Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:27:26.221Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rough Surface and High-Forb Seed Mix Promote Ecological Restoration of Simulated Well Pads

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Danielle Bilyeu Johnston  and
Phillip L. Chapman
Danielle Bilyeu Johnston*
Affiliation:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Grand Junction, CO, 81650 and Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80526
Phillip L. Chapman
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80526
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: danielle.bilyeu@state.co.us
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Because of disturbance and exotic plant invasions, ecological restoration is necessary for maintaining functional big sagebrush ecosystems in western North America. Downy brome control is often necessary in restoring this ecosystem type; however, many brome control measures hinder ecological restoration by limiting the types of plants which can be established. Microtopography manipulation may aid weed control by entrapping undesirable seeds. We undertook a field experiment at four sites in the Piceance Basin of western Colorado, USA to test the effects of microtopography (rough with brush mulch or flat with straw mulch), seed mix (high-forb or balanced), and herbicide (140 g ai ha−1 imazapic ammonium salt or none) on downy brome control and perennial plant establishment following disturbance. Three years post-treatment, downy brome had become established at two of the four sites, one each with high (GVM) and low (MTN) downy brome seed rain. At GVM, the rough/brush treatment augmented the effectiveness of imazapic, reducing downy brome biomass six-fold. At MTN, the rough/brush surface reduced downy brome biomass 10-fold in the absence of imazapic. Across all four sites, forb and shrub biomass were higher with the high-forb mix, and there was no effect of seed mix on downy brome or annual forb biomass. Restoring a full complement of plant functional groups in big sagebrush ecosystems may be aided by increasing forbs in seed mixes, and manipulating soil microtopography.

Keywords

imazapic ammonium saltbig sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ARTR2downy brome, Bromus tectorum L. BROTECheatgrassmicrocatchmentmicrotopographypropagule supplyoil and gas developmentsage-grouseseed dispersal
Type
Research Article
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 408 - 424
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America

References

Literature Cited

Ahmed, J, Bonham, CD, Laycock, WA (1983) Comparison of techniques used for adjusting biomass estimates by double sampling. J Range Manage 36:217–221 10.2307/3898166Google Scholar
Aldridge, CL, Brigham, RM (2002) Sage-grouse nesting and brood habitat use in southern Canada. J Wildl Manage 66:433–444 Google Scholar
Aldridge, CL, Nielsen, SE, Beyer, HL, Boyce, MS, Connelly, JW, Knick, ST, Schroeder, MA (2008) Range-wide patterns of greater sage-grouse persistence. Divers Distrib 14:983–994 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2008.00502.xGoogle Scholar
Baker, WL, Garner, J, Lyon, P (2009) Effect of imazapic on cheatgrass and native plants in Wyoming big sagebrush restoration for Gunnison sage-grouse. Nat Area J 29:204–209 10.3375/043.029.0301Google Scholar
Bakker, JD, Wilson, SD (2004) Using ecological restoration to constrain biological invasion. J Appl Ecol 41:1058–1064 Google Scholar
Balch, JK, Bradley, BA, D'Antonio, CM, Gomez-Dans, J (2013) Introduced annual grass increases regional fire activity across the arid western USA (1980–2009). Glob Change Biol 19:173–183 Google Scholar
Barnes, TG (2004) Strategies to convert exotic grass pastures to tall grass prairie communities. Weed Technol 18:1364–1370 Google Scholar
Benayas, JMR, Newton, AC, Diaz, A, Bullock, JM (2009) Enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services by ecological restoration: A meta-analysis. Science 325:1121–1124 Google Scholar
Biondini, ME, Bonham, CD, Redente, EF (1985) Secondary successional patterns in a sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) community as they relate to soil disturbance and soil biological-activity. Vegetatio 60:25–36 10.1007/BF00053909Google Scholar
Bradford, JB, Lauenroth, WK (2006) Controls over invasion of Bromus tectorum: The importance of climate, soil, disturbance and seed availability. J Veg Sci 17:693–704 Google Scholar
Bradley, BA (2009) Regional analysis of the impacts of climate change on cheatgrass invasion shows potential risk and opportunity. Glob Change Biol 15:196–208 Google Scholar
Carter, DL, Blair, JM (2012) High richness and dense seeding enhance grassland restoration establishment but have little effect on drought response. Ecol Appl 22:1308–1319 Google Scholar
Chambers, JC (2000) Seed movements and seedling fates in disturbed sagebrush steppe ecosystems: Implications for restoration. Ecol Appl 10:1400–1413 Google Scholar
Chambers, JC, Roundy, BA, Blank, RR, Meyer, SE, Whittaker, A (2007) What makes Great Basin sagebrush ecosystems invasible by Bromus tectorum? Ecol Monogr 77:117–145 10.1890/05-1991Google Scholar
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (2013) Colorado oil and gas information system (COGIS). http://cogcc.state.co.us/. Accessed April 16, 2013.Google Scholar
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (2014) Wildlife Habitat Research. http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ResearchHabitat.aspx. Accessed September 3, 2014Google Scholar
Connelly, JW, Schroeder, MA, Sands, AR, Braun, CE (2000) Guidelines to manage sage grouse populations and their habitats. Wildl Soc Bull 28:967–985 Google Scholar
Cottrell, TR, Bonham, CD (1992) Characteristics of sites occupied by subspecies of Artemisia tridentata in the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Gt Basin Nat 52:174–178 Google Scholar
Cox, C (2003) Herbicide factsheet: Imazapic. Journal of Pesticide Reform 23.Google Scholar
Crawford, JA, Olson, RA, West, NE, Mosley, JC, Schroeder, MA, Whitson, TD, Miller, RF, Gregg, MA, Boyd, CS (2004) Synthesis paper - ecology and management of sage-grouse and sage-grouse habitat. J Range Manage 57:2–19 Google Scholar
Davies, KW (2010) Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe. Rangeland Ecol Manag 63:564–571 10.2111/REM-D-09-00127.1Google Scholar
Davies, KW, Boyd, CS, Beck, JL, Bates, JD, Svejcar, TJ, Gregg, MA (2011) Saving the sagebrush sea: An ecosystem conservation plan for big sagebrush plant communities. Biol Conserv 144:2573–2584 Google Scholar
Davies, KW, Nafus, AM (2013) Exotic annual grass invasion alters fuel amounts, continuity and moisture content. International Journal of Wildland Fire 22:353–358 10.1071/WF11161Google Scholar
Davies, KW, Nafus, AM, Sheley, RL (2010) Non-native competitive perennial grass impedes the spread of an invasive annual grass. Biol Invasions 12:3187–3194 10.1007/s10530-010-9710-2Google Scholar
Davies, KW, Sheley, RL (2011) Promoting native vegetation and diversity in exotic annual grass infestations. Restor Ecol 19:159–165 Google Scholar
de Souza, FM, Batista, JLF (2004) Restoration of seasonal semideciduous forests in Brazil: Influence of age and restoration design on forest structure. For Ecol Manage 191:185–200 10.1016/j.foreco.2003.12.006Google Scholar
Dickson, TL, Busby, WH (2009) Forb species establishment increases with decreased grass seeding density and with increased forb seeding density in a northeast Kansas, USA, experimental prairie restoration. Restor Ecol 17:597–605 Google Scholar
Duncan, CA, Jachetta, JJ, Brown, ML, Carrithers, VF, Clark, JK, DiTomaso, JM, Lym, RG, McDaniel, KC, Renz, MJ, Rice, PM (2004) Assessing the economic, environmental, and societal losses from invasive plants on rangeland and wildlands. Weed Technol 18:1411–1416 Google Scholar
Ebrahimi, A, Bossuyt, B, Hoffmann, M (2008) Effects of species aggregation, habitat and season on the accuracy of double-sampling to measure herbage mass in a lowland grassland ecosystem. Grass Forage Sci 63:79–85 Google Scholar
Elseroad, AC, Rudd, NT (2011) Can imazapic increase native species abundance in cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invaded native plant communities? Rangeland Ecol Manag 64:641–648 10.2111/REM-D-10-00163.1Google Scholar
Evans, RA (1961) Effects of different densities of downy brome (Bromus tectorum) on growth and survival of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) in the greenhouse. Weeds 9:216–223 Google Scholar
Gage, EA, Cooper, DJ (2004) Constraints on willow seedling survival in a Rocky Mountain montane floodplain. Wetlands 24:908–911 Google Scholar
Greenberg, CH (2002) Response of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to coarse woody debris and microsite use in southern Appalachian treefall gaps. For Ecol Manage 164:57–66 Google Scholar
Gupta, GN, Limba, NK, Mutha, S (1999) Growth of Prosopis cineraria on microcatchments in an arid region. Ann Arid Zone 38:37–44 Google Scholar
Hagen, CA, Connelly, JW, Schroeder, MA (2008) A meta-analysis of greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus nesting and brood-rearing habitats. Wildlife Biol 13 Suppl.1 42–50 Google Scholar
Harris, GA (1967) Some competitive relationships between Agropyron spicatum and Bromus tectorum . Ecol Monogr 37:89–111 Google Scholar
Hempy-Mayer, K, Pyke, DA (2008) Defoliation effects on Bromus tectorum seed production: Implications for grazing. Rangeland Ecol Manag 61:116–123 Google Scholar
Herrick, JE, Van Zee, JW, Havstad, KM, Burkett, LM, Whitford, WG (2005) Monitoring manual for grassland, shrubland and savanna ecosystems vol 1: Quick start. Las Cruces, NM USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range. 37 pGoogle Scholar
Hild, AL, Schuman, GE, Vicklund, LE, Williams, MI (2006) Canopy growth and density of Wyoming big sagebrush sown with cool-season perennial grasses. Arid Land Res Manag 20:183–194 Google Scholar
Hoelzle, TB, Jonas, JL, Paschke, MW (2012) Twenty-five years of sagebrush steppe plant community development following seed addition. J Appl Ecol 49:911–918 Google Scholar
Huwer, SL, Anderson, DR, Remington, TE, White, GC (2008) Using human-imprinted chicks to evaluate the importance of forbs to sage-grouse. J Wildl Manage 72:1622–1627 Google Scholar
Johnston, DB (2011) Movement of weed seeds in reclamation areas. Restor Ecol 19:446–449 Google Scholar
Kyser, GB, DiTomaso, JM, Doran, MP, Orloff, SB, Wilson, RG, Lancaster, DL, Lile, DF, Porath, ML (2007) Control of medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and other annual grasses with imazapic. Weed Technol 21:66–75 Google Scholar
Li, XY, Gao, SY, Xu, HY, Liu, LY (2006) Growth of Caragana korshinskii using runoff-collecting microcatchments under semiarid condition. J Hydrol 328:338–346 Google Scholar
McCay, TS (2000) Use of woody debris by cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) in a southeastern pine forest. J Mammal 81:527–535 Google Scholar
Montoya, D, Rogers, L, Memmott, J (2012) Emerging perspectives in the restoration of biodiversity-based ecosystem services. Trends Ecol Evol 27:666–672 Google Scholar
Monty, A, Brown, CS, Johnston, DB (2013) Fire promotes downy brome (B. tectorum) seed dispersal. Biol Invasions 15:1113–1123 Google Scholar
Morris, C, Monaco, TA, Rigby, C (2009) Variable impacts of imazapic on downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and seeded species in two rangeland communities. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 2:110–119 Google Scholar
Natural Resource Conservation Service (2011). Establishing native grasses. Conservation Reserve Program Job Sheet 2. United States Department of Agriculture Google Scholar
Newman, GJ, Redente, EF (2001) Long-term plant community development as influenced by revegetation techniques. J Range Manage 54:717–724 Google Scholar
Norton, JB, Monaco, TA, Norton, JM, Johnson, DA, Jones, TA (2004) Soil morphology and organic matter dynamics under cheatgrass and sagebrush-steppe plant communities. J Arid Environ 57:445–466 Google Scholar
Owen, SM, Sieg, CH, Gehring, CA (2011) Rehabilitating downy brome (Bromus tectorum)-invaded shrublands using imazapic and seeding with native shrubs. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 4:223–233 Google Scholar
Planz, JV, Kirkland, GL (1992) Use of woody ground litter as a substrate for travel by the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus. Can Field Nat106 118–121 Google Scholar
Redente, EF, Doerr, TB, Grygiel, CE, Biondini, ME (1984) Vegetation establishment and succession on disturbed soils in northwest Colorado. Reclam Reveg Res 3:153–165 Google Scholar
Roberts, SD, Harrington, CA, Terry, TA (2005) Harvest residue and competing vegetation affect soil moisture, soil temperature, N availability, and Douglas-fir seedling growth. For Ecol Manage 205:333–350 Google Scholar
Rowland, MM, Wisdom, MJ, Suring, LH, Meinke, CW (2006) Greater sage-grouse as an umbrella species for sagebrush-associated vertebrates. Biol Conserv 129:323–335 Google Scholar
Sbatella, GM, Wilson, RG, Enloe, SF, Hicks, C (2011) Propoxycarbazone-sodium and imazapic effects on downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and newly seeded perennial grasses. Invasive Plant Sci Manag 4:78–86 Google Scholar
Schroeder, MA, Aldridge, CL, Apa, AD, Bohne, JR, Braun, CE, Bunnell, SD, Connelly, JW, Deibert, PA, Gardner, SC, Hilliard, MA, Kobriger, GD, McAdam, SM, McCarthy, CW, McCarthy, JJ, Mitchell, DL, Rickerson, EV, Stiver, SJ (2004) Distribution of sage-grouse in North America. Condor 106:363–376 Google Scholar
Shackelford, N, Hobbs, RJ, Burgar, JM, Erickson, TE, Fontaine, JB, Laliberte, E, Ramalho, CE, Perring, MP, Standish, RJ (2013) Primed for change: Developing ecological restoration for the 21st century. Restor Ecol 21:297–304 Google Scholar
Shinneman, DJ, Baker, WL (2009) Environmental and climatic variables as potential drivers of post-fire cover of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in seeded and unseeded semiarid ecosystems. Int J Wildland Fire 18:191–202 Google Scholar
Sivy, KJ, Ostoja, SM, Schupp, EW, Durham, S (2011) Effects of rodent species, seed species, and predator cues on seed fate. Acta Oecol 37:321–328 Google Scholar
Society of Ecological Restoration International Science and Policy Working Group (2004). The SER international primer on ecological restoration. Tucson, AZ Society for Ecological Restoration International Google Scholar
Wassenaar, TD, Henschel, JR, Pfaffenthaler, MM, Mutota, EN, Seely, MK, Pallett, J (2013) Ensuring the future of the Namib's biodiversity: Ecological restoration as a key management response to a mining boom. J Arid Environ 93:126–135 Google Scholar
Whitson, TD, Koch, DW (1998) Control of downy brome (Bromus tectorum) with herbicides and perennial grass competition. Weed Technol 12:391–396 10.1017/S0890037X00043980Google Scholar
Wilson, SD, Bakker, JD, Christian, JM, Li, XD, Ambrose, LG, Waddington, J (2004) Semiarid old-field restoration: Is neighbor control needed? Ecol Appl 14:476–484 Google Scholar
Young, JA, Evans, RA, Eckert, RE, Kay, BL (1987) Cheatgrass. Rangelands 9:266–270 Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Johnston and Chapman supplementary material

Appendix

Download Johnston and Chapman supplementary material(File)
File 18.9 KB