Changes to Rangelands Over Time

1
Changes to Rangelands Over Time
2
Objectives

• Identify and describe four factors that cause
  rangelands to change over time

3
Range Change Factors

• Grazing
• Fire
• Invasive Species
• Weather/Climate
• Human Activities

4
Grazing

• Removal of plant biomass plant response
• Important grazing considerations
• Timing (season of use)
• Intensity (stocking rate)
• Duration
• Species of grazing animal
• Impacts of grazing
• Positive vs. negative

5
Fire

• A natural process
• Season of burning
• Frequency
• Fire resistance
• Disturbance and Weed Invasion
• Fire suppression
• Impacts

6
Invasive Species

• Definition plants that are not native to a
  region that have been brought in either
  intentionally or unintentionally
• Invasive vs. weed
• Response to disturbance
• How do they increase?
• Negative environmental impacts

7
Weather/Climate

• Most important factor in long-term changes to
  rangeland plant communities
• Normal variation
• Year-to-year (annual)
• Long-Term
• Drought
• Impacts on plant composition

8
Human Activities

• Included development, recreation, subdivision
• Humans affects other forces of nature
• Invasion
• Fire
• Grazing
• Climate/weather?