Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity: A meta‐analysis of grouse populations

Dettenmaier, Seth J.; Messmer, Terry A.; Hovick, Torre J.; Dahlgren, David K.

doi:10.1002/ece3.3287

Cited by 45 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…For example, in China, free‐ranging livestock consumes considerable amounts of bamboo, which is partly responsible for the degradation of the giant panda habitat (Hull et al, ; Li, Pimm, Li, Zhao, & Luo, ). Livestock grazing also has a negative impact on grouse populations worldwide (Dettenmaier, Messmer, Hovick, & Dahlgren, ). Similarly, our study revealed that the high livestock density has a significant negative impact on red panda habitat at a large spatial scale in Nepal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

Panthi¹,

Wang

Sun

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Anthropogenic factors play an important role in shaping the distribution of wildlife species and their habitats, and understanding the influence of human activities on endangered species can be key to improving conservation efforts as well as the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development. Here, we used species distribution modeling to assess human impacts on the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in high‐altitude regions of Nepal. We found that the distance to paths (tracks used by people and animals), livestock density, human population density, and annual mean temperature were the most important factors determining the habitat suitability for red pandas in Nepal. This is the first study that attempts to use comprehensive environmental and anthropogenic variables to predict habitat suitability for the red pandas at a national level. The suitable habitat identified by this study is important and could serve as a baseline for the development of conservation strategies for the red panda in Nepal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

Panthi¹,

Wang

Sun

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Following the system structure in the mental models, the variables related to the ecosystem services of the Páramos and their relationship with agricultural activities were also included in the causal diagram ( Figure 5). Human population in the paramo and high mountain Human population in the paramo and high mountain Agricultural and livestock activities exert extractive pressure on the natural resources of Páramo ecosystems (soil, vegetation, water) [40,[50][51][52]. For example, the trampling caused by cattle for long periods of time generates soil compaction [53][54][55] which in turn, results in less water infiltration, more runoff [56], reduction of plant cover [57], and lower absorption of nutrients by plants [58].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Systems 2019, 7, 52 12 of 17 livelihoods that ensure food security, health, education, and decent housing. In particular, to be sustainable and viable, the minimum values of PES should at least equal the benefits provided in ecological terms and in opportunity costs that should be sustained to provide the same services with specific actions and less expensive than the avoided damages of the entire ecosystem.…”

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confidence: 99%

Sustainable Feedbacks of Colombian Paramos Involving Livestock, Agricultural Activities, and Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030

Gaona

Guerrero

Patiño

et al. 2019

Systems

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Colombian mountain Páramos are considered natural areas with a very important role for human life. Páramos provide, both in mountain and lowland areas, a multitude of ecosystem services which start from vegetation to soil sustainability. The sustainability of Páramos is however impaired by several anthropogenic activities, including agricultural and livestock practices. A system thinking approach was applied in this work to improve the systemic understanding of factors affecting sustainability and resilience of Páramos agro-ecosystems. Interdisciplinary literature evidences were summarized and conceptually analyzed in order to develop causal loop diagrams of Páramo system structures allowing describing the main feedback loops involving (involved in/connecting) the Páramo ecosystem and driving its sustainability. From the causal diagram analysis few insights to maintain the human presence in Páramos arose. The system analysis highlights that human presence in Páramos should be stimulated, avoiding agriculture and livestock activities as the main income source. Particularly, social interactions, education on the Páramos environmental and relevance of agricultural practices to foster ecosystem services and multiple rentable economic activities should be enhanced. The study also includes the role of the government in providing the Páramo inhabitants with payments for ecosystem services and environmental education aimed to boost sustainability. Sustainable Páramo management will apply specific leverages on the system to reach Sustainable Development Goals 6 (water), 8 (economic growth, employment and work), 13 (climate change), and 15 (sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems) of the Agenda 2030.

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“…Removal of conifers to improve sage‐grouse habitat, however, could also benefit many other lizard and snake species that prefer open sagebrush shrublands and are also susceptible to avian predators. Finally, similar to sage‐grouse, reptiles appear to have mixed responses to grazing because of variation in timing, frequency, and duration of grazing, and livestock type, stocking rate, and other factors (Beck and Mitchell 2000, Dettenmaier et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reptiles Under the Conservation Umbrella of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

et al. 2020

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In conservation paradigms, management actions for umbrella species also benefit co‐occurring species because of overlapping ranges and similar habitat associations. The greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an umbrella species because it occurs across vast sagebrush ecosystems of western North America and is the recipient of extensive habitat conservation and restoration efforts that might benefit sympatric species. Biologists' understanding of how non‐target species might benefit from sage‐grouse conservation is, however, limited. Reptiles, in particular, are of interest in this regard because of their relatively high diversity in shrublands and grasslands where sage‐grouse are found. Using spatial overlap of species distributions, land cover similarity statistics, and a literature review, we quantified which reptile species may benefit from the protection of intact sage‐grouse habitat and which may be affected by recent (since about 1990) habitat restoration actions targeting sage‐grouse. Of 190 reptile species in the United States and Canadian provinces where greater sage‐grouse occur, 70 (37%) occur within the range of the bird. Of these 70 species, about a third (11 snake and 11 lizard species) have >10% of their distribution area within the sage‐grouse range. Land cover similarity indices revealed that 14 of the 22 species (8 snake and 6 lizard species) had relatively similar land cover associations to those of sage‐grouse, suggesting greater potential to be protected under the sage‐grouse conservation umbrella and greater potential to be affected, either positively or negatively, by habitat management actions intended for sage‐grouse. Conversely, the remaining 8 species are less likely to be protected because of less overlap with sage‐grouse habitat and thus uncertain effects of sage‐grouse habitat management actions. Our analyses of treatment databases indicated that from 1990 to 2014 there were at least 6,400 treatments implemented on public land that covered approximately 4 million ha within the range of the sage‐grouse and, of that, >1.5 million ha were intended to at least partially benefit sage‐grouse. Whereas our results suggest that conservation of intact sagebrush vegetation communities could benefit ≥14 reptiles, a greater number than previously estimated, additional research on each species' response to habitat restoration actions is needed to assess broader claims of multi‐taxa benefits when it comes to manipulative sage‐grouse habitat management. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity: A meta‐analysis of grouse populations

Cited by 45 publications

References 47 publications

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

An assessment of human impacts on endangered red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) living in the Himalaya

Sustainable Feedbacks of Colombian Paramos Involving Livestock, Agricultural Activities, and Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030

Reptiles Under the Conservation Umbrella of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

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