Current research | Past research

Current research

Considerable acreage of range and wildlands in Utah has been depleted of the quality and quantity of shrubs and herbs necessary to support healthy populations of game animals. While depletion has occurred much more widely on winter ranges, some important summer ranges are also lacking quality plants. Overgrazing by livestock and big game, wildfires (and the lack of wildfires), construction, mining, energy development, urban sprawl, defense work, certain land management practices and the natural consequences of plant succession, have all acted to reduce both the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat.
 

• Selection, Testing and Development of Adapted Plant Species and/or Ecotypes for Improving Wildlife Habitat
  The need to improve existing habitat through restoration and/or management is undisputed among Western land managers. If game populations are to be maintained at present levels, productivity of the remaining habitat must be greatly increased. A variety of commercially available plant materials (grasses, forbs and shrubs) is needed to meet habitat restoration objectives. This research will improve the quality of forage on rangelands and provide quality habitat for wildlife species.
  
  
• Invasion and Spread of Weeds
  On rangelands have degraded thousands of acres of once productive wildlife habitat and livestock rangelands. Control of weedy species that negatively impact habitat and rangeland is being studied. For example, studies are underway that evaluate control of weedy species through plant competition from desirable plants.
  
  
• Evaluation of Treatment Methods Used To Improve Wildlife Habitat
  A majority of winter and spring wildlife ranges in Utah which need improvement are within the juniper-pinyon and sagebrush types. To maintain or improve wildlife populations, improvement in forage quality, quantity, availability and cover are needed. Following a restoration project an assessment of each species (seeded or endemic) as a component of the community and as a provider of forage or cover, needs to be evaluated. With evaluation of the performance of on-site species and seeded species, more reliable decisions can be made relative to further habitat restoration projects.
  
  
• Development of Planting Guidelines and Equipment for Establishment of Selected Species on Wildlife Ranges
  Historically, seeding operations have involved a limited number of species. Now that emphasis is being placed on seeding mixtures of species, the technology (equipment and techniques) must be refined for obtaining good results. Through the cooperative effort with the Shrub Lab, progress has been made in developing range restoration equipment that can be used to restore rangelands, but there are still short-comings. Equipment needs to be evaluated in actual field operations before it can be recommended for use in large-scale projects. There is also a need to understand germination requirements and how they affect seeding techniques, seedling establishment and seeding success.
  
  
• Production, Harvest and Testing of Seed for Selected Plant Species Used To Improve Wildlife Habitat
  Seed availability and cost for many wildiand species is a serious obstacle in carrying out many wildlife habitat restoration projects. Many species and ecotypes have been tested and judged valuable in habitat restoration. Sufficient quantity and quality of seed of many species are not available. Seed production in wildland situations is sporadic. At the present time, most shrub and native forb seeds must be gathered from wildiand stands. Information gained from studies on this project has resulted in an increased awareness and use of native species in restoration plantings and a move away from revegetation plantings. Research is required to develop the methodology and to demonstrate that seed production can be done. For some species, seed collection, cleaning, handling and storage techniques need to be developed and improved.
  
  
• Evaluation of Plant Species and Cover Changes on Winter and Spring Wildlife Ranges after Juniper-Pinyon Eradication — As May Be Affected Collectively or Alone by Deer, Rabbits or Livestock
  A majority of game winter and spring game ranges in Utah are within the juniper-pinyon type. Many of these ranges are in poor condition, yet have high potential. These areas will continue to decline in quality as juniper and pinyon expansion continues unchecked. Improvement of depleted pinyon-juniper ranges is imperative. There is a direct need to assess the progress and development of these seeded communities, how they develop, how long they can maintain themselves, how they are impacted by climate, interspecific competition , and grazing by deer, rabbits and livestock. Correct analysis of the value of a species in regard to its ability to persist and provide forage as a component in a mixture must be made where grazing of different kinds of animals alone and together occur. The segregated influence of grazing use on seeded ranges by deer, rabbits and livestock, as well as collectively, will be helpful in developing future management and seeding practices on extensive restored game ranges.
  
  
• Evaluation of Aspen Treatments, and the Effect of Grazing by Wildlife and Livestock, on Aspen Regeneration and the Secondary Succession of Understory Vegetation
  Aspen ecosystem health is an excellent indicator of ecological integrity. Aspen communities support an array of plant and wildlife species and have extremely high biological diversity. Unfortunately, aspen is declining throughout Utah. Aspen habitat types provide highly palatable forage for elk, deer and livestock. Aspen, however, are sensitive to repeated browsing. A complex interaction of variables including, invasion of conifers and sagebrush, lack of fire, climatic variations, and grazing by domestic livestock and wildlife have contributed in the decline of aspen forests in Utah and the concomitant conversion to less productive vegetative types. The aspen type in many locations is the primary spring, summer and fall habitat for deer, elk and many wildlife species. As the aspen stands are lost, so is the wildlife habitat.
  
  
• Improvement of Big Game Habitat in the Mountain Brush and Aspen Types Following Fire, Seedings and Other Community Alteration Practices
  The mountain brush and aspen are the two most vegetative, potentially productive types in Utah. These two types, along with the pinyon-juniper are extremely important to game animals. One practical, effective technique for improving these types appear to be taking advantage of fire. Some areas require seeding following burning, others may not. Little information is available on when to seed, seeding rates, desirable species to seed and seeding mixtures.
  
  
• Evaluation of Mid to High Elevation Meadows and Forb Communities Over Time and as Affected by Grazing of Wildlife and Livestock
  Mid- to high-elevation rangelands and meadows associated with the aspen community type can be highly productive providing forage and cover for wildlife and livestock. Historically the mid to high elevation ranges in Utah have been heavily used. Intensive grazing by sheep and cattle belonging to early settlers initiated devastative vegetative and soil degradation. When the Forest Service was established in the early 1900's it began to somewhat manage livestock numbers. The unstable soils and vegetation on most areas responded to this reduced grazing pressure. Due to the changes in soil conditions and vegetation composition, the natural recovery has been slow. The process of natural recovery of the vegetative communities and soils in areas removed from grazing, and areas being grazed with less numbers is not well documented. There is a need to understand what the long term effects of various levels of grazing are on mid to high elevation ranges. There is limited understanding of plant community development and succession on rangelands at differing grazing pressures. Even less documented is the effect that present levels of grazing by both livestock and wildlife, and the competitive influence of undesirable aggressive species, have on the development and dynamics of high elevation meadow communities. With a better understanding of vegetative species and communities response to differing amount and classes of use, managers will be better equipped to make good management decisions and to understand and deal with livestock big game conflicts.