@article {JRN55132,
	title = {Small mammal herbivory and grassland recovery potential in the Chihuahuan Desert},
	journal = {Journal of Arid Environments},
	volume = {166},
	year = {2019},
	month = {07/2019},
	pages = {11-16},
	chapter = {11},
	abstract = {<p>In many arid ecosystems, shrub encroachment is associated with the loss of valuable perennial grasses. Increased native rodent and lagomorph abundance associated with shrub encroachment can have negative effects on grass persistence and restoration. In the Chihuahuan Desert, herbivore abundance can be up to two times greater in degraded Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) shrublands than in intact Bouteloua eriopoda\&nbsp;(black grama) grasslands. We tested the\&nbsp;recovery potential of B. eriopoda\&nbsp;patches in shrub-dominated, grass-dominated and ecotone (grass and shrub co-dominated) states that were exposed to or protected from native rodent and lagomorph herbivores. Herbivore exclosures and control quadrats\&nbsp;were established in a replicated blocked\&nbsp;design.\&nbsp;A disturbance of 40cm x 40cm was created in the center of a B. eriopoda grass patch\&nbsp;in each treatment quadrat\&nbsp;in 2001, whereby all above ground biomass was removed in order to examine the ability of\&nbsp;B. eriopoda to recolonize disturbed areas. The disturbed areas were measured for recruitment and re-establishment of\&nbsp;B. eriopoda\&nbsp;in 2002, 2005 and 2008.\&nbsp;Although herbivore abundance was greater in shrub-dominated states than the other states for the given time periods, there was little difference in recruitment and re-establishment\&nbsp;of\&nbsp;B. eriopoda among\&nbsp;states and in response to rodent exclusion. Because increased herbivore abundance in shrub-dominated states\&nbsp;did\&nbsp;not constrain grass recovery potential, other factors are likely to be more important constraints on perennial grasses recovery in the Chihuahuan Desert.<br />
\&nbsp;</p>
},
	keywords = {Bouteloua eriopoda, Chihuahan Desert, herbivory, perennial grass regeneration, prosopis glandulosa, rodents},
	doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.04.001},
	url = {files/bibliography/19-013.pdf},
	author = {L.N. Svejcar and Brandon T Bestelmeyer and D. K. James and Debra C. Peters}
}
