Vegetational differences were studied among one active prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town and three towns which had been abandoned 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) were dominant on all four study areas. Percent cover of total vegetation, grasses, and increaser and invader species declined with length of abandonment. Percent cover of the only decreaser, western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), was similar on the abandoned towns and lowest on the active town. Composition of vegetation on the four study areas did not indicate that the usual stages of secondary succession on short grass prairie had occurred on the abandoned prairie dog towns. Most changes in vegetation following abandonment of 5 years or less by prairie dogs were apparently relatively minor and would not benefit cattle grazing significantly.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of clearcutting on moose (Alces alces americana) populations in northcentral Newfoundland. Fourteen logged areas of various size and age were sampled for potential standing forage and current use. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), white birch (Betula papyrifera), pin-cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), and willow (Salix spp.) were the most common forage species. Moose browsed most heavily upon pin-cherry, followed by birch and willow. Balsam fir was only lightly used. The most efficient sized plot for measuring browse production was found to be 6 m2. Available browse on balsam fir trees ≤5 m in height was measured by linear correlation with the product of stem diameter and height. Most winter browse was in cuts 8 to 10 years of age. The greatest use was in cuts 40 to 50 ha in size. A forest management plan which encourages a heterogeneous pattern of 40 to 50 ha block cuts and mature forest cover is suggested to be most compatible with the management of moose in northcentral Newfoundland.

Surface runoff waters from three kinds of activity on rangeland were examined for suspended solids and some indicator chemical constituents. We compared ungrazed brush-covered rangeland with recently subdivided rangeland, originally and still partly brush-covered, but whose surface was disturbed by man's urbanizing influence. Water quality indicators showed the urbanized watersheds had poorer water quality. Comparisons between the two brush-covered watersheds and a third-grass-covered and grazed-were made only on the runoff water's dissolved constituents. Despite the grazing activity, the waters were of better quality. A contrast in the geology between the grass and brush areas suggested that mineral sources affected qualitative changes in the dissolved solids. Calcareous soils produced waters higher in Ca and total dissolved solids and lower in other cations. Phosphate in runoff averaged higher from the grass-covered, noncalcareous area than from the brush-covered calcareous watershed. We hypothesize now that the phosphate originated from soil sources, rather than from grazing activity. Nitrate levels were comparable in runoff from all the nonurban areas, but increased in runoff from the semiurban area. Thus, the nonagricultural complex of activities associated with a housing development was more detrimental to water quality than those from undisturbed or grazed rangelands.

Fourwing saltbush plants produced less leader growth after 4 years of continuous cattle browsing than after 3 years of continuous browsing followed by 1 year of protection. Plants in pastures used in a rotation grazing system produced as much leader growth as protected plants.

Population dynamics of herbaceous and shrub species were investigated in big sagebrush/Thurber needlegrass communities burned in wildfires. The sites burned are representative of extensive areas of degraded rangelands in the central Great Basin. Herbaceous succession after wildfires in these communities is dominated by the dynamics of populations of the alien annual grass downy brome. Downy brome caryopses are greatly reduced by most large wildfires, but the plants originating from surviving downy brome caryopses respond dynamically to the released environmental potential. The response may include hybridization and recombination. The result is a purge of native annual species from the community and the failure of seedlings of native perennial grass species to become established. Root and crown sprouting of the native shrubs, green rabbitbrush and horsebrush, occurs after the wildfire has killed the dominant big sagebrush. Green rabbitbrush sprouts produce abundant achenes, which readily germinate and grow. The reestablishment of downy brome dominance predisposes the vegetation to recurring wildfires and cyclic environmental degradation.

An investigation of herbage yield, crude protein, and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) levels of ungrazed threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia Nutt.) was conducted over a 2-year period in western Nebraska. Threadleaf sedge contributed approximately 80% of the total herbage production on the study site. Crude protein varied from over 18% in late April to 5% or less in February. Levels of IVDMD varied from 69% in May to 51% in March. Levels of these quality factors were higher than those for most grasses throughout the year.

Twenty-eight herbicides or combinations of herbicides were evaluated for selecting control for kochia and Russian thistle in grasses desirable for roadside erosion control: sideoats grama, sand dropseed, western wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, and threeawn. Based on their ability to control weeds without injuring desirable grasses, treatments that were superior to the bromacil standard (2 lb/acre) were: bromoxynil at 0.5 and 1 lb/acre, dicamba at 1 lb/acre, and 2,4-D amine at 3 lb/acre.

The physical, biological, and chemical consequences of burning mountain range were monitored the year of a spring burn on the Gallatin National Forest, Montana. Two sites within the burn were intensively studied. Burning did not cause any major changes in soil chemical or physical properties. Significant soil chemical changes occurred regardless of the fire influence. Burning resulted in early reduction of basal cover of vegetation. This effect was decreased as the season advanced. A listing of species damaged by burning and favored by burning is provided.

Germinating seed of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) and Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus) were exposed to temporary drought, and the capacity for development of seminal lateral roots was then determined under conditions of favorable soil moisture. After a temporary drought of -370, -910, and -1580 bars, 75, 58, and 24% of the crested wheatgrass seedlings and 69, 20, and 6% of the Russian wildrye seedlings developed seminal lateral roots, respectively. Because actively growing seminal primary roots may be killed by temporary drought and because germinating seed and young seedlings lack the capacity for development of adventitious roots, the growth and survival of seedlings often may depend on the development of seminal lateral roots.

Polyethylene fishing net was used as fence material to construct low-cost portable deer enclosures to pen tame and semitame mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) for diet observations. Three workers could disassemble and set up a 225m2 pen at a new location in approximately 1.5 hours.