In a previous article, Beschta et al. (Environ Manag 51(2):474-491, 2013) argue that grazing by large ungulates (both native and domestic) should be eliminated or greatly reduced on western public lands to reduce potential climate change impacts. The authors did not present a balanced synthesis of the scientific literature, and their publication is more of an opinion article. Their conclusions ...

Frequent and intense defoliation of grasses has been associated with the evolution of “grazing morphotypes” that exhibit a variety of vegetative traits correlated with improved grazing resistance. While recovery from a seed bank is not considered an important grazing resistance mechanism, relatively little is actually known regarding seed (caryopsis) production in grazing morphotypes of caespit...

Grazing by microzooplankton on phytoplankton in Manukau Harbour was measured by size-fractionated dilution experiments at monthly intervals from October 1994 to October 1995. Grazing rates were always highest on the < 5 urn size fraction, the smallest size fraction measured. These rates ranged from 0.3 to 1.3 d" and were highest in November and March; values did not appear to vary with grazer a...

Effect of fertilizer applications and grazing exclusion on species composition and biomass in wet meadow restoration in eastern Washington. Fertilizer applications and grazing exclusion were used as restoration strategies in degraded wet meadows in eastern Washington to grow biomass in the root systems where it could not be grazed. We used a split-block design to test vegetation responses to si...

Beyond grazing, managed grasslands provide ecological services that may offer economic incentives for multifunctional use. Increasing biodiversity of plant communities may maximize net primary production by optimizing utilization of available light, water, and nutrient resources; enhance production stability in response to climatic stress; reduce invasion of exotic species; increase soil OM; re...

Grazing is the cheapest way to feed cattle on a cost per pound of nutrient basis. However, producers with limited land resources in Kentucky have been able to use commodities or grain by-products to increase cattle numbers due to low cost and availability of these inputs. Extending the grazing season is one solution that would enable producers to reduce costs and expand production with little o...

N2O production from denitrification in soils contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect and the destruction of the stratospheric ozone. Ungulate grazing affects denitrification and the production of N2O. The short-term effect of grazing on denitrification and N2O production has been examined in several grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of long-term grazing have rarely been studied. ...

Finding an optimal balance between livestock production and grazing impact on animal diversity is important for the development of sustainable grazing systems. This paper tests the hypothesis that extensification of grazing management enhances animal diversity. Similar treatments were applied over a period of three years to sites in the UK, France, Germany and Italy. There were three treatments...

Rangelands are the most important ecosystem for carbon sequestration. Knowledge of plant response to grazing is one of important requirements for rangeland management. Stocking rate is one of main factors in destruction of the vegetation cover in rangeland ecosystems. Livestock grazing has the potential to substantially alter carbon storage in grassland ecosystem. This study examined the effect...

Using the seawater dilution technique, we measured phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing rates within and outside of the 1999 Bering Sea coccolithophorid bloom. We found that reduced microzooplankton grazing mortality is a key component in the formation and temporal persistence of the Emiliania huxleyi bloom that continues to proliferate in the southeast Bering Sea. Total chlorophyl...