| dc.contributor.author | Hamel, Michael Charles | |
| dc.description.abstract | Pyric-herbivory is a naturally occurring disturbance that historically created shifting mosaics of heterogeneous plant communities and vegetation structure, supporting a biodiverse Great Plains ecosystem. Present land management has decoupled this interactive disturbance leading to homogenous grasslands, resulting in a reduction of biodiversity, which is exasperated by the dominance of non-native grasses. We believe reintroducing this disturbance will increase heterogeneity and enhance biodiversity. First, we compared the effects of a season-long grazing and two patch-burn grazing systems on plant communities. Second, we evaluated how small mammal communities were affected by each grazing system. Our findings show re-establishing pyric-herbivory, via patch-burn grazing, can enhance biodiversity compared to season-long grazing. We hypothesize further implementation of patch-burn grazing will continue to enhance biodiversity, as thatch and basal litter are further reduced. In conclusion, our findings support re-establishing pyric-herbivory to enhance biodiversity though further study is needed to determine what effect continued implementation will have. | en_US |
| dc.publisher | North Dakota State University | en_US |
| dc.rights | NDSU policy 190.6.2 | en_US |
| dc.title | Application of Pyric-Herbivory in the Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie to Enhance Biodiversity | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-06-02T19:20:20Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-06-02T19:20:20Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10365/32670 | |
| dc.subject | grazing | en_US |
| dc.subject | kentucky bluegrass | en_US |
| dc.subject | non-native grasses | en_US |
| dc.subject | plant communities | en_US |
| dc.subject | pyric-herbivory | en_US |
| dc.subject | small mammal communities | en_US |
| dc.rights.uri | https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf | en_US |
| ndsu.degree | Master of Science (MS) | en_US |
| ndsu.college | Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources | en_US |
| ndsu.department | Natural Resource Sciences | en_US |
| ndsu.program | Range Science | en_US |
| ndsu.advisor | Limb, Ryan | |
