Range Science

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Research from the Department of Range Science. The department is part of the School of Natural Resources, and their website may be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/snrs/

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The Interactions of Early-Fall Prescribed Burning, Different Cutting Techniques and Whitetailed Deer Browsing on Bur Oak Regeneration in Eastern North Dakota: Phase II
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Murdoff, Marc Thomas
This study was developed to determine the interaction of white-tailed deer browsing with effects of clear and selective cutting, and prescribed burning on bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) regeneration in northeastern North Dakota. The study was conducted on Camp Grafton North (CGN) near Devils Lake, North Dakota, using four treatments: 1) dormant season clear-cut of all trees and shrubs (CC), 2) growing season selective cut of all trees and shrubs except bur oak (SC), 3) early fall prescribed bum (PB) and 4) nonmanipulated control (CO). The study consisted of four blocks (replicates) using a randomized complete block design. The interaction of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) browsing was determined using a split-plot design, creating browsed and nonbrowsed plots. Bur oak seedling, sprout, sapling, and mature tree production was measured pre-treatment in 2006 and post-treatment in 2007, 2008 and 2009 on two 25 m transects per plot. Herbaceous vegetation was measured using these two transects. An aerial survey conducted 12 March 2007 reported 45 deer per km2 on CGN. Bur oak seedling density increased (P ::S 0.05) 36 Months After Treatment (MAFT). Bur oak saplings decreased (P::S 0.05) at 36 MAFT. Bur oak sprouts were greatest (P ::S 0.05) on the CC treatment, while the CO, PB, and SC did not differ (P > 0.05). Deer browsing reduced bur oak sprout height, irrelevant of treatment. Clear-cutting increased bur oak sprouts 36 MAFT. Selective cutting to retain bur oak trees did not enhance seedling or sprout development compared to the control.
Fire Safety Skills Training for Individuals with Severe and Profound Mental Retardation
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Knudson, Peter John
The statistics surrounding fire injury and death in the United States are staggering. Literature concerning fire safety has focused largely on children, but persons with mental retardation also are in need of fire safety training as they are highly vulnerable to fire injury and death. The purpose of this research was to evaluate behavioral skills training procedures for teaching individuals with severe and profound mental retardation to exit their residence upon hearing a smoke detector. Fire safety skills training involved giving instructions, modeling, prompting, and corrective feedback. Assessments took place in the participants' group homes with the participants unaware that an assessment was taking place. Following training, it was anticipated that the participants would be able to initiate exiting behaviors within 10 seconds following the activation of a smoke detector and exit the building within 30 seconds of initiating exiting behaviors. The results showed that one participant out of seven met these criteria following training. However, data gathered on the level of prompts needed for participants to exit the building showed that some individuals exited the building with a less intrusive level of prompting from staff.
Prairie Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) Contributions to Soil Change on Grazed Mixed-Grass Prairie
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Barth, Cory John
Vegetation and soils were evaluated on a black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony and adjacent non-disturbed mixed-grass prairie in central South Dakota. The study’s objectives were 1) determine differences in plant species diversity and richness, and selected soil quality parameters between prairie dog colonies and adjacent non-disturbed sites, and 2) evaluate impacts of prairie dogs on water infiltration rates. Three soil series were evaluated representing three ecological sites (Opal, Cabba, and Wayden). Plant species richness was higher on the Control on Opal soils, while being lower on the Control on Cabba soils. Lower soil pH and higher nitrate concentrations were found on the prairie dog town for Opal and Cabba soils near the soil surface, close to the prairie dog mounds. These findings show prairie dog impacts on soil parameters can vary across different soil types, which can affect the diversity and richness of vegetative communities within prairie dog colonies.
Fire and Nitrogen Effects on a Purple Threeawn-Dominated Plant Community in the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Strong, Dustin
Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea Nutt. varieties) is a native grass capable of rapidly increasing on rangelands, forming near monocultures, creating a stable state. Rangelands throughout the Great Plains and Intermountain West have experienced increases in purple threeawn abundance, leading to reductions in overall forage quality and community diversity. Our objectives were to: 1) examine prescribed fire and nitrogen as tools to shift species composition in a purple threeawn invaded community, 2) reveal vegetation management strategies appropriate for reducing purple threeawn abundance 3) quantify fire effects on purple threeawn plant characteristics and 4) determine the relationship between purple threeawn survival and fire behavior. Fire reduced purple threeawn abundance one-growing season post-fire, with sustained reductions two-growing seasons post-fire. Nitrogen had no effect on purple threeawn abundance. Heat duration and dosage were good predictors of purple threeawn mortality. Summer prescribed fire appears to be the best management tool to reduce purple threeawn abundance.
Effectiveness of Multiple Restoration Techniques in Reducing the Abundance of Kentucky Bluegrass and Smooth Bromegrass in the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Lund, Corie Beth
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermus L.) are cool-season, perennial, non-native grasses that are invading North Dakota grasslands. Two studies evaluated different restoration techniques aimed at reducing Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass abundance. The initial study, located on five different plant communities in a mixed grass prairie near Mandan, ND, noted some success at reducing Kentucky bluegrass through a combination of fire and chemicals. Therefore, a second study was initiated near Lisbon, ND to evaluate the effectiveness of fire and herbicides, alone or in combination, and the sequence for applying fire and herbicide. These treatments were applied to native tall grass with different initial invasion levels of Kentucky bluegrass. The results of the Mandan study indicated treatment responses differed depending on the community and invasive species while, the Lisbon study suggested that the level of initial invasion also determined treatment success.
Timing is Everything : How Environmental Change May Disrupt the Timing of Plant-Pollinator Interactions
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Solga, Michelle Jene
Ecosystems are experiencing environmental change brought about by warming temperatures, altered precipitation, and increasing atmospheric CO2, among other factors. These changes could alter interspecies’ relationships, including those between plants and pollinators. One important change may be to the timing of when flowers bloom and when pollinators are active. Environmental cues drive the phenology of many flowers and insect pollinators, so an alteration in timing for either species could jeopardize the plant-pollinator relationship. Previous studies indicate that many plant species have changed flowering dates in response to an environmental cue, but the response is species specific. Some pollinators may not be "keeping pace" with flowers, leaving this mutualism at risk. Since not all plants and pollinators are responding equally to change it is important to develop a better understanding of how environmental change may influence vulnerable species in this mutualism and the possible implications to the function and diversity of ecosystems.
An Assessment of Integrated Weed Management Strategies for Purple Threeawn-Dominated Rangelands
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Dufek, Nickolas Alois
Purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea Nutt.) is a native bunch grass that is avoided by grazers. It is capable of dominating old cropland and overgrazed pastures, limiting livestock carrying capacity, and degrading wildlife habitat. Traditional management tools have had little impact on threeawn dominance in semiarid regions of the west. Our objectives were to: 1) assess fire and nitrogen treatment effects on threeawn forage quality at various phenological stages to test their potential as pretreatments in a grazing strategy and 2) examine a threeawn-dominated plant community’s response to prescribed fire, nitrogen addition, and clipping. Fire improved threeawn forage quality with greater improvements in early phenological stages. Nitrogen had little effect on forage quality. Fire and nitrogen reduced threeawn while increasing cool season grasses. Light and moderate clipping following fire did not improve the efficacy of fire. Fire appears to an effective preliminary treatment to improve the chance of herbivory.
Belowground Bud Banks of Native, Perennial Grasses and Interactions with Fire in the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Russell, Morgan Lee
Mixed-grass prairies of the northern Great Plains evolved following frequent disturbances such as drought, fire, and extensive grazing by ungulates. As a result of periodic natural disturbances, native grass reproductive mechanisms have adapted to withstand frequent disturbance. Ninety-nine percent of native perennial grasses reproduction occurs through well-protected and densely structured axillary buds. Since vegetative buds are the primary driver of aboveground growth, bud response to differing seasons and fire return intervals may reveal strategies to enhance bud dynamics. The timing of fire may transition dormant buds into active buds elucidating the mechanism responsible for aboveground growth following fire. My objectives were to: 1) reveal belowground bud characteristics of Bouteloua gracilis (Willd ex. Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths) (C4 species), Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve) (C3 species), and Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth) (C3 species), 2) examine immediate fire effects on belowground bud activity, dormancy, and mortality following seasonal fire and fire return interval treatments, 3) quantify short-term belowground bud dormancy, activity, and mortality trajectories following fire, and 4) determine the effects of soil moisture and soil temperature on bud growth and maintenance. Belowground bud characteristics differed among species, where B. gracilis produced the most buds (6 ± 4 buds tiller-1), P. smithii produced an intermediate amount (4 ± 2 buds tiller-1), and H. comata contained the least amount of buds (3 ± 3 buds tiller-1). Fire treatments did not result in immediate, direct mortality of B. gracilis, P. smithii, or H. comata buds. However, fire treatments enhanced bud activity and reduced dormancy for B. gracilis and P. smithii. Season of fire and fire return interval directly manipulated bud activity, dormancy, and mortality for these species throughout two or more growing and dormant seasons following fire. Soil moisture was found to be a good predictor for bud growth of cool-season species and soil temperature was a reliable predictor for warm-season species bud growth. Prescribed burning can be used to manipulate bud bank dynamics as a management tool and belowground bud dynamics can also be used to improve post-fire management strategies in wildfire situations.
Biological Capabilities of Selected Ecological Sites in the Western Dakotas
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Ford, Dustin
The study was conducted on the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands (DPG) within the Little Missouri National Grassland (LMNG) of North Dakota and Grand River National Grassland (GRNG) of South Dakota during the summer and fall of 2012. The objectives of this study was to 1) determine if three ecological sites (loamy, thin loamy, and claypan) are biologically capable of producing an 8.89 cm visual obstruction reading (VOR) at the end of the grazing season when cattle are excluded and 2) establish a relationship between VOR and standing crop. Vegetative structure was determined using a modified Robel pole. Standing crop was collected by clipping to ground level using a 0.178m2 hoop. Based on our results from one year of data, only the loamy sites on the LMNG were biologically capable of producing 8.89 cm of structure at the end of the grazing season in the DPG.
Restoration of Upland and Riparian Vegetation Communities in the Sheyenne River Valley
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Link, Austin
Degraded rangelands and riparian woodlands in eastern North Dakota are increasing in frequency. Two studies were conducted to address reduced forage quantity and quality and reduced regeneration of riparian tree and shrub species. Research objectives were to (1) analyze multiple pre-seeding treatments to determine impacts on rangeland production of interseeded native species; and (2) determine if fencing, weed-barrier fabric, mowing, or herbicide treatments can increase survivability of riparian tree and shrub seedling plantings. Pre-seeding treatments with herbicide showed significantly higher production of native species than the control. High-fencing/mowing treatment and high-fencing/weed-barrier fabric/herbicide treatment in riparian tree and shrub plantings resulted in significantly higher survival than the control. These findings will be used to develop future research and management strategies.
An Assessment of Annual Forages to Extend Grazing for Beef Cattle in South Central North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Gaugler, Erin Marie
This study was designed to test 3 grazing treatments using 2 cropping systems during 2012 to 2014. Angus crossbred beef heifers in mid-gestation were assigned to treatments from mid-October to late November or early December. Single- and dual-crop systems were subjected to the following grazing treatments: 1) full use, 2) 50 percent degree of disappearance and 3) no use. A drylot served as the control. Herbage production, livestock performance, economic efficiency and soil health were monitored. Costs associated with the cocktail mixture ranged from $37.56 to $44.50/hectare. Average daily gain was highest in the drylot and was the only treatment to provide a positive return per head per day for all years. Returns of the full use grazing treatment were positive 2 of the 3 years and losses were limited compared to other grazing treatments. Grazing provided either neutral or positive soil health characteristics compared to no use.
Community Dynamics of Grassland Birds, Rangeland Vegetation, and Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs on Grazed Mixed-Grass Prairie
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Lipinski, Amanda Rose
Investigators surveyed vegetation and grassland bird communities on and off black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns to investigate community drivers, interactions, and species associations. This study was conducted within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near McLaughlin, South Dakota, USA, on grazed mixed-grass prairie. Sampling of birds and vegetation communities in 2012 and 2013 using fixed-width belt transects revealed community differences relative to prairie dog presence or absence (p<0.01) with percent cover bare ground being most strongly correlated (r2≥0.93) with the principal NMS axis in both years. All bird species, excluding Lark Sparrows, nested exclusively on or off prairie dog towns. After PCA, nests and random locations sampled for vegetation were not significantly different (MANOVA p>0.05) within their habitat type (town or off-town), except for Brewer’s blackbird nests (p<0.01). Lack of significance may be due to limitations in sample sizes and the homogeneous nature of habitat at the scale sampled.
Impact of Wildfire and Targeted Grazing Effects on Northern Great Plains Range and Pasture Lands
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Kral, Katherine Claire-Ann
The Grand River District in South Dakota has a high proportion of underutilized crested wheatgrass within native rangelands. Prescribed fire is rarely used for management; although, there is a strong evolutionary relationship with fire and grazing. Our project entailed two studies, the first looking at targeted grazing with cattle and second the effects of an April wildfire on plant species composition, basal cover, and phytomass production. The wildfire and targeted grazing did not affect (p > 0.05) plant species composition or phytomass production four and 16 months after treatment (MAT). Targeted grazing increased (p ≤ 0.05) crested wheatgrass utilization, but did not reduce (p >0.05) basal or canopy cover. Fire was ineffective (p > 0.05) at decreasing crested wheatgrass frequency. Fire increased (p ≤ 0.05) bare ground and decreased (p ≤ 0.05) litter cover four and 16 MAT. Multiple treatments may be more effective at controlling crested wheatgrass.
Manipulating Cattle and Deer Foraging Behaviors for the Consumption of Leafy Spurge and Canada Thistle
(North Dakota State University, 2015) McCann, Melissa Catherine
This study tested targeted grazing weeds with cattle and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Using forage manipulation techniques, we attempted to encourage cattle and white-tailed deer to graze weeds. Cattle were encouraged to target graze leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). We established that cattle will attempt to consume leafy spurge from feed bunks but not from pasture. Two projects were developed to test targeted grazing of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) by white-tailed deer. The first project was a behavior study using a rationed pelleted feed with Canada thistle. The second an attractant study involved testing two types of molasses (Molasses and Raffinate) sprayed onto Canada thistle. We found white-tailed deer will consume all diets of pelleted feed and will graze Canada thistle sprayed with either type of molasses. Molasses could be a viable attractant to target graze weeds. More research is needed to determine if these studies are sustainable.
A Chronosequence of Scale-Dependent Vegetation and Soil Properties on a Surface Coal Mine over 40 Years of Reclamation
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Bohrer, Stefanie
Surface coal mining has taken place in North Dakota for many decades. Upon the mining process, the mined lands need to be reclaimed to a better state than pre-mining. The reclamation process is a timely and costly procedure. Currently, most reclamation strategies focus only on above ground biomass. Our research entailed two different studies, the first looking into vegetative species composition and canopy cover of reclaimed mine lands, and the second focuses on belowground properties affected by soil compaction over a 40 year reclamation gradient. Species composition and canopy cover did not increase over 40 years (p> 0.05). Soil compaction did not decrease, and rooting depths and soil water content range did not increase over the reclamation gradient (p> 0.05). Relative plant community patch size and soil health on reclaimed lands over four decades indicate the landscape-level success of the current ecosystem-based reclamation strategy.
Brine Impacted Soils in Semi-Arid Rangelands: Greenhouse Electrical Conductivity Thresholds and Ex Situ/In Situ Remediation Comparisons
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Tomlinson, Hannah Angie Kelsey
Brine is a by-product of oil and gas extraction that can have profound impacts on soil chemistry and vegetation assemblages when discharged onto the soil surface. Brine spill remediation aims to remove or minimize the saturated paste electrical conductivity (ECe) to levels suitable for plant growth. My research focused on evaluating ECe and plant parameters on topsoil excavation and chemical amendment sites, and examining brine thresholds of several native grasses. Halophytic grasses had a higher brine threshold between 18.6 and 34.6 dS m-1 whereas glycophytic grasses exhibited a lower threshold (9.70 and 18.6 dS m-1). Halophytes examined in this study may aid in revegetating salt-affected sites. Soil ECe was not different (p ≥ 0.05) between remediation techniques to the 60 cm depth. Functional plant groups were also not different (p ≥ 0.05) between remediation techniques. Both techniques were successful at reducing soil ECe to facilitate natural and assisted vegetation recovery.
Investigating the Influence of Grazing Management Practices on Pollinators to Inform Biodiversity Conservation in Working Grassland-Landscapes
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Bendel, Cayla Rose Ruby
Declines in pollinator populations worldwide are threatening pollination that supports native plant communities and global food production. Mitigating these impacts will require conservation actions that promote biodiversity and remain practical for private producers. We investigated the influence of grazing management practices on butterfly abundance and community composition in the Sheyenne National Grasslands in the summers of 2015 and 2016. We found that management did not influence floral community composition and thus butterfly communities remained similar between practices. Individual species’ abundance varied by management, with no practice optimal for all species. We also examined relationships between floral resources and native bee-plant interactions. We found floristic resource availability influenced bees’ selectivity across the growing season. Furthermore, native bee abundance was driven by availability of native flowers, whereas honey bees were attracted to dense patches of exotic resources. Overall, management which promotes spatial-temporal resource distribution can bolster ecosystem stability and promote pollinator diversity.
The Effects of Herbivory and Vegetation Competition on Seedling Survival and Growth in the Middle Sheyenne River Watershed, North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Johnston, Sarah Braaten
There is a concern about the lack of regeneration of riparian hardwood forest communities in the Middle Sheyenne River Watershed of northeastern North Dakota. Natural resource managers and landowners are unsure if herbivory by ungulates or other factors are responsible for a lack of tree seedling regeneration and survival. We focused our research on the role of ungulates and competitive vegetation in seedling survival and growth in demonstration tree planting sites. Landowners utilized exclosures from ungulate browsing and/or grazing, and different forms of vegetation control. The riparian study showed the combination of deer with cattle significantly affected survival of seedlings after three years at p<0.012, and that vegetation competition played less of a role in seedling survival. The upland study found that tree and shrub species in general did not respond significantly in terms of overall growth with treatments such as fabric and glyphosate herbicide to control vegetation competition.
Energy-Related Traffic Increases Fugitive Dust, with Mixed Effects on Bakken Cropland Trophic Levels
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Spiess, Jonathan Wesley
We investigated how anthropogenic landscape industrialization affects croplands through increased emissions of fugitive dust along unpaved roads with energy-related traffic. We reviewed literature regarding plants and increased dust deposition and exposure and found that increased dust deposition and exposure negatively affected photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance. We measured: traffic, the amount and spatial extent of dust deposition, and plant physiological parameters in annual cereal crop fields adjacent to unpaved roads in western North Dakota. We found that increased traffic along an unpaved road influenced the amount and spatial extent of fugitive dust deposited in fields adjacent to an unpaved road. Increased dust deposition negatively affected plant photosynthetic activity. We measured bird activity using trail cameras and invertebrate abundance using sweep-netting in annual cereal crop fields adjacent to unpaved roads. Distance from an unpaved road or the measured deposition rates did not negatively affect bird activity and invertebrate abundance.
An Exploration of the Effects of Cattle Grazing, Prairie Dog Activity, and Ecological Site on Plant Community Composition and Western Wheatgrass Vegetative Reproduction in Northern Mixed Grass Prairie
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Field, Aaron Lee
Modern range scientists and managers are tasked with feeding more people than ever before while maintaining or improving the ecological function of over half of the world’s land surface. Often, these tasks are in conflict. This disparity is evident in the relationship between rangeland livestock producers and black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludoviciana). Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species and an ecosystem engineer, but they also reduce available forage for livestock. In this disquisition we investigated the dynamic relationship between prairie dog activities and cattle grazing in respect to their combined and separate influences on plant community composition and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) reproduction in northern mixed grass prairie. Our study took place on a private ranch in north-central South Dakota on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near McLaughlin. Using paired plots that either allowed or excluded cattle grazing, we were able to quantify the effects of different grazing intensities and grazing removal. While plant community composition and bare ground percentage were different among grazing regimes and ecological sites, removal of cattle grazing pressure did not change plant community composition over the three-year study in comparison to full use grazing (40 – 60% degree of disappearance). These findings show that short term (3 year) changes in grazing intensity did not lead to plant community change in northern mixed grass prairie. This was true regardless of ecological site and prairie dog occurrence. Western wheatgrass bud banks were also not influenced by herbivory type or intensity. This finding underscores the importance of aboveground tiller numbers as an indicator of reproductive capability rather than bud bank in western wheatgrass. Taken together, our results suggest that full use cattle grazing is a sustainable practice in northern mixed grass prairie. Our results also indicate that western wheatgrass vegetative reproduction is not likely to be inhibited or promoted by grazing.

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