sage-grouse and other wildlife populations. We will report on their efforts to manage for multiple species using traditional approaches. For more information visit the web site www.utahcbcp.org. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0368 SANDS RANCH CRM: JUGGLING PRIVATE, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, AND ABSENTEE LAND OWNERSHIPS Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Kim McReynolds Arizona Cooperative Extension, Wilcox, AZ, USA The Sands Ranch has been operating as a family owned ranch since 1919 in southeastern Arizona. The ranch encompasses 98 sections of land with a mixed ownership of private, county, state, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, each with their own perspectives on management objectives. The ranch owners had previously dealt with each agency as a separate entity. Several events led the owners to consider using the Coordinated Resource Management process to develop a comprehensive plan for the whole ranch. Several impediments to profitability were addressed from a rangeland and livestock standpoint over a two year period before the plan was final. Cooperative monitoring continues to occur each fall, in conjunction with an annual CRM meeting for the ranch. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0369 SOUTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON SHRUB STEPPE/RANGELAND PARTNERSHIP: LESSONS LEARNED Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Julie Conley U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Yakima, WA, USA The South Central Washington Shrub Steppe/Rangeland Partnership is a group of government agencies and non-profits working together across 3 million acres in Benton, Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima Counties to conserve shrub steppe/rangeland resources. It's 14 partners include a 327,00-acre military training center, a 195,00-acre national monument surrounding the Hanford Site, and a tribal nation with over 400,000 acres of rangeland. In late 2009, the Partnership hired its first coordinator and by Fall of 2010 completed a "Conservation Strategy" for the area. The Partnership supports information exchange, identification of conservation priorities, and project development. This talk will describe lessons learned by the coordinator over the last two years such as: "Don't hide behind fuzzy words", "Beware of collaboration for collaboration's sake", and "An MOU does not a Partnership make". It will address several questions including, "What do you do when no one knows what to do?" and "Is information exchange real work?" It will conclude with an assessment of the Partnership's strengths and future directions. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0370 WYOMING CRM CASE STUDIES Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Larry Bentley Wyoming Dept. of Agriculture, Thermopolis, WY, USA This presentation covers a history of the use of Coordinated Resource Management Planning in Wyoming from the 1980's through 2011. There have been a number of CRMs in Wyoming addressing diverse problems and thousands of acres. The projects have used technical review teams (TRT) as advisory boards to the CRMs. The presentation will explain how the Antelope Hills CRM is using the CRMP to cooperatively develop with the BLM an Allotment Management Plan (AMP) for a 225,000 acre unfenced common allotment. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0371 BARRIERS TO COLLABORATIVE GRAZING PLANNING ACROSS MULTIPLE OWNERSHIPS TO MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT IN WASHINGTON SHRUB-STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Tipton Hudson Washington State University Extension, Ellensburg, WA, USA This case study examines a group of stakeholders and interested publics in Kittitas County who used the CRM process to develop a single, unified, scientifically sustainable grazing management plan with all of the landowners in the CRM boundary that would maintain or improve elk habitat. Rangeland technicians conducted a comprehensive survey of the area to ground truth soils data and prepare a grazing plan. Following completion of an Environmental Impact Statement for the public land that had not been grazed recently the Western Watersheds Project filed a lawsuit against the State. The utility company implemented the grazing plan as proposed and has installed range improvements to facilitate proper livestock distribution. The game department, having prepared a sound grazing plan and acting within their authority to implement it, was forced to suspend implementation until a civil judge could evaluate the merits of the science behind the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Environmental Impact Statement based on the objections of a non-stakeholder group in a different state. Groups set to oppose grazing are opposed to grazing even when there is monitoring data and scientific background sufficient to prove that the grazing, as applied, is doing no harm. The social component of sustainability must be a primary focus when grazing livestock on public lands. Early and frequent communication with the most vociferous opponents may be an uncomfortable but necessary course of action prior to implementation. Rangeland monitoring data is also valuable in avoiding rhetoric and centering discussion or negotiation around on-the-ground truths. Abstracts of the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, 2012, Spokane, WA 0372 THE ROLE OF WORKING LANDS IN HABITAT CONSERVATION: WILD HORSE CRM Status: AcceptedPresentation type: Oral Category: Rangeland Collaboration: Ranch and Landscape Scale (Forum) Author's preference: Oral Jennifer Diaz Puget Sound Energy, Ellensburg, WA, USA Puget Sound Energy is Washington State's oldest and largest utility with over one million electric customers, 700,000 natural gas customers, and more recently, one of the largest wind power facilities in the state. The Wild Horse Wind Farm operates in critical shrub-steppe habitat, the majority of which is owned by PSE, making PSE the largest private landowner in eastern Kittitas County. The Wild Horse Wind Farm is surrounded by public lands; PSE is working with local collaborative planning groups like the Big Game Management Roundtable and a Coordinated Resource Management group to develop a largescale cooperative grazing plan, including infrastructure improvements such as strategically located spring developments as well as state-of-the-science grazing monitoring and long-term rangeland health monitoring. PSE has been heavily engaged in sage grouse conservation efforts: fence marking, nesting and brood-rearing habitat improvements, removal of unnecessary barbed wire fences. Habitat restoration has been one focal area for wildlife and sensitive plant conservation; contractors and volunteers have been mobilized to plant sagebrush, seed areas disturbed during construction with native species, salvage hedgehog cactus plants that occurred inside road, turbine, or buried cable footprints. PSE has established a conservation easement with Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and maintains a user-friendly hunting program, strives to maintain appropriate public access and offer recreation opportunities. Ongoing land management efforts include other forms of wildlife management and an aggressive integrated pest management program for weed control.
