Document

Title

Preliminary evidence that patch burn-grazing creates spatially heterogeneous habitat structure in old-field grassland
Document Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Devan A. McGranahan; Gina M. Raicovich; W. Nathan Wilson; C. Kenneth Smith
Publication Year: 2013

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • fire
  • fire-grazing interaction
  • grassland
  • grazing
  • habitat
  • heterogeneity
  • patch burn grazing
  • Tennessee
Topic(s):
Region(s):
Record Maintained By:
FRAMES Staff; https://www.frames.gov/contact
Record Last Modified: November 12, 2015
FRAMES Record Number: 17998

Description

Heterogeneity created through patchy disturbance is an important component of grassland conservation, but little research has focused on patch burn-grazing in grassland of the eastern United States. To test the viability of patch burn-grazing in a Tall Fescue-invaded old-field grassland on the Cumberland Plateau, we conducted a prescribed patch burn, stocked cattle, and measured vegetation structure and plant functional group composition. We found that patch burn-grazing creates spatial heterogeneity (patch contrast) for grass height, litter cover, bare ground, and canopy cover of native and exotic grasses. These results suggest that patch burn-grazing is a viable tool for heterogeneity-based grassland management in the region.

Online Link(s):
Link to this document
Citation:
McGranahan, Devan Allen; Raicovich, Gina M.; Wilson, W. Nathan; Smith, C. Kenneth. 2013. Preliminary evidence that patch burn-grazing creates spatially heterogeneous habitat structure in old-field grassland. Southeastern Naturalist 12(3):655-660.