Elk and Bison Grazing Ecology in the San Luis Valley, Colorado Active
Managers need information on the grazing ecology of bison and elk in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve to develop science-based management alternatives.
This study will determine elk and bison population status and movements, effects of herbivory, and suitable habitat and population potential in the park. From these data scientists will develop an elk/bison grazing model that includes grazing as a significant natural ecological process and protects sensitive native plant communities. The study will also provide information for developing a predictive model to be used in a planning process for management agencies, and includes monitoring the effects of treatments and new experiments on the distribution and movements of elk.
Return to Herbivore-Ecosystem Interactions or Ecosystem Dynamics
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Herbivore-Ecosystem Interactions
Below are publications associated with this project.
Estimated abundance of wild burros surveyed on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 2014
Modeling elk and bison carrying capacity for Great Sand Dunes National Park, Baca National Wildlife Refuge, and The Nature Conservancy's Medano Ranch, Colorado
Fort Collins Science Center Ecosystem Dynamics branch--interdisciplinary research for addressing complex natural resource issues across landscapes and time
Ecology of bison, elk, and vegetation in an arid ecosystem
Ungulate herbivory on alpine willow in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado
- Overview
Managers need information on the grazing ecology of bison and elk in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve to develop science-based management alternatives.
This study will determine elk and bison population status and movements, effects of herbivory, and suitable habitat and population potential in the park. From these data scientists will develop an elk/bison grazing model that includes grazing as a significant natural ecological process and protects sensitive native plant communities. The study will also provide information for developing a predictive model to be used in a planning process for management agencies, and includes monitoring the effects of treatments and new experiments on the distribution and movements of elk.
Return to Herbivore-Ecosystem Interactions or Ecosystem Dynamics
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Herbivore-Ecosystem Interactions
Data from these studies help inform management decisions regarding ungulates on public lands, typically in large, jurisdictionally complex landscapes. Recent work involves investigations on the effects of herd size and movements of elk, bison, and wild horses on various ecosystem components. Specifically, scientific efforts include quantifying interactions among herbivores, plants, and soils... - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Estimated abundance of wild burros surveyed on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 2014
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires accurate estimates of the numbers of wild horses (Equus ferus caballus) and burros (Equus asinus) living on the lands it manages. For over ten years, BLM in Arizona has used the simultaneous double-observer method of recording wild burros during aerial surveys and has reported population estimates for those surveys that come from two formulations of a LAuthorsPaul C. GriffinModeling elk and bison carrying capacity for Great Sand Dunes National Park, Baca National Wildlife Refuge, and The Nature Conservancy's Medano Ranch, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the neighboring Baca National Wildlife Refuge constitute an extraordinary setting that offers a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and natural resource preservation in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Adjacent to these federal lands, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) manages the historic Medano Ranch. The total land area of these three conserAuthorsGary Wockner, Randall Boone, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Linda ZeigenfussFort Collins Science Center Ecosystem Dynamics branch--interdisciplinary research for addressing complex natural resource issues across landscapes and time
The Ecosystem Dynamics Branch of the Fort Collins Science Center offers an interdisciplinary team of talented and creative scientists with expertise in biology, botany, ecology, geology, biogeochemistry, physical sciences, geographic information systems, and remote-sensing, for tackling complex questions about natural resources. As demand for natural resources increases, the issues facing naturalAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cynthia P. Melcher, Juliette T. WilsonEcology of bison, elk, and vegetation in an arid ecosystem
Herbivory has profound effects on vegetation production and structure in many different plant communities. The influence of herbivory on plants and ultimately ecosystem processes is shaped by the types of plants consumed, the intensity of herbivory, the evolutionary history of grazing, and the availability of water and nutrients to plants. The effect of ungulate herbivores on vegetation is of greaAuthorsKathryn A. SchoeneckerUngulate herbivory on alpine willow in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado
In many areas of the Rocky Mountains, elk (Cervus elaphus) migrate from low-elevation mountain valleys during spring to high-elevation subalpine and alpine areas for the summer. Research has focused on the impacts of elk herbivory on winter-range plant communities, particularly on woody species such as willow and aspen; however, little information is available on the effects of elk herbivory on alAuthorsLinda Zeigenfuss, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, L.K.V. Amburg