The 2008 Joint Meeting of the Society for Range Management and the America Forage and Grassland Council. |
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 11:20 AM
Is Patch Burning A Silver Bullet for Conservation of Rangelands? Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions
Samuel D. Fuhlendorf1, Raymond Moranz1, and Sherry Leis2. (1) Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, 008c Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, (2) Heartland I&M Montoring Network, National Park Service, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897
It is well recognized that fire and grazing are critical in maintaining grassland structure and function. Our recent research suggests that fire and grazing are interactive and can lead to a shifting mosaic landscape that is regulated through a series of positive and negative feedbacks. Grassland birds, small mammals and plant biodiversity respond to the patchwork of habitats in tall- and mixed-grass praires where individual species are most dominant on patches with variable time since fire. We have developed the fire-grazing interaction model into a landscape management model capable of enhancing biodiversity while maintaining livestock production. While existing studies are very promising, there are some factors that should still be considered, such as optimum fire return interval, patch size, minimum scale and other ways to create heterogeneity. In addition, this approach does not overcome other important issues associated with rangeland management such as stocking rate, use of herbivores other than cattle, and drought management. This research and others suggest that we should be considering heterogeneity within rangeland/grassland ecosystems but patch burning is not a panacea that can overcome critical factors, such as stocking rate.