A discrete-time reaction-diffusion model for black-footed ferret release, population growth, and dispersal is combined with ferret carrying capacity constraints based on prairie dog population management decisions to form a spatial optimization model. Spatial arrangement of active prairie dog colonies within a ferret reintroduction area is optimized over time for maximum expected adult ferret p...

Grazing on natural rangelands, which are areas dominated by native vegetation that are used for livestock grazing, can achieve desired vegetation outcomes, preserve native habitat, and economically benefit multiple stakeholders. It is a powerful tool that can be manipulated to reduce wildlife declines and benefit ecosystems. However, the benefits of conservation grazing systems on many wildlife...

WHEN your chairman asked for a description of grassland research in the United States, present and future, the mere thought of the task brought me a picture of a flea contemplating an elephant. Grassland agriculture is so large and varied in its entirety, is spread over so many disciplines, and is so complex in the interrelationships of the biological, social and economic communities that I can...

Increased understanding of the influence of habitat (e.g., composition, patch size) and intrinsic (e.g., age, birth mass) factors on survival of neonatal pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is a prerequisite to successful management programs, particularly as they relate to population dynamics and the role of population models in adaptive species management. Nevertheless, few studies have presente...

greenhouse gases emissions have increased during the last century due to human activities such as agricultural practices, fossil fuel burning and industrial practices. the formation of greenhouse gases, in particular n2o or co2 is strongly controlled by both soil temperature and soil humidity. laboratory experiment was conducted to assess the response of grassland and arable soils with regard t...

Watershed cultivation and subsequent soil erosion remains the greatest threat to the service provisioning of playa wetlands in the High Plains. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plants perennial vegetation cover on cultivated lands including playa watersheds, and therefore, the program influences sediment deposition and accumulation in playas. Our ob...

Although grasslands are crucial habitats for European butterflies, large-scale declines in quality and area have devastated many species. Grassland restoration can contribute to the recovery of butterfly populations, although there is a paucity of information on the long-term effects of management. Using eight UK data sets (9-21 years), we investigate changes in restoration success for (1) arab...

In Switzerland, the traditional three-stage grassland farming system consists of grazed or cut grasslands along a gradient from lowland to alpine elevations. We measured carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes at three grassland sites (400, 1000, 2000 m elevation) and estimated carbon sequestration for two years (2006 and 2007). Grasslands at higher elevations (>1000 m), managed at lower intensities, exhib...

I n t e g r a t e d C r o p M a n a g e m e n t Vol. 9–2010 the designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAo) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concer...

Dry grassland sites are amongst the most species rich habitats of Central Europe. In Switzerland, they are home to a large number of plant and animal species that are classified as endangered or threatened. A key component for designing optimal and effective management schemes ensuring the sustainability of these ecosystems, is knowledge of their biomass production. In this study we explored th...