@conference {JRN55435, title = {Calculation of daily distance walked by grazing cattle using real-time activity and position data collected by LORA-WAN sensors}, booktitle = {2nd U.S. Precision Livestock Farming Conference}, year = {2023}, month = {12/12/2022}, abstract = {LoRa-WAN sensors were used to compare methods for determining walking distances by grazing cattle in near real-time. The accuracy of relying on a global positioning system (GPS) alone or in combination with motion data derived from triaxial accelerometers was compared using stationary control trackers (Control) placed in fixed field locations (n=6) vs. trackers (Test) mounted on cows (n=6) grazing on pasture at the New Mexico State University{\textquoteright}s Clayton Livestock Research Center. Trackers communicated motion data at 1-minute intervals and GPS positions at 15-minute intervals for seven days. Daily distance walked was determined using: 1) raw GPS data (RawDist), 2) data with erroneous GPS locations removed (CorrDist), or 3) data with erroneous GPS locations removed and with GPS data associated with the static state excluded (CorrActDist). Distances were analyzed via one-way ANOVA to compare Control vs. Test deployment effects. No difference (P=0.43) in walking distance was detected between Control vs. Test for RawDist. However, distances calculated for CorrDist differed (P<0.01) between the two tracker deployments. Due to the random error of GPS measurements, CorrDist for stationary devices differed (P=0.01) from zero. The walking distance calculated by CorrActDist differed (P<0.01) between Control vs. Test trackers, with distances for Control trackers not differing (P=0.44) from zero. The fusion of GPS and accelerometer data was a more suitable method for calculating walking distance by grazing cattle. This result may highlight the value of combining more than one source of independent sensor data in Precision Livestock Farming applications.}, keywords = {compare methods, grazing cattle, LoRa-WAN sensors, Real-time, walking distances}, author = {Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e, Shelemia and Duff, Glenn and Utsumi, Santiago. A. and Estell, Rick E. and McIntosh, Matthew. M. and M. Funk and Andrew Cox and Huiping Cao and H. Chen and Sheri Spiegal and Perea, A. and Rahman, A.F. and Cibils, Andres F.} } @article {JRN55375, title = {Lessons given and learned from rangeland monitoring courses}, journal = {Rangelands}, volume = {44}, year = {2022}, month = {3/1/2022}, pages = {29-38}, abstract = {On the Ground {\textbullet} Monitoring courses, offered at universities and through professional training, are critical to successfully collecting and applying rangeland monitoring data. {\textbullet} Instructors can meet course objectives by carefully considering course content, the target audience, delivery approaches, evaluation mechanisms, and training for new instructors. {\textbullet} Shared principles and practices taught in monitoring courses facilitate the rangeland management community in achieving desired outcomes through adaptive management.}, keywords = {academia, active learning, hybrid courses, learning style, teaching style, training}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.08.003}, url = {files/bibliography/22-007.pdf}, author = {Beth Newingham and Emily Kachergis and Amy Ganguli and Baili Foster and Lauren Price and Sarah McCord} } @proceedings {JRN55396, title = {Field testing of LoRa-WAN sensors for real-time tracking and biosensing of Brangus and Raramuri Criollo cattle foraging on a small pasture}, year = {2022}, month = {3/21/2022}, abstract = {The study{\textquoteright}s objective was to investigate the use of Internet of Things (IoT) biosensors using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRa-WAN) communication to compare the foraging behavior of two desert adapted cattle breeds. Two groups of mature Brangus (BA) and Raramuri Criollo (RC) cows were introduced into a small pasture (38ha) of native grassland and irrigated winter wheat at the New Mexico State University Clayton Livestock Research Center during Dec-Jan, 2021 (41-days). The real-time position and activity count data (15- and 1-minute interval, respectively) were retrieved continuously from 4 BA and 5 RC cows collared with commercially available trackers. Response variables derived from GPS records included daily distance traveled (Dist) and daily area explored (Area). Response variables derived from accelerometers included daily percentage motion (\%Act) and cumulative activity data (CumAct). All variables were grouped into six consecutive weekly periods and analyzed by a repeated measures mixed model that included the fixed effects of BREED, WEEK, and the BREED*WEEK interaction in a completely randomized design. A significant BREED*WEEK interaction was detected on all GPS-derived variables, with RC exhibiting a trend to explore larger areas than BA (P=0.06). For the accelerometer-derived variables, the BREED*WEEK interaction was only significant for CumAct. Overall, BA spent a larger percentage of the day active (\%Act), while investing a significantly~ greater overall activity (CumAct) compared to RC cows. The lack of sensitivity of GPS-derived variables is hypothesized to be the result of aggregating errors associated with less frequent GPS location measurements coupled with position errors (~5m) and a low success rate of data packet transmission (~40\%). In contrast, the more frequent inherent data packaging of successive accelerometer data represented as cumulative guaranteed low data loss rates. The spatial scale of the study is hypothesized to have influenced the differences in foraging behavior observed between breeds and the better performance of the accelerometer vs. GPS-derived variables. }, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and G. Duff and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and S. A. Utsumi and M. Funk and Andrew Cox and Qixu Gong and S. Spiegal and V. Gouvea and Carolina Brandani} } @proceedings {JRN55395, title = {Heritage Raramuri Criollo cattle production as a potential strategy for conservation of black grama in the Chihuahuan Desert}, year = {2022}, month = {3/21/2022}, abstract = {The Chihuahuan desert ecosystem has experienced a decrease in black grama, a perennial grass species with high ecological value for protecting desert topsoil, along with a subsequent increase in mesquite. This trend is thought to be due to several management- and environment-related factors. We compared diet selection of a heritage Raramuri Criollo (RC) vs. Angus-X-Hereford (AH) cattle, typical of the region, using fecal DNA metabarcoding by a commercial laboratory to determine the proportion of black grama and mesquite in samples. RC and AH cows grazed two adjacent pastures (~1100 ha) separately, switched at the mid-point of each period. Rectal fecal samples collected from 10 cows per breed each period. The study was replicated across seasons (growing and dormant) for three consecutive years (240 total fecal samples) in a completely randomized design. Relative abundance of plant species was ranked over the entire study and by season. The MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 was used to analyze the relative proportions of black grama and mesquite in fecal samples by breed, season, year, and all interactions. Black grama was a more important forage resource than mesquite (ranked 8 vs. 11), particularly during dormancy (ranked 3 vs. 7). When examined by breed, AH had twice the percentage of black grama vs. RC (P<0.05) and even more so during the dormant season (P<0.05). In contrast, RC fecal samples tended to contain a higher percentage of mesquite (P=0.05). Adjustments for dry matter intake (relative to BW) by breed (545 vs. 350 kg mean BW for AH vs. RC respectively) suggests that AH consumed 3.09 fold more black grama while RC consumed 1.59 times more of mesquite. Differences in diet composition documented in this study support the hypothesis that RC cattle could impose a lighter grazing pressure on the black grama community and potentially be utilized as a conservation tool on Chihuahuan Desert rangeland.}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Richard E. Estell and D. K. James and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal and S. A. Utsumi} } @article {JRN55345, title = {Movement, activity, and landscape use patterns of heritage and commercial beef cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {199}, year = {2022}, month = {01/03/2022}, pages = {104704}, abstract = {Highlights {\textbullet}Raramuri Criollo cows (heritage breed) exhibited more desirable spatial distribution patterns (traveled farther, spent more time grazing and traveling, and explored larger areas of the pasture) than commercial beef breed counterparts. {\textbullet}Breed differences in resource selection and utilization were largest during the dormant season. {\textbullet}Raramuri Criollo (heritage breed) could have a lighter footprint on desert rangeland compared to Angus Hereford crossbred (commercial breed) cattle. The objective of this study was to compare foraging behavior of mature Raramuri Criollo (RC, heritage breed) and Angus Hereford crossbred (AH, commercial breed) cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland during summer and winter in three consecutive years. Movement, activity, and spatial distribution variables were calculated from 10-min interval GPS positions of 5{\textendash}11 randomly selected cows of each breed. Thirteen pasture pixel attributes were used to analyze grazing utilization and selection patterns of both breeds. Statistical mixed models were used to determine the effects of breed and season on all foraging response variables. Spatial regression analysis was used to examine resource utilization. Compared to AH, RC cows traveled farther at higher velocity rates, spent less time resting, more time grazing and traveling, explored larger areas as individuals, and exhibited lower herd cohesion. The RC herd explored more grazing patches (30-m pixel) overall and exhibited lower patch residence times in winter, a foraging strategy linked with lighter environmental footprint. During summer, similar pixel variables explained re-visitation rates of cows of both breeds. Both breeds avoided areas far from water, but RC cows showed higher avoidance of pixels farther out from a drinker during the dormant season. RC cows appeared to exhibit a keener ability to select patches with differing surface temperature, and greenness compared to AH counterparts. RC cows showed higher preference for pixels with high shrub density than AH counterparts in summer. During the dormant season, AH cows exhibited a strong preference for black grama patches, a species with high ecological value, and higher avoidance of patches with high density of other grasses. Differences in foraging behavior documented in this study support the hypothesis that RC cattle could impose a lighter footprint on desert rangeland relative to commonly raised commercial beef cattle.}, keywords = {beef cattle, foraging behavior, GPS tracking, habitat selection, Raramuri Criollo}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104704}, url = {files/bibliography/22-003.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and D. VanLeeuwen and S. Spiegal and Caitriana Steele and Amy L. Gonzalez and Matthew M. McIntosh and Qixu Gong and Huiping Cao} } @proceedings {JRN55363, title = {Real-time LoRaWAN precision ranching technologies: What we{\textquoteright}ve learned}, year = {2022}, month = {2/8/2022}, abstract = {We tested a precision livestock farming (PLF) system deployed across 4000-ha of Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland (trial 1; T1) and 130-ha of wheat pasture (trial 2; T2) over three (March-May 2020) and one month (October 2020), respectively. The PLF system included a LoRa WAN Kerlink{\textregistered} iStation gateway, deployed either using solar power and WiFi Backhaul communication or off-grid power and Ethernet connection. Tested sensors were Abeeway{\textregistered} Industrial trackers (IT) and Decentlab{\textregistered} sensors to monitor precipitation and water level in a cattle drinking trough. In T1, the battery power of IT deployed on beef cattle (n = 43) dropped from 100 to ~35\% over the three-month trial and GPS data packets programmed to be recorded at 15-min intervals were recovered at ~0.08 {\textendash} 1.3-hour intervals yielding between 46 to 80\% of expected GPS fixes. Variation in GPS data acquisition was associated with distance to the gateway base station and oscillations in solar power and backhaul WiFi signal. In T2, stationary IT deployed either indoors (n = 5) or outdoors (n = 6) were programmed to collect GPS locations and acceleration data at 1-min and 15-min intervals, respectively. More frequent and reliable GPS data packet acquisition was recorded with IT deployed outdoors (in T2; bias = 5.20 m) compared to IT deployed indoors (in T2; bias = 17.76 m) and those deployed in T1. Except for a few cases of background noise, accelerometer data were almost non-existent due to the static deployment of IT in T2 (powersaving function). Results from our case studies suggest the feasibility of mounting a fully operational LoRaWAN system for PLF on extensive rangelands. Our studies also identified areas for improvement of LoRa WAN infrastructure and data communication, analysis and visualization to further enhance uses of real-time biosensing of animals and monitoring of ranching infrastructure in commercial PLF applications. }, keywords = {LoRaWAN, precision ranching, Real-time, technologies}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and S. A. Utsumi and Richard E. Estell and Andrew Cox and Danielle Duni and V. Gouvea and Carolina Brandani and G. Duff and Qixu Gong and Tony Waterhouse and J P Holland and Huiping Cao and LE Boucheron and H. Chen and S. Spiegal} } @conference {JRN55407, title = {Training beef cattle to use virtual fence systems}, booktitle = {2nd US Precision Livestock Farming Conference May 2023}, year = {2022}, month = {08/03/2022}, abstract = {Virtual fencing (VF) is an alternative method to control livestock dispersal. This method consists of the use of animal wearable collars that employ auditory-electric pulse cues to deter animals from trespassing a virtually determined fence boundary. Despite VF suggesting promising applications for Precision Livestock Farming, there is limited information on best practices to train groups of cattle to VF configurations effectively. Eleven Brangus cows of the New Mexico State University{\textquoteright}s Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center were allocated three days to feeding areas (0.19 ha) treated with or without VF exclusions. The process was repeated for two periods (1 vs. 2), lasting six days each. The VF collars communicated real-time animal positions and activity at 15-minute and 30-minute intervals. Treatment effects of study (with vs. without VF-exclusion), period, and its interaction were analyzed via an ANOVA to compare auditory-electric pulses emitted during the deployment. The number of auditory-electric pulses per cow differed (P < 0.001) due to a study by period interaction. Exposure to VF in period 1 triggered a greater (P <0.003) frequency of auditory (3.3 vs. 0.7 {\textpm}0.3) and pulses (1.3 vs. 0.1 {\textpm}0.1) per cow than in period 2. Activation of VF reduced differently (P =0.05) the time spent on excluded areas in period 1 (7.8 vs. 1.7 {\textpm}0.4 h) and period 2 (4.8 vs. 0.0 {\textpm}0.4 h) due to treatment by period interaction. Results indicate that cows adjusted rapidly to VF configurations by minimizing the frequency of pulses and relying increasingly on auditory to alter behavior.}, keywords = {animal wearable collars, beef cattle, fence boundary, training, virtual fence systems}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andrew Cox and Perea, A. and Richard E. Estell and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and J P Holland and Tony Waterhouse and G. Duff and M. Funk and Skye Aney and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal and Brandon T Bestelmeyer and S. A. Utsumi} } @proceedings {JRN55397, title = {The use of heritage cattle breeds as a mitigation strategy for solving new challenges imposed by climate change in Chihuahuan Desert rangelands of the southwestern United States}, year = {2022}, month = {8/10/2022}, abstract = {The study{\textquoteright}s objective involves a compilation of four publications comparing conventional (Angus X Hereford; AH) vs. heritage (Raramuri Criollo; RC) breeds foraging habits, heat tolerance, and cow-calf interactions using telemetry devices under the context of a future mitigation strategy of climate change. AH and RC cows grazed separately in two adjacent pastures in a crossover design during summer and winter for three consecutive years. Rectal fecal samples were collected twice in each cow{\textquoteright}s deployment to analyze diet composition. A subgroup of individuals in each herd was fitted with sensors to track their location (GPS collars), body temperature (iButton loggers), and cow-calf contact events (Proximity loggers). RC cows traveled farther, spent less time resting, more time grazing, and explored larger areas than their AH counterparts. RC cows showed a higher preference for patches with high shrub density and avoided areas with a high density of black grama during winter, consistent with the fDNA analysis on diet composition. During summer, RC cows maintained a lower body temperature than their AH counterparts, providing additional evidence for the differences observed in foraging patterns. RC calves appeared to impose fewer constraints on their dams{\textquoteright} movement and activity patterns. Nursing RC dams covered a daily grazing area almost three times larger than their AH counterparts. Differences in foraging strategies documented in this study provide support for the hypothesis that Raramuri Criollo (heritage breed) cattle are better equipped to cope with hotter and drier climates and better able to use forage resources that are becoming increasingly variable in space and time.}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and S. A. Utsumi and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal} } @conference {JRN55423, title = {Virtual fencing of nursing cattle grazing large pastures of Chihuahuan Desert rangelands}, booktitle = {Society for Range Management}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Virtual fencing (VF) is an emerging technology to control livestock dispersal. This technology includes collars that employ auditory-electric pulse cues to deter animals from trespassing into excluded zones. Our objective was to investigate VF application on extensive rangelands. VF-trained nursing Brangus cows were grazed in a 480 ha pasture at the New Mexico State University{\textquoteright}s Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center with the VF deactivated (control) or activated using three different polygon configurations. The VF-activated polygons excluded cattle from grazing either the East (209ha), West (200ha), or preferred Vegetation PV (80ha) within the pasture. Each pasture deployment lasted a week and the process was repeated on two groups of 11 and 18 cows, respectively. We analyzed 1) foraging behavior differences (control vs. VF-activated); 2) percentage of daily GPS locations within the excluded zones (control vs. VF-activated); and 3) number of auditory-electric pulses emitted during each VF-activated configuration (Excluded blocks East, West, or PV). The data were analyzed via an ANOVA to compare daily-derived variables. Cattle covered larger areas during control vs. VF-activated deployments (134.2 vs. 86.9ha P=0.04) with no differences in distance traveled nor cumulative activity index derived from the in-built motion sensors. When compared to the control, all VF-activated configurations significantly reduced the percentage of GPS positions within the excluded zone (East 52.27 vs. 0.67\%GPS P0<.01; West 18.49 vs. 0.49\%GPS P<0.01; PV 19.90 vs. 3.04\%GPS P<0.01; control vs. VF-activated respectively). Significantly (P<0.01) higher audio and electric pulses (2.09, 0.51 respectively) were emitted during the PV trials compared to East (1.12, 0.17) or West (1.12, 0.14) blocks. In conclusion, VF holds promise in controlling spatial exploration patterns of cattle in extensive rangelands. Polygon configuration requires further research to understand trade-offs between animal welfare and effective management.}, keywords = {cattle grazing, Chihuahuan Desert, large pastures, nursing, rangelands, virtual fencing}, author = {Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e, Shelemia and Andrew Cox and Perea, A. and Matthew M. McIntosh and Richard E. Estell and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Holland, J. and Tony Waterhouse and G. Duff and M. Funk and Skye Aney and S. Spiegal and Brandon T Bestelmeyer and S. A. Utsumi} } @article {JRN55328, title = {Foraging behavior and body temperature of heritage vs. commercial beef cows in relation to desert ambient heat}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {193}, year = {2021}, month = {6/20/2021}, pages = {104565}, abstract = {We studied foraging patterns of Raramuri Criollo (heritage breed, {\textquotedblleft}RC{\textquotedblright}) and Angus x Hereford (commercial beef breed, {\textquotedblleft}AH{\textquotedblright}) cows in relation to ambient heat and body temperature during summer (2016 and 2017) and winter (2017 and 2018) in the Chihuahuan Desert. Cows of each breed grazed separately in two adjacent pastures (~1100 ha) in a crossover design for four weeks in each season/year. Animals were fitted with temperature loggers attached to blank CIDRs (Controlled Internal Drug Release device) devoid of hormones that recorded body temperature (BodyT), and GPS collars that recorded position and ambient temperature (CollarT). All sensor data were logged at 10 min intervals. A landscape thermal map (LandT) was developed from Landsat satellite imagery for habitat analysis using GPS locations chosen by individual collared cows, and air temperature (AirT) was recorded by a nearby weather station. Data were analyzed within four daytime segments: dawn (sunrise {\textendash} 9AM); pre-noon (9AM {\textendash} noon); post-noon (noon {\textendash} 3PM); and dusk (3PM {\textendash} sunset). ANOVA was used to determine whether BodyT, CollarT, LandT selection, or animal movement variables within each of the four daily segments differed (P < 0.05) for RC vs. AH cows. BodyT and CollarT increased as day progressed in both seasons. During summer, RC had lower BodyT and higher CollarT than AH (P < 0.05) during the hottest hours of the day. Increasing AirT throughout the day was associated with selection of cooler LandT in RC but not AH during summer. In winter, both breeds selected warmer landscape locations as the day progressed. Compared to AH, RC cows traveled farther, at higher velocities, and spent more time grazing and traveling and less time resting, with largest breed differences observed during the hottest hours of summer days. These results suggest that Raramuri Criollo cows exhibited higher thermotolerance than did AH. Elevated ambient summer temperatures in the Chihuahuan Desert appear to impose fewer constraints on heritage RC movement patterns compared to mainstream commercial AH cows.}, keywords = {Chihuahuan Desert, climate change, Raramuri Criollo, thermotolerance}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104565}, url = {files/bibliography/21-038.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Matthew M. McIntosh and D. VanLeeuwen and Caitriana Steele and Amy L. Gonzalez and S. Spiegal and Leonel Avenda{\~n}o Reyes and Felipe A. Rodr{\'\i}g Almeida and Martha Anderson} } @article {JRN55271, title = {Foraging Behavior of Heritage versus Desert-Adapted Commercial Rangeland Beef Cows in Relation to Dam-Offspring Contact Patterns}, journal = {Rangeland Ecology \& Management}, volume = {74}, year = {2021}, month = {11-02-2021}, pages = {43-49}, abstract = {We compared cow-calf contacts, as well as movement, activity, and pasture use patterns of heritage Raramuri Criollo (RC) and desert-adapted commercial Angus Hereford crossbred (AH) beef cattle grazing Chihuahuan Desert pastures during 4 wk in the summers of 2016 and 2017. Within each herd of 11 cow-calf pairs, a group of 7 -9 randomly elected cows were fitted with Global Positioning System collars that recorded animal position at 10-min intervals. Proximity loggers configured to record contact events ( < 1-m radius) were fitted on a subset of five cow-calf pairs of each breed. The effect of breed on cow-calf contacts, as well as the dams{\textquoteright} movement, activity, and pasture use patterns were analyzed via mixed analysis of variance models. A higher number of RC cow-calf contacts occurred while the dam was grazing and traveling compared with AH counterparts ( P <=0.05). No breed-related differences were observed in the overall number and duration of cow-calf contact events. Compared with AH dams, RC cows traveled farther each day (RC: 7.51 vs. AH: 4.85 km, P < 0.01) at higher movement velocities (5.46 vs. 3.53 m. min -1 , P < 0.01) and spent more time traveling (1.05 vs. 0.48 h, P < 0.01), more time grazing (9.37 vs. 7.45 h, P < 0.01), and less time resting (13.07 vs. 15.68 h, P < 0.01). RC cows explored almost three times more daily area than AH (152.30 vs. 57.69 ha, P = 0.01) but spent similar amounts of time within 200 m and 100 m of a drinker. RC calves explored larger daily areas than their AH counterparts (83.0 vs. 20.8 ha, P = 0.05), but no breed differences were detected in the number of contact events near drinkers. RC calves possibly impose fewer constraints on their dams{\textquoteright} movement and activity patterns compared with commonly used British crossbreds when grazing the Chihuahuan Desert during summer.}, keywords = {Angus, grazing behavior, Heritage genetics, range cattle, Raramuri Criollo}, doi = {10.1016/j.rama.2020.11.001}, url = {files/bibliography/21-002.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Matthew M. McIntosh and D. VanLeeuwen and Caitriana Steele and Amy L. Gonzalez and S. Spiegal and F. G. Continanza} } @conference {JRN55295, title = {Landscape use of Angus Crossbred vs. Raramuri Criollo cattle on desert rangeland}, booktitle = {Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts}, year = {2021}, month = {2/15/2021}, abstract = {We conducted a replicated study (in both space and time) to validate previous findings reporting differences in grazing patterns of Raramuri Criollo (RC, heritage breed) vs. Angus Hereford crossbred (AH, commercial breed) cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland. We monitored cows of both breeds that grazed desert pastures separately during summer and winter in three consecutive years. GPS positions were acquired from 5 to 11 randomly selected cows of each breed and were classified based on movement velocity. Presumed grazing locations were used to calculate Ivlev{\textquoteright}s electivity index to determine preference (E>0) or avoidance (E<0) of pixels relative to thirteen pasture attributes including topography, vegetation, facilities, temperature, and moisture variables. Statistical mixed models were used to determine the effects of breed and season on selection of pixels. Separate analyses were conducted for each pasture attribute. Both breeds avoided areas far from water, but RC cows showed higher preference for pixels close to the drinker during the dormant season. RC cows appeared to exhibit a keener ability to select pixels with differing surface temperature, and greenness compared to AH counterparts. RC cows showed greater preference for pixels with high shrub density than AH counterparts in summer. During the dormant season, both breeds preferred sites with high shrub density. AH cows exhibited a strong preference for black grama pixels and higher avoidance of pixels with high density of other grasses. RC cows, did not select pixels with high black grama cover. Average electivity values for each pixel (grazing likelihood) revealed remarkable season differences between breeds. In summer, both breeds appeared to prefer similar portions of the pasture, whereas in winter, pixel preference (and hence spatial distribution) of breeds diverged significantly. Our study confirmed previously reported differences in landscape use patterns of RC vs. AH beef cattle.}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal} } @proceedings {JRN55351, title = {Performance of Lora-WAN sensors for precision livestock tracking and biosensing applications}, year = {2021}, month = {11/2021}, edition = {Nairobi, Kenya}, abstract = {This study investigated the integration of Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRa WAN) communication technology and sensors for use as Internet of Things (IoT) platform for Precision Livestock-Farming (PLF) applications. The research was conducted at New Mexico State University{\textquoteright}s Clayton Livestock Research Centre. The functionality of LoRA WAN communication technology and performance of LoRa WAN motion and GPS sensors were tested using static sensors that were placed either, a) outdoors and at incremental distances from the LoRa WAN gateway antenna (Field, n=6), or b) housed indoors and close to the same LoRa WAN gateway antenna (Indoor, n=5). Accelerometer data, reported as motion intensity index, and GPS location were acquired, transmitted and logged at 1 and 15 minute intervals, respectively. We evaluated the tracker{\textquoteright}s GPS accuracy (GPSBias as the euclidean distance between the actual and projected tracker location) and variables associated with the tracker{\textquoteright}s data transmission capabilities. The results indicate that field trackers had a greater accuracy for remote sensing of GPS locations compared to indoor trackers facing increasing communication interference to acquire satellite signals (GPSBias; 5.20 vs. 17.76 m; P<0.01). Overall, the trackers and deployments appeared to have a comparable GPS accuracy to other tracking devices and systems available in the market. The total data packets that were successfully transmitted were similar between the indoor and field trackers, but the number of data packets that were processed varied between the two deployments (P=0.02). Due to the static deployment of indoor and field trackers, activity data was almost non-existent for most devices. However, same trackers embedded on collars that were mounted on mature cattle showed clear diurnal patterns consistent with time budgets exerted by grazing cattle. The pilot testing of GPS and accelerometer sensors using LoRa WAN technology revealed reasonable sensor sensitivity and reliability for integration in PLF platforms.}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and M. Funk and Matthew M. McIntosh and Andrew Cox and S. A. Utsumi and Huiping Cao and LE Boucheron and Qixu Gong and H. Chen and S. Spiegal and G. Duff and V. Gouvea and Carolina Brandani} } @article {JRN55191, title = {Do Young Calves Influence Movement Patterns of Nursing Raramuri Criollo Cows on Rangeland?}, journal = {Rangeland Ecology and Management}, volume = {73}, year = {2020}, month = {01/01/2020}, pages = {84-92}, abstract = {

We compared movement patterns of nursing versus non-nursing cows and characterized cow-calf proximity patterns over 2 years in two herds of Raramuri Criollo (RC) cattle that grazed either desert rangeland of southern New Mexico, United States, or woodlands of west-central Chihuahua, Mexico. At each site, 9{\textendash}14 randomly selected mature cows were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars configured to record animal position at 5-min intervals. Four to five GPS-collared nursing cows and their calves were also fitted with proximity loggers that recorded initiation time and duration of dam-calf contact events (\< 1 m logger-to-logger distance). All calves were \< 2 wk old at the onset of the study. Collared animals grazed with a herd of 30 and 35 cows at the NM site and with 68 and 87 cows at the Chihuahua site in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Non-nursing RC cows exhibited straighter travel paths and explored larger daily areas than their nursing counterparts. However, nursing and non-nursing RC cows in this study traveled similar distances each day, moved at comparable velocities, spent similar amounts of time close to drinkers, and did not differ in daily time spent grazing, resting, or traveling. A higher number of cow-calf contact events occurred during day versus nighttime hours, but total day versus night contact time was similar. As calves became older, the number of both day and nighttime contact events, as well as dam-offspring contact time, decreased significantly. Relative to their calves, dams explored larger areas of the pasture each day; however, cow-calf contact events occurred throughout the entire area grazed by the dams including areas surrounding the drinkers. Cow-calf interactions of RC cows resembled those of a strong follower regardless of the grazing environment and differed from previously reported mother-offspring relations in mainstream British beef cattle breeds.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.rama.2019.08.015}, url = {files/bibliography/20-008.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and D. VanLeeuwen and Caitriana Steele and Roacho Estrada, O. and Felipe A. Rodr{\'\i}g Almeida and Amy L. Gonzalez and S. Spiegal} } @article {JRN55162, title = {Seeing is not always believing: Crop loss and climate change perceptions among farm advisors}, journal = {Environmental Research Letters}, volume = {14}, year = {2019}, month = {03/26/2019}, abstract = {

As climate change is expected to significantly affect agricultural systems globally, agricultural farm advisors have been increasingly recognized as an important resource in helping farmers address these challenges.\  While there have been many studies exploring the climate change belief and risk perceptions as well as behaviors of both farmers and agricultural farm advisors, there are very few studies that have explored how these perceptions relate to actual climate impacts in agriculture.\  Here we couple survey data from United States Department of Agriculture farm service employees (n=6,514) with historical crop loss data across the United States to explore the relationship of actual climate-related crop losses on farm to farm advisor perceptions of climate change and potential behaviors. Using structural equation modelling we find that among farm advisors that work directly with farms on disaster and crop loss issues, there is a significant positive relationship between crop loss and perceived weather variability changes, while across all farm advisors crop loss is associated with reduced likelihood to believe in anthropogenic climate change. Further, we find that weather variability perceptions are the most consistently and highly correlated with farm advisors\’ perceptions about the need for farm adaptation and future services.\  These results suggest that seeing crop loss does not lead to climate change belief, but may drive weather variability perceptions, which in turn affect farm adaptation perceptions. This lends further evidence to the debate over terminology in climate change communication and outreach, suggesting that weather variability may be the most salient among agricultural advisors.

}, keywords = {agriculture, climate adaptation, farmer, structural equation model, weather variability}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aafbb6}, url = {files/bibliography/19-023.pdf}, author = {Niles, M. and Wiener, S. and Schattman, R. and Roesch-McNally, G. and J.T. Reyes} } @conference {JRN55144, title = {Body temperature and movement patterns of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus-crossbred cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in summer}, booktitle = {2019 ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting and Trade Show }, year = {2019}, month = {07/10/2019}, publisher = {American Society of Animal Science}, organization = {American Society of Animal Science}, address = {Austin, Texas}, abstract = {

Body temperature and movement patterns of Angus Hereford crossbred (AH) vs. Raramuri Criollo (RC) nursing cows were monitored in summer 2016 and 2017. AH and RC cows grazed separately in two adjacent Chihuahuan Desert pastures (1190ha, 1165ha) in a crossover design for 4 weeks each year. Body temperature (BodyT) was monitored at 10 min intervals by placing blank CIDRs containing a temperature logger in 10 cows per breed. Seven to 9 AH and RC cows were also fitted with GPS collars that recorded position and ambient temperature (CollarT) at 10 min intervals. A landscape thermal map (LandT) was developed for habitat analysis. Data were analyzed within four daytime segments: dawn (sunrise {\textendash} 9AM); pre-noon (9AM {\textendash} noon); post-noon (noon {\textendash} 3PM); and dusk (3PM {\textendash} sunset). ANOVA was used to determine whether BodyT, animal movement, CollarT, and mean LandT position within each day segment were different for AH vs. RC cows. Breed nested within Year*Pasture was treated as the experimental unit. BodyT increased as a day progressed and was higher (P \< 0.05) in AH vs. RC during post-noon (38.83 vs. 38.42oC) and dusk (39.22 vs. 38.70oC). Compared to AH counterparts, RC cows traveled farther (4.7 vs. 2.7 km*daytime h-1, P\<0.05), at higher velocities (5.9 vs. 3.5 m*min-1, P\<0.05) and spent more time grazing (5.6 vs. 4.3 daytime h; P\<0.05) and traveling (0.7 vs. 0.3 daytime h; P\<0.05) during all four daytime segments. Largest breed differences were observed during the hottest segments of the day (post-noon and dusk). Increasing CollarT throughout a day was associated with selection of cooler landscape locations (LandT) in both breeds. Apparent lower body heat load in RC cows may reduce constraints on their movement patterns compared to AH cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in summer.

}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal and Martha Anderson and Caitriana Steele and F. G. Continanza} } @conference {JRN54993, title = {Movement and Cow-calf proximity patterns of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus-crossbred nursing cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in summer}, booktitle = {72nd Society for Range Management International Meeting}, year = {2019}, month = {02/2019}, publisher = {Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts}, organization = {Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts}, address = {Minneapolis, Minnesota}, abstract = {

The objective of this study was to compare cow-calf proximity patterns of nursing Angus X Hereford (AH) and Raramuri Criollo (RC) cows in large Chihuahuan Desert pastures during the summers of 2016 and 2017. Eleven cow-calf pairs of each breed grazed two adjacent pastures (1190ha, 1165ha) separately in a crossover design, for 4 weeks per deployment. Within each breed, a group of randomly selected cows were fitted with GPS collars which recorded animal position at 10-min intervals. Proximity loggers configured to record number and duration of contact events (\< 1m distance) were also fitted on a subset of cow-calf pairs. All calves were \<2 weeks old at the onset of the study. Data from the dam{\textquoteright}s proximity loggers were used for analysis. The effect of breed (AH vs. RC) on duration and number of contact events, as well as distance traveled, path sinuosity, velocity, area explored, and time spent resting, grazing and traveling by the dams was determined via ANOVA. All variables were calculated for four daily periods: Midnight to Sunrise (AmNight); Sunrise to Noon (AmDay); Noon to Sunset (PmDay); and Sunset to Midnight (PmNight). Breed (Pasture*year) was treated as the experimental unit and differences were declared significant at P = 0.05.\  Number and duration of cow-calf contacts was highest during PmDay and lowest during AmNight and no breed-related differences were observed. RC cows traveled farther at higher velocities during AmNight, AmDay and PmDay and explored an area almost three times larger than the area explored by AH counterparts (152 vs. 57 ha). RC cows spent more time traveling during AmNight, AmDay and PmDay, more time grazing during AmNight and PmDay and less time resting during AmNight and PmDay than their AH counterparts. Our data suggest that RC calves impose fewer constraints on their dams{\textquoteright} grazing patterns compared to commonly-used British crossbreds when grazing the Chihuahuan Desert during summer.

}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Matthew M. McIntosh and S. Spiegal and F. G. Continanza} } @proceedings {JRN54864, title = {Elevated dust emissions on the Colorado Plateau: Role of grazing vehicle disturbance, and increasing aridity}, volume = {January 28-February 2, 2018}, year = {2018}, month = {01/28/2018}, publisher = {Society for Range Management Meeting Proceedings}, address = {Sparks, Nevada}, abstract = {

Dust from drylands are of major concern to human society. Dust deposition onto snowpacks can hasten melt rates, resulting in lowered inputs into major rivers. Blowing dust can result in traffic accidents, respiratory disease, and high economic costs. To abate dust emissions, it is necessary to examine suspected sources such as unpaved roads and grazing lands. We measured aeolian sediment mass fluxes in low elevation rangelands and unsurfaced roads on the Colorado Plateau in Utah, USA. Empirical spatial modeling suggests that rangelands are producing ~92-93\% of regional dust and roads ~7-8\%. Measured {\textquoteleft}hot spots{\textquoteright} in sediment mass flux at 100 cm height rival the highest ever recorded including 7,460 gm-2day-1 (spring 2009) in an off-highway vehicle (OHV) area near Hanksville, UT, but were more commonly 50-2,000 gm-2day-1 \ in areas with heavy grazing or OHV use. \ The overall mean measured rangeland sediment mass flux at 100 cm height was 5.14 gm-2day-1, considerably lower than grazed areas (~8-20 gm-2day-1) and OHV areas (414 gm-2day-1). In contrast, a similar area monitored with minimal soil disturbance averaged 1.60 gm-2day-1 from 2007-2015. Annual sediment mass fluxes on all rangeland land use types (light/not grazed, moderately and heavily grazed, and OHV) generally increased with increasing annual temperature, increased winds, and decreasing precipitation. Mass fluxes measured just downwind of unpaved road sites averaged 13.14 gm-2day-1 with a maximum observed seasonal flux of 128.0 gm-2day-1 along a producing oil well access road. Four of the five highest road flux values (n=33 total) measured were adjacent to roads primarily used to access oil or gas well-pads, while one was a road servicing both recreation and well-pads. These findings suggest that predicted future regional mega-droughts may increase dust emissions already elevated due to land management, potentially further compromising air quality, hydrologic cycles, and other ecological services linked to dust.

}, author = {Travis Nauman and Danielle Duni and Nicholas Webb and Jayne Belnap} } @proceedings {JRN54868, title = {Mother-Offspring Interactions in Raramuri Criollo Cattle on New Mexico and Chihuahua (Mexico) Rangelands}, volume = {January 28-February 2, 2018}, year = {2018}, month = {01/28/2018}, publisher = {Society for Range Management Meeting Proceedings}, address = {Sparks, Nevada}, abstract = {

Rangeland beef cows spend approximately six months of a typical year raising their calf. This endeavor is known to significantly alter a dam{\textquoteright}s grazing behavior and spatial distribution patterns. The objective of this study was to characterize cow-calf contact events in two herds of Raramuri Criollo (RC) cattle that grazed rangeland pastures in southern New Mexico (NM, 4355 ha) and west-central Chihuahua, Mexico (623 ha). At each site, five to nine randomly selected mature nursing cows were fitted with Lotek 3300LR GPS collars and Sirtrak proximity loggers. GPS collars recorded animal position at 5-min intervals, whereas proximity loggers recorded initiation time and duration of mother-offspring contact events (\<3m distance). All calves were \<2 weeks old at the onset of the study. Collared animals grazed with a herd of 30 and 35 cows at the NM site and with 68 and 87 cows at the Chihuahua site in 2015 and 2016, respectively. We computed number of contact events and duration of each event for 24h time periods, and for daytime and nighttime hours. ANOVA was used to determine if contact events and duration of each event changed as a function of calf age or time of day (day vs. nighttime). We also determined whether daily area explored by a cow and its calf differed. Day vs. nighttime mother-offspring contact events and contact time were not different (P=0.05). Dams explored larger areas of the pasture than did their calves on any given day (40.3 vs. 29.2 ha; P= 0.0249). Cow-calf interactions tended to decrease and mother-offspring difference in daily area explored tended to increase as calves became older. Our results suggest that RC calves follow their dams during daily grazing bouts and are likely to constrain their dams{\textquoteright} feeding site selection the most during the first weeks after calving.

}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Roacho-Estrada, J.O. and Rodriguez-Almedia, F. A. and S. Spiegal} } @proceedings {JRN54664, title = {Behavior of Raramuri Criollo vs. Angus-crossbred cows in relation to desert summer ambient heat conditions}, year = {2017}, month = {01/29/2017}, publisher = {Society for Range Management}, address = {St. George, Utah}, abstract = {

Cattle in the Chihuahuan Desert are exposed to extreme temperatures during certain times of year. We examined relationships between temperature and behavior for Angus Hereford (AH) and Raramuri Criollo (RC) cattle. We monitored 10 mature nursing cows of each breed that grazed separately in each of two adjacent pastures (1190ha, 1165ha) during July 2015 for 26 days. Five individuals per group were fitted with Lotek 3300 GPS collars set to record location and temperature at 10 min intervals. Collar temperature sensors were located on the GPS motherboards within plastic encasements that hung below the animals{\textquoteright} necks. Sensors were presumed to record ambient temperature in the proximity of the collared animal. We calculated distance traveled, movement velocity, time spent within 100m of water, vegetation selection, and collar temperature during the hottest (1:00-3:00PM; H) and coolest (6:00 {\textendash} 8:00AM; C) hours of each day. We also calculated the difference between temperature readings recorded by the collars and by a weather station located 3 km away. \ We used a repeated measures mixed ANOVA to quantify differences between the breeds{\textquoteright} distribution, behavior, and temperature. Each collared cow was treated as an experimental unit. During H hours, RC cows traveled 40 m farther (P\<0.01), moved 4.7 m/min faster (P\<0.01), spent less time close to water (-18 min; P\<0.01), exhibited higher preference for vegetation types with least shade (bare ground, P\<0.01), and had collar temperatures that were 1.3 oC hotter (P\<0.01) than AH counterparts. Temperature differences between collar and weather station records for H hours was also greater for RC (+ 2.7 oC) than for AH (+1.5 oC) cows (P\<0.01). During C hours, differences between breeds were either considerably smaller or non-existent. With our preliminary data analysis, RC cows may be better able to withstand the hot summers of the Chihuahuan Desert compared to commonly-used British crossbreds.

}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Cano, D. E. and S. Spiegal} } @proceedings {JRN54579, title = {The Land Potential Knowledge System: Application of earth observation data for sustainable land management}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, address = {Naivasha, Kenya}, abstract = {

Africa is facing numerous challenges including a rapidly growing population, soil erosion, declining soil fertility and climate change. In the face of all these problems, the need to feed the growing population has led to expansion of land for agriculture and pasture production rather than increasing productivity. Available land must produce more food and pasture to meet the growing demand while\  conserving soil resources, reducing erosion risk, and improving the overall resilience of the land to produce and sustain current and future ecosystem services. Due to climate change, systems and phenologies are changing. With already stressed coping strategies, decision makers at management and policy levels together with local communities are often forced to make serious land use decisions with incomplete knowledge and information.

}, author = {Ndungu, L. and Jeffrey E. Herrick and Beh, Adam and Wahome, A. and Sande, S.} } @conference {JRN54632, title = {Movement and spatial proximity patterns of rangeland-raised Raramuri Criollo cow-calf pairs}, booktitle = {Journal of Animal Science Supplement}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, publisher = {Journal of the Animal Science }, organization = {Journal of the Animal Science }, abstract = {
The objective of this study was to compare movement patterns of nursing vs. nonnursing mature cows and to characterize cow-calf proximity patterns in two herds of Raramuri Criollo cattle. Herds grazed rangeland pastures in southern New Mexico (4355 ha) and west-central Chihuahua, Mexico (633 ha){\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} At each site, five nursing and four nonnursing adult cows weighing approximately 325 kg were fitted with Lotek 3300 LR GPS collars which recorded animal position at 10-min intervals for 25 d during March to April 2015. Nursing cows and their calves were also fitted with Sirtrack proximity loggers that recorded number and length of dam-calf contact events (\<m distance). All calves were \<2 wk old at the onset of the study. Collared animals grazed with a herd of 30 and 68 adult cows at the NM and Chihuahua sites, respectively. Distance traveled and path sinuosity of cows and time spent by calves within 3 m of their dam and number of dam-calf contact events during day and nighttime hours were calculated. \ Movement data were subjected to ANOVA to determine effect of cow state (nursing vs. nonnursing) on distance traveled and path sinuosity. ANOVA was also used to determine if calves spent similar amounts of time within 3 m of their dam during day vs. nighttime hours. PROC MIXED (SAS 9.3) with a randomized complete block design was used for statistical analyses. No differences were detected in distance traveled by nursing and nonnursing cows over a 24-h period (8.43 vs. 8.56 {\textpm} 0.29 km; P = 0.67), daytime (5.47 km vs. 5.75 {\textpm} 0.24 km; P = 0.24), or nighttime hours (2.96 vs. 2.80 {\textpm} 0.15 km; P = 0.32). However, nighttime/daytime ratio of distance traveled was greater for nursing cows (0.62 vs. 0.55 {\textpm} 0.08; P = 0.05). \ Nursing cows exhibited more sinuous 24 h travel trajectories compared with nonnursing counterparts (0.13 vs. 0.18 {\textpm} 0.05 km; P \< 0.01). Calves spent on average 66.9 {\textpm} 3.41 min/d within 3 m of their dam, distributed over 86.4 {\textpm} 3.7 proximity events/d. Minutes spent by calves within 3 m of their dam were not different for day vs. nighttime periods (P = 0.07); however, more contact events occurred during daytime hours (predawn = 13.8; AM = 26.1; PM = 22.0; postsunset = 24.5 {\textpm} 2.02 contact events). Physiological state of Criollo cows affected their movement patterns in large rangeland pastures.
}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Roacho-Estrada, J.O. and Rodriguez-Almedia, F. A.} } @proceedings {JRN54633, title = {Use of a UAV-mounted video camera to assess feeding behavior of Raramuri Criollo cows}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {1070-1072}, publisher = {International Rangeland Congress}, address = {Saskatchewan, Canada}, abstract = {

Interest in use of unmanned aerial vehicles in science has increased in recent years. It is predicted that they will be a preferred remote sensing platform for applications that inform sustainable rangeland management in the future. The objective of this study was to determine whether UAV video monitoring could be used to predict intake of food by beef cows. A series of tests were conducted in an arena with three food types and video footage was obtained with a quadcopter fitted with a digital camera. Tests were first conducted to determine if sound from the UAV altered feeding behavior. A second experiment was conducted to determine if UAV video monitoring could be used to predict intake of known amounts of food. Number and length of visits to feeders were monitored for each cow in both experiments and correlated with amount of food eaten. No effect of sound on intake was detected. Strong positive correlations were observed between feeding frequency observations from UAV video footage analysis and actual amount of food consumed from each feeder. However, battery length limited observations to approximately five minutes per flight. Further development of UAV power sources is needed to provide greater flight autonomy for use of this tool in rangeland environments.

}, url = {files/bibliography/16-015.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez} } @article {JRN54649, title = {Use of an unmanned aerial vehicle-mounted video camera to assess feeding behavior of Raramuri Criollo cows}, journal = {Rangeland Ecology and Management}, volume = {69}, year = {2016}, month = {09/2016}, pages = {386-389}, abstract = {

We determined the feasibility of using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video monitoring to predict intake of discrete food items of rangeland-raised Raramuri Criollo non-nursing beef cows. Thirty-five cows were released into a 405-m2 rectangular dry lot, either in pairs (pilot tests) or individually (experiment tests), that contained 12 food bowls arranged in an open semicircle and placed approximately 1 m apart. Four bowls containing either long alfalfa hay (AH, 200 g), long Sudangrass hay (SH, 200 g), or cottonseed cake (CC, 50 g) were alternated (CC, AH, SH) using the same sequence in all tests. Video footage of all arena tests was acquired with a three-dimensional Robotics Y6 Multi-copter fitted with a two-axis brushless gimbal and a GoPro Hero 3 Silver Digital Camera. Video files were processed to extract a total of 4893 two-second-interval still images that were viewed to determine cow feeding activity. Cows that were na{\"\i}ve to the sound of the UAV fed as frequently (P \> 0.05) as their adapted counterparts during 12-min pilot tests. Significant positive correlations (r = 0.68-0.91; P \< 0.05) between video-derived feeding frequency estimates and amount of AH, SH, and CC consumed per bowl were observed during the individual 4-min experiment tests. Our results suggest that UAV video monitoring could be a useful tool to monitor feeding behavior of rangeland cows.

}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2016.04.005}, url = {files/bibliography/16-022.pdf}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez} } @conference {JRN54618, title = {Vegetation selection by Angus crossbred vs. Raramuri Criollo nursing cows grazing Chihuauan Desert rangeland in summer}, booktitle = {69th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Managment}, year = {2016}, month = {12/2016}, publisher = {Society for Range Management}, organization = {Society for Range Management}, address = {Corpus Christi, TX}, abstract = {
We examined vegetation selection patterns of nursing Angus X Hereford crossbred (AH) and Raramuri Criollo (RC) cows grazing Chihuahuan Desert vegetation during the growing season. Eleven cows of each group grazed separately in two large pastures (1190ha, 1165ha) from mid-July until mid-August 2015 (28 days). GPS coordinates were recorded at 10 min intervals on five cows of each group. Vegetation in the pastures included honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) intermixed with perennial grasses on sandy soils or tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica) and burrograss (Schleropogon brevifolius) in lower areas with clayey soils. GPS data were overlaid on a vegetation map of the pastures in ArcGIS. Mapped vegetation types were: bare ground, burrograss, mesquite, mesquite dunes, other shrubs, Sporobolus spp., and tobosa. Ivlev{\textquoteright}s electivity index (E) for each vegetation type was calculated for all collared cows (n=10). A t-test revealed statistical differences in E between groups for all seven vegetation types. Compared to AH cows, RC showed higher preference for bare ground areas presumably dominated by annuals (ERC = 0.34; EAH = -1.00; P\<0.01) and burrograss areas (ERC = 0.19; EAH = -0.25; P\<0.01), lower preference for mesquite (ERC = 0.03; EAH = 0.13; P = 0.02), mesquite dunes (ERC = -0.08; EAH = 0.02; P\<0.01), and tobosa grasslands (ERC = -0.11; EAH = 0.12; P\<0.01), and lower avoidance of other shrubs (ERC = -0.26; EAH = -0.70; P= 0.04) and Sporobolus areas (ERC = -0.42; EAH = -0.88; P\<0.01). Our preliminary results suggest that RC cows employ foraging strategies during the growing season that differ significantly from AH cows which are commonly used in our region. \ 
}, author = {S. Nyamuryekung{\textquoteright}e and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez} } @inbook {49966, title = {Entisols}, booktitle = {Handbook of Soil Science}, year = {2011}, publisher = {CRC Press}, organization = {CRC Press}, edition = {2nd}, address = {Boca Raton}, keywords = {entisols, soil classification}, author = {Nordt, L. and Collins, M. E. and Fanning, D. S. and Curtis H. Monger} } @article {50125, title = {The significance of termites as decomposers in contrasting grassland communities of semi-arid eastern Australia}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, number = {73}, year = {2009}, month = {01/2009}, pages = {113-119}, chapter = {113}, abstract = {

Decomposition of various litter forms including dead tussocks of two native perennial grasses, woollybutt (Eragrostis eriopoda) and mulga mitchell (Thyridolepis mitchelliana), as well as roots of woollybutt, dung of sheep and kangaroo, and bleached toilet rolls, was studied in contrasting grazing exclosures, half of which had termites excluded by biocide (termiticide) treatment. Dead mulga mitchell tussocks decayed more rapidly than woollybutt tussocks during the first 17 months post mortem. Thereafter, rate of decay differed little between species. After 3 years, only small amounts of tussock residues of either species remained and only then did the impact of biocide treatment become significant. Decomposition of kangaroo pellets was typically bimodal with significantly higher decomposition recorded in the controls (no biocide) up to 40 months after treatment, and many intact pellets remaining in the biocide-treated plots. While decomposition of sheep pellets showed similar bimodality, decomposition remained significantly lower in the biocide treatments for the entire duration of the experiment. Results suggest that abiotic processes, including those induced by UV radiation, may be dominant influences mediating decomposition of litter in these semi-arid ecosystems, especially following high rainfall seasons when abundant grass biomass has been generated providing a surfeit of potential forage for harvester termites.

}, keywords = {biocide, dead tussocks, litter decomposition, sheetp and kangaroo dung}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.08.004}, url = {/files/bibliography/09-003.pdf}, author = {J. Noble and W. Mueller and Walter G. Whitford and Pfitzner, G.H.} } @article {50248, title = {Spatial analysis of effects of mowing and burning on colony expansion in reintroduced black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)}, journal = {Restoration Ecology}, volume = {16}, year = {2008}, month = {09/2008 }, pages = {495-502}, abstract = {

Factors contributing to the expansion of prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies are poorly understood. Models simulating expansion of fossorial mammal populations interacting with the physical environment have shown mixed results. Data of burrow locations, burrow status, entrance type, aspect, and other characteristics were collected over a 4-year period on three study colonies. Several 50 m x 50 m plots were either mowed or burned near the periphery of the 3 colonies to determine the effects of these treatments on colony expansion. Spatial point patterns of burrows were analyzed for the post-treatment period. The overall orientation of new burrow locations was also examined. These analyses dealt exclusively with active burrows since numbers of active burrows are highly correlated with population density. Chi-square analysis suggested that burrows tended to be clustered. Directional analysis showed that colony expansion was oriented towards the treated plots 1 and 2 years after the treatments. K-function plots showed clustering at distances of 5.0 \– 7.0 m. These analyses show that the fire and mowing treatments influence colony expansion. Our results contribute to our current knowledge of the factors both promoting and constraining the expansion of reintroduced prairie dog colonies, and may lead to more effective management of prairie dog colonies following reintroduction.

}, keywords = {fossorial, prairie}, doi = {10.1111/j.1526-100X.2007.00323.x}, url = {/files/bibliography/08-034.pdf}, author = {Northcott, J. and C.A. Anderson and G. Roemer and E.L. Fredrickson and Demers, M. and J. Truett and P. L. Ford} } @article {50584, title = {Grazing Impacts on Spatial Distribution of Soil and Herbaceous Characteristics in an Australian Tropical Woodland}, journal = {Agroforestry Systems}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, year = {2005}, month = {2005}, pages = {137-150}, abstract = {Land condition in northern Australia can be easily degraded by grazing or grazing in combination with drought. These areas require the use of grazing systems that allow persistence of native tussock grasses, and maintenance of soil condition. However, there is little information available on best level of utilization, or how plants and soils will respond to grazing and drought. This study examined effects of six different grazing regimes (based on timing and grazing intensity), applied over five (n=4) and 15 (n=2) years, on herbaceous vegetation (standing crop, basal area, size and spacing of grass tussocks) and soil properties (soil C, total N, total P, and soil-borne plant matter [roots and surface litter]) around grass tussocks in replicate (n=2) paddocks of eucalypt woodland in northern Queensland. Grass tussocks influenced soil C and total N at small (<30 cm) spatial scales, and applied grazing pressures significantly (P<0.05) affected all soil properties except total P. Concentrations of N and C were highest at locations in close proximity to plants, and levels declined under heavier grazing pressures. These paddocks also had less standing crop, smaller tussocks, and more widely dispersed surviving plants. Further, areas with high amounts of soil C, N and roots-litter were smaller and more widely dispersed under heavy grazing. North Australian landscapes have limited resistance to disturbance, or resilience available for recovery. As such, the effects of disturbance should be monitored by a combination of plant (basal area, plant spacing) and soil characteristics (total N, soil borne plant matter) that can detect the degradation process at the earliest stage possible.}, keywords = {Eucalypt woodlands, grazing pressur, land condition, plant-soil interactions, silvopasture, soil properties}, url = {/files/bibliography/05-021.pdf}, author = {Northup, B.K. and Joel R. Brown and A.J. Ash} } @article {50583, title = {Micro-Patch and community scale spatial distribution of herbaceous cover in a grazed eucalypt woodland}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {60}, number = {(3)}, year = {2005}, month = {July 2, 2005}, pages = {509-530}, abstract = {This study described changes in spatial distribution of herbaceous cover in experimental paddocks in a eucalypt woodland of northern Australia after 5 years of different grazing pressures and drought. Herbaceous cover was irregularly distributed, with high cover zones in distinct bands across slopes on paddocks in stable and degrading condition, and irregular patches in a degraded paddock. Size and density of these zones declined with paddock condition, as native perennial tussock grasses were lost and replaced by an exotic stoloniferous grass. Describing disturbance responses of herbaceous cover in this community requires sampling at multiple spatial scales. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg\&_imagekey=B6WH9-4D1DD3K-2-1\&_cdi=6845\&_user=1496926\&_orig=browse\&_coverDate=02\%2F28\%2F2005\&_sk=999399996\&view=c\&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkWb\&md5=152f301190b397ad33d1092399d204e2\&ie=/sdarticle.pdf}, keywords = {Australia, eucalypt, herbaceous, spatial, woodland}, url = {/files/bibliography/05-007.pdf}, author = {Northup, B.K. and Dias, C. and Joel R. Brown and Skelly, C.} } @proceedings {50585, title = {The role of grass tussocks in maintaining soil condition in northeast Australia}, year = {2005}, month = {July 2005}, pages = {71}, publisher = {Wageningen Academic Publishers}, address = {Oxford, England}, abstract = {Soils of the grazing lands of northeastern Australia are inherently nutrient-poor. Heterogeneously distributed plants are important to the conservation of the limited amounts of nutrients, through storage in plant tissues or in soil sinks close to plants. Loss of perennial vegetation through disturbance reduces conservation of these resources, to the detriment of feedback mechanisms, and ultimately causes loss of soil condition. Large areas of north east Australia have been degraded, or threatened by degradation, through combinations of variability in precipitation and heavy grazing. This study examined the inter-related responses of plants, soil microbes and soil nutrients to management-related disturbance.}, keywords = {Australia, grazing, heterogeneously, nutrients, tussocks}, url = {/files/bibliography/05-047Proc.pdf}, author = {Northup, B.K. and Joel R. Brown} } @article {50692, title = {Effects of intense, short-duration grazing on microtopography in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, year = {2004}, month = {February 1, 2004}, pages = {383-393}, abstract = {

We studied the effect of three consecutive years of short duration (\<48 h per year), and intense grazing (20{\textquoteright}40 yearling cows per hectare) on soil surface microtopography in a Chihuhuan Desert grassland. We also studied the effects of shrub removal plus grazing on microtopography. Microtopography was measured in 18 plots (treatments). Treatments were a combination of two factors: (1) three levels of grazing (winter-grazed, summer-grazed, and not grazed), and (2) two levels of habitat structure (shrubs-removed and shrubs-intact). Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) shrubs were removed from half of the plots (nine out of 18 plots). The average height of the micromounds, the average depths of intermound depressions, and the number of micromounds were significantly reduced on the grazed plots. Shrub removal had no significant effect on the height of the micromounds or the depth of the intermound depressions of ungrazed plots. There were significant differences in average micromound heights and intermound microdepression depths attributable to the season of grazing. Microtopography was significantly reduced on grazed plots from which shrubs were removed, compared to ungrazed plots, and grazed plots with shrubs present. Grass canopy reduction, and destruction of the micromound structure in a short duration, plus intense grazing results in erosion of micromounds and in-filling of intermound depressions. The loss of microtopography coupled with reduction in vegetation height and cover resulting from short-duration intense grazing by cattle exposed soils to an increased risk of soil erosion Destruction of the micromound/microdepression topography by cattle changes the spatial patterns of water infiltration, and may homogenize nutrients in desert grasslands.

}, keywords = {cattle, grazing, Hoof-action Microtopography index, Microdepressions, Micromounds, wind erosion}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-1963(03)00062-4}, url = {/files/bibliography/04-073.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and E. Jackson and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {50694, title = {Livestock grazing effects on ant communities in the eastern Mojave Desert, USA}, journal = {Ecological Indicators}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, year = {2004}, month = {September 1, 200}, pages = {199-213}, abstract = {

The effects of livestock grazing on composition and structure of ant communities were examined in the eastern Mojave Desert, USA for the purpose of evaluating ant communities as potential indicators of rangeland condition. Metrics for ant communities, vegetation, and other ground-cover elements were evaluated as a function of distance from livestock water tanks, which represents a gradient in level of livestock activity in desert settings. Data were collected at six isolated water tanks used by cattle during early summer, with seven plots (90m \× 90m; 100 pitfall traps) per tank. Thirty-eight species of ants were recorded, with an average of 14 ant species per plot. Ant species richness did not differ as a function of distance from the water tank. Also, overall species composition, as measured by a similarity index for species presence/absence for paired-comparisons of plots, did not show differences attributable to the gradient in grazing impact. In contrast, the relative abundance of several taxa and functional groups was significantly related to distance from the water tank. The predominant pattern was for the greatest abundance to occur at the water tank, with little difference in ant abundance among plots away from the water tank. This pattern was shown by the abundant ants species, Conomyrma bicolor and Pheidole tucsonica, and the groups Conomyrma spp., Pheidole spp., homopteran tenders, and plant foragers. However, two species, Aphaenogaster megommata and Monomorium wheelerorum showed the greatest relative abundance at a distance away from the water tank. A number of ant metrics were significantly related to ground-cover metrics (R2\> 0.5). Organic debris was the variable most frequently related significantly to ant abundance metrics, always in a positive direction, followed by cover for perennial grasses, annual forbs, and shrubs, and bare patch size. Ant community metrics in the study region appear to have little potential to serve as indicators of rangeland condition because differences were evident primarily in severely degraded localized conditions rather than in intermediate widespread conditions.

}, keywords = {ant, Ant community, Bare patches, Bioindicator, indicator, livestock grazing, Mojave Desert, Rangeland condition, vegetation}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2004.03.004}, url = {/files/bibliography/04-076.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Bradford, D.F. and Franson, S.E. and A.C. Neale and Walter G. Whitford and Heggem, D.T.} } @article {50693, title = {Understanding an ecological system: an example of temporal and spatial variability of Dorymyrmex (Conomyrma) insana in a stressed system}, journal = {Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances}, volume = {3}, number = {9}, year = {2004}, month = {September 1, 200}, pages = {631-637}, abstract = {The responses of pyramid ants Dorymyrmex (Conomyrma) insana (Buckley) to structural change (removal of an invasive shrub species) and to an environmental stress (short-term, intense grazing by cattle) are presented from an experiment study in Chihuahuan Desert grassland. Spatial and temporal responses of D. insana were examined by analysis of variances, kriging maps, and regression analyses. There were no significant responses of D. insana to grazing. The numerical and spatial responses of ants recorded from pitfall trap data were the same as those recorded from mapping ant nests. The spatial distribution of D. insana nests was a function of the canopy cover of the invasive, woody shrub, honey mesquite (Fabaceae: Prosopis glandulosa Torrey) (r = 0.82) and explained 68\% of the variability in nest distribution. The dominant, liquid-feeding ant species (D. insana) responded numerically and spatially to structural change and environmental stress. Spatially referenced data are as important or more important for monitoring ecosystem change than are numerical data.}, keywords = {ANOVA, ants, biological indicator, grazing, kriging, mesquite shrub, multiple stressor, spatial and temporal variability}, url = {/files/bibliography/04-002.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {50801, title = {Soil microtopography on grazing gradients in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, year = {2003}, month = {September 1, 200}, pages = {181-192}, abstract = {

The significant impacts of livestock in the creation of piospheres centered on water points is the loss of soil microtopography across a {\textquoteleft}landscape{\textquoteright} that has been influenced by many years of livestock grazing. The size, height, and spatial distribution of micromounds and surrounding depressions were measured by a modified erosion bridge at three distances (50, 450, and 1050 m) from water points in desert grassland pastures in the Jornada Basin, New Mexico, USA. Plots at 50m had fewer micromounds and the mounds were smaller than those recorded on the more distant plots. Microtopography of plots at 450m from water was not significantly different from that recorded at 50m. Microtopography of plots that were 1050m from water points was significantly different from that of plots nearer water points. Strong correlation between microtopography and the cover of long-lived perennial grasses (R2=91\%) was found, such dependence could be used for assessing the trend in organic matter content that is in concordance with that of microtopography. Loss of microtopography from the impact of livestock in piospheres exacerbates erosion processes and contributes to desertification.

}, doi = {10.1016/S0140-1963(02)00251-3}, url = {/files/bibliography/03-014.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and E. Jackson and Walter G. Whitford} } @conference {50918, title = {Grazing effects on microtopography in a desert grassland}, booktitle = {87th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America}, year = {2002}, month = {August 4-9, 2002}, pages = {398}, address = {Tucson, AZ}, abstract = {Coincident with a worldwide increase in the abundance of woody plants within former grasslands, desert grasslands throughout the southwestern U.S. have experienced a substantial increase in the abundance of shrubs during the last century. The displacement of grasslands with grass-shrublands has had important implications for ecosystem carbon cycling and rates of carbon sequestration. Building on a history of biogeochemistry research conducted at the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico, we measured and modelled aboveground and belowground carbon storage in black grama grasslands (Bouteloua eriopoda) and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) shrublands across the Jornada basin. We combined the simulation modeling predictions of the CENTURY model with data from recovered historical vegetation maps of 1858, 1915, 1928 and modern vegetation maps. Our results support the hypothesis that shrub encroachment into grasslands increases storage of belowground carbon. Landscape-level mapped estimates of carbon pools indicate that the desert grassland ecosystem of the Jornada basin may have served as a carbon sink during the last century.}, author = {M. S. Nash and E. Jackson and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {50919, title = {Vegetation influences on water yields from grassland and shrubland ecosystems in the Chihuahuan desert}, journal = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms}, volume = {27}, year = {2002}, note = {//NMSU//LTER-IV//}, month = {2002}, pages = {1011-1020}, abstract = {

This study examines runoff generated under simulated rainfall on Summerford bajada in the Jornada Basin, New Mexico, USA. Forty-five simulation experiments were conducted on 1 m2 and 2 m2 runoff plots on grassland, degraded grassland, shrub and intershrub environments located in grassland and shrubland communities. Average hydrographs generated for each environment show that runoff originates earlier on the vegetated plots than on the unvegetated plots. This early generation of runoff is attributed to soil infiltration rates being overwhelmed by the rapid concentration of water at the base of plants by stemflow. Hydrographs from the degraded grassland and intershrub plots rise continuously throughout the 30 min simulation events indicating that these plots do not achieve equilibrium runoff. This continuously rising form is attributed to the progressive development of raindrop-induced surface seals. Most grassland and shrub plots level out after the initial early rise indicating equilibrium runoff is achieved. Some shrub plots, however, display a decline in discharge after the early rise. The delayed infiltration of water into macropores beneath shrubs with vegetation in their understories is proposed to explain this declining form. Water yields predicted at the community level indicate that the shrubland sheds 150\% more water for a given storm event than the grassland. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2002 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.

}, keywords = {article, articles, hydrology, ecosystem dynamics, hydrology, grassland, hydrology, processes, hydrology, rainfall simulation, hydrology, shrubland, hydrology, water budget, hydrology, water yield, hydrology,infiltration, hydrology,runoff, journal, journals, runoff, stemflow, Larrea, water yield}, doi = {10.1002/esp.389}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00374.pdf}, author = {Melissa Neave and Athol D. Abrahams} } @article {51023, title = {Ant communities and livestock grazing in the Great Basin, USA}, journal = {Journal of Arid Environments}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, year = {2001}, month = {December 1, 2001}, pages = {695-710}, abstract = {

The objectives of this study were to determine if metrics for ant species assemblages can be used as indicators of rangeland condition and to determine the influence of vegetation and ground cover variables, factors often influenced by livestock grazing, on ant communities. The study was conducted in two areas in the Great Basin: a sagebrush-steppe in southeastern Idaho (n = 30 sites) and salt-desert shrub in western Utah (n = 27 sites). Sites were selected based on known rangeland conditions (i.e., good, fair, poor) associated with livestock grazing. Ant communities differed considerably between the two study areas. Collectively, more ant species occurred at the Idaho sites (30) than at the Utah sites (21), relatively few species (8) occurred in both areas, species richness was significantly greater at the Idaho sites (mean = 12(.)0 species) than the Utah sites (mean = 6(.)9 species), and Formica spp. were diverse (total of 15 species) at the Idaho sites but rate (1 species) at the Utah sites. In Idaho, all species collectively, generalists and Formica spp., were significantly less abundant on sites in poor condition than that on sites in good or fair condition; whereas in Utah, seed harvesters and Pheidole spp. were significantly more abundant on sites in poor condition than on sites in good or fair condition. In Idaho, species richness was significantly lower on sites in poor condition. In Idaho, species richness and relative abundances of several ant groups were significantly related to bare patch size and parameters for cover or species richness of several vegetation groups. In contract to the comparisons involving sites in poor condition, no differences in any communities in either Idaho or Utah were evident between sites in good and fair condition. Thus, the ant communities responded only to large changes in rangeland condition and to large differences in climatic/edaphic conditions between the two areas. Hence, ant community metrics appear to have limited utility as indicators of rangeland condition in the Great Basin.

}, doi = {10.1006/jare.2001.0824}, url = {files/bibliography/01-JrnArdEnviron-Whitford.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford and Bradford, D.F. and Franson, S.E. and A.C. Neale and Heggem, D.T.} } @article {51024, title = {Impact of small mammal disturbances on sediment yield from grasslasnd and shrubland ecosystems in the Chihuahuan Desert}, journal = {Catena}, volume = {44}, year = {2001}, note = {//NMSU//LTER IV//}, month = {2001}, pages = {285-303}, abstract = {

This study examines water and sediment movement on Summerford bajada in the Jornada Basin, N.M. Forty-five rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on 1- and 2-m2 runoff plots in grassland, degraded grassland, and shrubland communities. Within the shrubland community separate experiments were conducted in shrub and intershrub environments. Regression analyses indicate that for a 30-min rainfall at approximately 130 mm h-1, water yeilds on these environments are negatively related to the percentage of ground covered by vegetation and/or litter. In the degraded grassland and intershrub environments, sediment concentration is positively correlated with the average diameter of small mammal disturbances, suggesting that animal digging is an important factor controlling rates of erosion in these environments. Sediment concentration is not correlated with any surface property in the grassland or shrub environments. An analysis of water yeidls and sediment concentrations at 5-min intervals during the 30-min simulated rainfall experiments reveals that the influence of the above-mentioned factors on runoff and erosion is established furing events as short as 10-15 min. {\textcopyright} 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {animal disturbance, sediment yield, article, articles, biopedturbation, sediment yield, desert hillslopes, grassland, biopedturbation, hydrology, sediment yield, hydrology, surface runoff, journal, journals, shrubland, biopedturbation, zoogeomorphology}, doi = {10.1016/S0341-8162(01)00133-3}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00334.pdf}, author = {Melissa Neave and Athol D. Abrahams} } @article {51098, title = {Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) responses to environmental stressors in the northern Chihuahuan Desert}, journal = {Community and Ecosystem Ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, year = {2000}, month = {April 1, 2000}, pages = {200-206}, abstract = {

We studied responses of ant communities to shrub removal and intense, pulse seasonal grazing by domestic livestock for four consecutive years. Weighted relative abundance and percent of traps in which an ant species occurred were analyzed using randomized, complete block design split in time analysis of variance to test for significant differences between means of ant groups. The ant community in the Chihuahuan Desert grassland is dominated by small, liquid-feeding ants, Conomyrma insana (Buckley), and large seed harvesting ants, Pogonomyrmex desertorum (Wheeler). The weighted relative abundance of C. insana was significantly reduced on the plots without shrubs. The relative abundance of P. desertorum was significantly lower on grazed plots without shrubs than on the ungrazed plots without shrubs. There were no detectable effects of shrub removal or intense, pulse grazing on the less abundant ant species. These results suggest the recent encroachment of shrubs into Chihuahuan Desert grasslands has increased the relative abundance of the dominant ant species in these communities. Intensive grazing by livestock has had an adverse effect on the most abundant seed-harvester, P. desertorum.

}, keywords = {ant, Chihuahuan Desert, environmental stressors, Hymenoptera: Formicidae, pulse grazing, shrub removal}, doi = {10.1093/ee/29.2.200}, url = {files/bibliography/00-007_0.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford and Justin Van Zee and Kris Havstad} } @article {51172, title = {Livestock activity and Chihuahuan Desert annual-plant communities: Boundary analysis of disturbance gradients}, journal = {Ecological Applications}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, year = {1999}, month = {August 1, 1999}, pages = {814-823}, abstract = {

The impact of domestic livestock on soil properties and perennial vegetation is greatest close to water points and generally decreases exponentially with distance from water. We hypothesized that the impact of livestock on annual-plant communities would be similar to that on perennial vegetation. We used multivariate analysis and semivariograms to locate boundaries and to determine the number and width of different annual-plant zones (referred as biotic zones) on long-term livestock disturbance gradients in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico. We estimated abundance of annuals in 0.5-m2 quadrats placed at 30-m intervals on 10 livestock disturbance gradients originating at water points. Tansy mustard, Descurainia pinnata, was abundant in severely disturbed areas and also in areas that are known to have high soil nitrogen content. Amaranthus palmeri was abundant in half of the transects in the zones nearest the water points. The relationships of annual-plant abundance and species richness with distance from water points and with perennial-plant cover were not significant (R2 \< 0.1). The number of boundaries and sizes of zones varied with distance from water points, with seasons, and with duration of grazing. The first biotic zone (most severely impacted by cattle) ranged from 75 to 795 m radius for winter{\textendash}spring annuals and from 165 to 1065 m radius for the summer annuals. Variability in the number and size of biotic zones along grazing gradients was spatially correlated with the frequency and intensity of disturbance, with landscape position, and with patchiness of soil features. There were fewer and larger zones of summer annuals than of winter{\textendash}spring annuals. Boundary analysis of livestock disturbance gradients provided a method with replication for assessing the impact of long-term livestock grazing on annual-plant communities. Livestock create nutrient-rich patches near water points by mixing dung with soil by hoof action. These nutrient-rich patches support species of annuals that are rare or absent in areas where soils are subjected to low-intensity disturbance.

}, keywords = {boundary locations, Chihuahan Desert, desert plant communities, livestock grazing, multivariate analysis, semivariogram}, doi = {10.2307/2641331 }, url = {/files/bibliography/674.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford and A.G. de Soyza and Justin Van Zee and Kris Havstad} } @article {51173, title = {Spatial and temporal variability in relative abundance and foraging behavior of subterranean termites in desertified and relatively intact Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems}, journal = {Applied Soil Ecology}, volume = {12}, year = {1999}, month = {1999}, pages = {149-157}, abstract = {

The annual feeding activity on paper baits of subterranean termites in desertified (degraded-shrub dominated ecosystems) and relatively undegraded black-grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasslands was measured over six years on 12 sites. There were no significant differences in mass losses from termite baits among the desertified and undesertified sites. Mass of paper consumed by termites on two sites dominated by creosotebush, Larea tridentata, was higher than on the other 10 sites. These sites were characterized by shallow, coarse soils and shrubs that did not retain a below-canopy litter layer. The spatial locations of the highest termite bait removal remained relatively constant over the duration of the study. Interannual variations in mass losses from termite baits were highly correlated with winter{\textendash}spring rainfall (r2 between 0.60 and 0.95) except at one site on shallow soils. The relationship between annual rainfall and termite activity was less significant (r2 between 0.48 and 0.83). Frequency of attack as measured by percent of bait rolls {\textquotedblleft}hit{\textquotedblright} were not different among sites indicating no differences in densities of subterranean termites. Degradation of Chihuahuan desert grasslands and associated vegetation change has had minimal effect on the activity of subterranean termites. Subterranean termites continue to affect soil properties and processes in both degraded (desertified) and undesertified ecosystems.

}, keywords = {desert grassland, desertification, dunes, Shrub-lands, Subterranean termites}, doi = {10.1016/S0929-1393(98)00164-4}, url = {/files/bibliography/673.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and John P. Anderson and Walter G. Whitford} } @conference {51174, title = {Disturbance and landscape change: Residential development and landscape structure in the Pikes Peak region, Colorado, USA}, booktitle = {5th World Congress, International Association for Landscape Ecology}, volume = {II (L-Z)}, year = {1999}, month = {July 29-August 3}, pages = {Abstract 114}, address = {Snowmass Village, Colorado}, abstract = {

Disturbances interact with biotic and abiotic landscape elements at multiple scales to drive changes in landscape structure. In turn, landscape structure affects the kinds, frequencies, intensities, and extent of disturbances actuated in the system. We analyzed the interactions of residential development as a disturbance with landscape structure to identify patch characteristics sensitive to disturbance, spatial and temporal trends in residential development, and the corresponding dynamics in landscape structural metrics. We sought to develop a model that would enable managers to use landscape structural change as an indicator of disturbances that could reverberate through multiple scales of ecological organization. Our approach was to use GIS linked with FRAGSTATS to detect trends in both residential development and landscape structural metrics. We further analyzed the potential impact of these trends on habitats and biodiversity. We found that patch desirability for development often coincides with patch ecological sensitivity. Development causes increased fragmentation and decreased connectivity of existing patches, with increased edge and clustering of both existing patch types and developed patches. Our results indicate that residential development changes landscape structure, associated wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. This information is critical for regional planning and management processes aimed at coexistence of natural and cultural components.

}, author = {Nasseth, D.L. and Debra C. Peters} } @mastersthesis {51175, title = {Impact of small mammal disturbances on water and sediment yields in the Jornada Basin, southern New Mexico}, year = {1999}, note = {//NMSU//NONE, LTER//ProCite field[12]: In File}, month = {1999}, pages = {243}, school = {SUNY at Buffalo}, type = {Ph.D. Dissertationpp}, address = {Buffalo, NY}, abstract = {This study examines water and sediment movement on a bajada in the Jornada Basin, New Mexico. Forty-five rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on 1 m2 and 2 m2 runoff plots in grassland, degraded grassland, and shrubland communities. Within the shrubland community separate experiments were conducted in shrub and intershrub environments. Regression analyses indicate that for a 30-min rainfall at approximately 130 mm h1, water yields on these environments are negatively related to the percentage of ground covered by vegetation and/or litter. In the degraded grassland and intershrub environments, sediment concentration is positively correlated with the average diameter of small mammal disturbances, suggesting that animal digging is an important factor controlling rates of erosion in these environments. Sediment concentration is not correlated with any surface property in the grassland or shrub environments. An analysis of water yields and sediment concentrations at 5-min intervals during the 30-min simulated rainfall experiments reveals that the influence of the above-mentioned factors on runoff and erosion is established 10 to 15-min into a rainfall event. A comparison among the different communities indicates that the shrubland (incorporating both shrub and intershrub environments) produces higher water and sediment yields than either the grassland or the degraded grassland. This finding has important implications for the historical replacement of grassland by shrubland. ... Thus the impact of small mammals on the erosion, transport, and redeposition of sediment in the study area depends not only on the amount of activity by the animals but also on the average distance to a rill. Because intense animal activity and short interrill flow paths occur together only in the shrubland, it is evident that this is the community where degradation of the soil by small mammals has been greatest.}, keywords = {dissertation, dissertations, disturbance, rodent, hydrology,, hydrology, grassland, hydrology, rainfall simulation, hydrology, sediment transport, hydrology, shrubland, hydrology, surface runoff, hydrology,sediment yield, rodent, hydrology, runoff, rodent effects, sediment yield, theses, thesis}, author = {Melissa Neave} } @article {51243, title = {Monitoring changes in stressed ecosystems using spatial patterns of ant communities}, journal = {Environmental Monitoring Assessment}, volume = {51}, number = {1-2}, year = {1998}, month = {June 1, 1998}, pages = {201-210}, abstract = {

We examined the feasibility of using changes in spatial patterns of ants-distnbution on experimental plots as an indicator of response to environmental stress. We produced contour maps based on relative abundances of the three most common genera of ants based on pit-fall trap captures. Relative abundance of Conomyrma spp. decreased, relative abundance of Solenopsis spp. increased, and relative abundance of Pogonomyrmex spp. remained relatively unchanged. The contour maps showed long-term changes in foraging activity and/or distribution of colonies of ants in response to grazing by domestic livestock. This study demonstrated that analysis of spatial patterns of ant activity derived from relative abundances of ants in pit-fall traps provided interpretable data for developing an indicator of exposure to ecosystem stress.

}, doi = {10.1023/A:1005939303426}, url = {/files/bibliography/631.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford and Justin Van Zee and Kris Havstad} } @conference {51295, title = {Annual plant vegetation boundaries on disturbance gradients in Chihuahuan Desert rangelands}, booktitle = {International Symposium and Workshop Combating Desertification: Connecting Science with Community Action}, year = {1997}, month = {May 12-16, 1997}, pages = {Abstract 21}, address = {Tucson, AZ}, url = {/files/bibliography/592.pdf}, author = {M. S. Nash and Walter G. Whitford} } @proceedings {51365, title = {Time series analysis of data from raingage networks in the Southwest}, volume = {General Technical Report INT-GTR-338}, year = {1996}, month = {May 23-25, 1995}, pages = {43-47}, publisher = {USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-338}, address = {Las Cruces, NM}, abstract = {

The ability to evaluate shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment requires a historical perspective and quantitative analysis of one of the primary ecosystem inputs, precipitation. Historical time series of precipitation data collected from 25 raingages on the USDA Jornada Experimental Range since as early as 1915 are examined. Time series analyses are conducted to test for trends, autocorrelation, and periodicities in the data and establish an association between mean annual precipitation and time. These results are compared with precipitation data from the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed and records from 25 raingages on the Santa Rita Experimental Range in Southeastern Arizona. Because segments of the historic record analyzed can reveal increasing annual precipitation, decreasing annual precipitation, or no trend in annual precipitation, caution must be exercised in attempting to assign either natural variations in weather and climate or rangeland use and management practices as the cause of changes in vegetation over time.

}, url = {/files/bibliography/501.pdf}, author = {M. H. Nichols and Lane, L.J. and Gibbens, Robert P.}, editor = {J.R. Barrow and McArthur, E. Durant and R. E. Sosebee and R. J. Tausch} } @article {51366, title = {Fire studies in Mallee (Eucaluptus spp.) communities of western New South Wales: Spatial and temporal fluxes in soil chemistry and soil biology following prescribed fire}, journal = {Pacific Conservation Biology}, volume = {2}, year = {1996}, month = {1996}, pages = {398-413}, abstract = {

The effects of prescribed fires on nutrient pools, soil-organisms, and vegetation patch dynamics were studied in three semi-arid mallee shrublands in western New South Wales. Repeated sampling of surface soil strata (0-2 and 2-4 cm) was undertaken at strategic times (immediately before and after the fire, after opening autumn rain, mid-season in the winter, and at the end of the spring) in five microsites (inner, middle and outer mallee litter zones, bare soil, and Triodia hummock). These samples were later analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and available nitrogen. The effect of fire on soil micro-organisms in these microsites was also examined by measuring nitrogenase activity and enumerating soil Acari. Carbon and nitrogen levels were consistently higher in the inner mallee microsites whereas bare soil sites provided the lowest values. Significant microsite times soil depth interactions were recorded in two shrubland sites while highly significant (P lt 0.001) depth times sampling time inteactions were recorded in three sites. The most sensitive soil parameter with respect to microsite was electrical conductivity, particularly in the surface 0-2 cm stratum. Highest values were again recorded from the inner mallee microsites and the lowest from bare soil sites. Nitrogenase activity was highest in soil samples associated with mallee litter and, where litter was removed by fire, activity decreased markedly except in the bare soil samples where activity was higher in the burnt samples. Soil microarthropod populations also declined notably following fire. Mites from the Prostigmata greatly outnumbered those from other suborders, a total of 12 familes (15 genera) being enumerated in control sites compared with three families (three genera) only of Cryptostigmata. Nonetheless the most abundant mites were cryptostigmatids (Aphelacarus spp.) found in unburnt hummocks beneath Triodia plants. The ecological and management implications of these spatial and temporal fluxes in soil chemistry and soil biology are discussed in relation to their effects on landscape processes, particularly water and nutrient redistribution.

}, keywords = {communities, Eucaluptus spp, Fire studies, New South Wales, prescribed fire, soil biology, soil chemistry, spatial, temporal fluxes}, doi = {10.1071/PC960398}, url = {files/bibliography/96-PacConsvtnBiology-Whitford.pdf}, author = {J. Noble and Tongway, D.J. and Roper, M.M. and Walter G. Whitford} } @article {51417, title = {Subterranean termites: regulators of soil organic matter in the Chihuahuan Desert}, journal = {Biology and Fertility of Soils}, volume = {19}, year = {1995}, note = {//NMSU//LTER III//}, month = {1995}, pages = {15-18}, abstract = {

Soil organic matter and the abundance of subterranean termites were measured at 89 locations spaced at 30-m intervals from the bottom to the top of a small desert watershed. There was no correlation between soil organic matter content and topographic position on the watershed. Analysis by autocorrelogram demonstrated that the soil organic matter content was randomly distributed on the watershed. There was a highly significant negative correlation between termite abundance and soil organic matter, r = -0.97. Soils characterized by horizon in soil pits within each vegetation type (soil type) showed some relationships to erosion-deposition areas on the watershed, with surface organic matter contents varying between 3.4\% in the playa basin where termites were absent to 0.4\% in a sparse shrubland on erosional soils. In the northern Chihuahuan Desert, subterranean termites appear to be responsible for most of the variation in soil organic matter.

}, keywords = {article, articles, decomposition, belowground, decomposition, termites, journal, journals, soil, organic matter turnover, termite, soil organic matter, transect, soil organic matter, transect, termites}, doi = {10.1007/BF00336340}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00196.pdf}, author = {M. H. Nash and Walter G. Whitford} } @conference {51418, title = {Time series analysis of data from raingage networks in the Southwest}, booktitle = {Wildland Shrub Symposium}, year = {1995}, month = {May 23-25, 1995}, pages = {3}, abstract = {

The ability to evaluate shrubland ecosystem dynamics in a changing environment requires a historical perspective and quantitative analysis of precipitation as one of the primary ecosystem inputs. Historical time series of precipitation data collected from 24 raingages on the USDA Jornada Experimental Range since 1915 are examined. Time series analyses are conducted to test for trends, autocorrelation, and periodicities in the data and, thereby, an association between mean annual precipitation and time. These results are compared with precipitation data from the Walnut Gulch experimental Watershed in Southeastern Arizona and precipitation data collected over the southwestern region of the United States. Because segments of the historic record analyzed can reveal increasing annual precipitation, decreasing annual precipitation, or no trend in annual precipitation, caution must be exercised in attempting to assign either natural variations in weather and climate or rangeland use and management practices as the cause of changes in vegetation over time.

}, author = {M. H. Nichols and Lane, L.J. and Gibbens, Robert P.} } @article {51497, title = {Breeding bird distribution in Chihuahuan desert habitats}, journal = {Southwestern Naturalist}, volume = {38}, year = {1993}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//}, month = {1993}, pages = {43-51}, abstract = {

During late spring and early summer of 1985, we studied community composition and distributional patterns of breeding birds on a bajada in southern New Mexico. Twenty-eight species were found, of which the 13 more common were examined in detail. We compared mean densities of all species among four transects and among three physiognomically distinct habitats. Comparisons between transects yielded a few significant differences that cannot be attributed to features of the habitat, but significant variation among habitats was found for most species. Bivariate correlations between bird abundances and vegetation suggested a positive relationship between grassland birds and an increase in plant cover in open areas and between scrub birds and the increase in diversity of plant life-forms. Similar relationships were found between the multivariate axes resulting from principal component analysis of plant-cover data and both bird species richness and diversity.

}, keywords = {article, articles, bird,distribution, journal, journals}, doi = {10.2307/3671643}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00166.pdf}, author = {L. G. Naranjo and Ralph J. Raitt} } @mastersthesis {51498, title = {Effects of grazing intensity and season of grazing on cow diets and plant responses on northern Chihuahuan desert}, year = {1993}, note = {//??//NONE//}, month = {1993}, pages = {50}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, keywords = {cattle grazing,diet, cattle grazing,plant response, dissertation, dissertations, theses, thesis}, author = {Nsinamwa, Mackenzie} } @article {51543, title = {Estimation of vegetative cover in an arid rangeland based on soil-moisture using cokriging}, journal = {Soil Science}, volume = {154}, number = {1}, year = {1992}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//}, month = {1992}, pages = {25-36}, abstract = {

Soil moisture and vegetative cover (ephemeral, perennial forb and perennial grass) were measured at 30-m intervals along a 2730-m transect. The spatial correlation of vegetative cover and oil moisture, and their cross-correlations, were examined. A total of 610 estimates of vegetative cover were generated at 3-m intervals along the transect, using both ordinary kriging and cokriging methods. Jackknifed estimates of mean-reduced error and reduced variance were used to validate the cokriging models. The average kriging and cokriging variances and the mean sum of squares (SSQ) were sued to compare the two methods. Based on SSQ comparisons, cokriging is the best method to estimate spring ephemeral cover (for observations form all stations) and perennial spring grass cover (for observations form alternate stations). Cokriging estimations for spring perennial grass cover and for spring ephemeral cover produced 7.14 and 2.13\%, respectively, improvement of kriging. Cokriging gave better estimations when the number of observations for perennial spring grass cover and fall perennial forb and perennial grass covers were decreased.

}, keywords = {article, articles, cokriging, cokriging,vegetative cover, journal, journals, kriging, rangeland, soil moisture,cokriging, technique, cokriging, technique, kriging, transect, vegetative cover}, doi = {10.1097/00010694-199207000-00004}, author = {M. S. Nash and Toorman, Alex and Peter J. Wierenga and Gutjahr, Allan and Gary L. Cunningham} } @article {51587, title = {Time series analysis of soil moisture and rainfall along a line transect in arid rangeland}, journal = {Soil Science}, volume = {152}, number = {3}, year = {1991}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//}, month = {1991}, pages = {189-198}, abstract = {

Soil water content and rainfall were measured at 30 m intervals along a 2730 m transect on the New Mexico State University College ranch, 40 km northeast of Las Cruces. The data were collected at 2-week intervals. Time-series techniques (autocorrelations and cross-correlations) were used to examine the relationships between the water content and rainfall and to compare the relationship of the overall average (the entire transect soil moisture content with that individual transect segments. Correlograms indicated the range of dependence in time for soil moisture and rainfall was different for the entire transect when compared to individual transect segments. In general, water content showed a significant correlation in time between 3 to 5 lags, whereas rainfall showed a significant correlation in time between 2 and 25 lags. Soil moisture lagged behind rainfall by a few lags. The response time to rainfall was short in the surface soil but increased with depth to as much as 10 lags at 135 cm. Wetting of dry, arid rangeland soils is a slow process and is largely a function of antecedent water content. In addition, this wetting process pattern was different for the entire transect when compared to individual transect segments.

}, keywords = {article, articles, journal, journals, precipitation,transect, rainfall, SEE , soil moisture, technique, time-series analysis, time-series analysis, transect, time-series analysis, transect,precipitation, transect,soil moisture}, doi = {10.1097/00010694-199109000-00005}, author = {M. S. Nash and Peter J. Wierenga and Gutjahr, Allan} } @article {51629, title = {Soil-Landscape Relationships in Alluvium Sediments in Southern New Mexico}, year = {1990}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//}, month = {1990}, institution = {New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {One of the LTER sites is in southern New Mexico on the Jornada Experimental Range. This paper describes the soil survey that was done for the study area. A soil survey was begun in the summer of 1983 to provide information for the assessment of the correlation between soil variation and the numerous biotic or soil moisture parameters along the transect. The survey objective was to prepare soil information that could be used to assess research in progress in the study area.}, keywords = {book, books, chapter, chapters, geomorphology, report, reports, soil survey, soil, alluvium sediments, soil-landscape relationships, transect, soil profile}, isbn = {Bulletin 746}, author = {M. H. Nash and LeRoy A. Daugherty} } @article {51628, title = {Statistical comparison of soil map-unit boundaries}, journal = {Soil Science Society of America Journal}, volume = {54}, number = {6}, year = {1990}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//}, month = {1990}, pages = {1677-1681}, abstract = {

Locating the exact boundaries of soil map units is one of the primary objectives for soil surveyors. Statistical methods were used to assure the most accurate location. Soil spatial variability, autocorrelation function, and soil boundary locations were examined along a 2700-m transect in southern New Mexico. Eighty-nine observation points were equally spaced along the transect. Selected physical and chemical characteristics through the transect were determined. A mulitvariate method of principal-component analysis was used to produce one set of data. These data were first inspected for stationary manner, i.e., that the mean and variance of each property remain fairly constant for each data set. Log-normal transformation was used to detrend the data. The stationary manner of autocorrelations was tested with semivariograms. The range of dependence obtained from the autocorrelations and semivariograms was used in a squared-Euclidean-distance procedure to locate the soil boundaries. These boundaries were compared with those obtained by conventional soil-survey methods. Some of the calculated boundaries agreed with those obtained by conventional soil survey. The latter method is more economical and more productive than the statistical method.

}, keywords = {article, articles, geomorphology, journal, journals, soil, map-unit boundaries, soil,spatial variability, transect, soil}, doi = {10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400060029x}, url = {files/bibliography/JRN00132.pdf}, author = {M. H. Nash and LeRoy A. Daugherty} } @mastersthesis {51682, title = {Spatial behavior and diet selection of cattle and bonded and non-bonded small ruminants grazing arid rangeland}, year = {1989}, note = {//NMSU//NONE//}, month = {1989}, pages = {112}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {This study investigated cattle, sheep and goat behavior, distribution, fecal botanical composition and liveweight change under multispecies grazing using bonded and non-bonded (control) livestock groups during the summer growing season. The study area was located on the Jornada Experimental Range, 37 km north of Las Cruces in southern New Mexico. Vegetation of the experimental paddock is classified as semidesert grassland. Precipitation during the study was 14\% above the long-term average of 18.7 cm. Control and bonded animals were maintained as separate groups and rotated between two paddocks. Scan sampling of each animal{\textquoteright}s location and behavior was conducted at consecutive hourly intervals between sunrise and sunset. Fecal samples were collected following each 7 d period of grazing paddock 10B. Composition of standing crop was evaluated immediately after each treatment group was removed from the paddock. Sheep and goats were weighed immediately upon entering and leaving paddock, cattle were not weighed.}, keywords = {behavior,cattle, behavior,goat, behavior,sheep, cattle,diet, dissertation, dissertations, flerd,grazing behavior, goat,diet, grazing behavior, cattle, grazing behavior,flerd, grazing behavior,goat, grazing behavior,sheep, grazing management, ruminant, also SEE , ruminant,behavior, ruminant,diet, sheep,diet, theses, thesis}, author = {V.B. Nakamatsu} } @article {51740, title = {Canopy architecture of Larrea tridentata (D. C.) Cov., a desert shrub: foliage orientation and direct beam radiation interception}, journal = {Oecologia (Berlin)}, volume = {75}, year = {1988}, note = {//NMSU//LTER I//Listed in LTER2 proposal as citing LTER1 support//}, month = {1988}, pages = {54-60}, abstract = {At sites in the United States, creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov.) orient foliage clusters predominantly toward the southeast . Foliage of bushes at the southernmost distribution extreme in Mexico shows no predominant orientation. Clusters at all sites are inclined between 33 degrees and 71 degrees form the horizontal. Inclinations are steeper in the drier and hotter Mojave Desert than in the Chihuahuan Desert. Individual leaflets, though not measured, appear more randomly oriented than foliage clusters. In several populations studied, branches were shorter in the southeastern sectors of the crown, reducing self-shading early in the morning. Measurements of direct beam radiation interception by detached branches, using digital image processing, indicated that foliage clusters oriented toward the southeast exhibited less self-shading during spring mornings than clusters oriented northeast. This effect was not apparent at the summer solstice. This type of canopy architecture may tend to minimize self-shading during the morning hours when conditions are more favorable for photosynthesis, resulting in an improved daily water use efficiency.}, keywords = {article, articles, journal, journals, Larrea,canopy architecture, Larrea,leaf orientation, Larrea,light interception}, author = {Neufeld, Howard S. and Meinzer, Frederick C. and Wisdom, Charles S. and Sharifi, M. Rasoul and P. Rundel and Neufeld, Mollie S. and Goldring, Yoram and Gary L. Cunningham} } @mastersthesis {51844, title = {Bird distribution and habitat preferences on a Chihuahuan Desert bajada}, year = {1986}, note = {//NMSU//LTER II//Listed in LTER3 proposal as citing LTER2 support//}, month = {1986}, pages = {58}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {Community composition, species densities and distributional patterns of breeding birds were studied during the late spring and early summer of 1985 on a bajada in southern New Mexico. Twenty-eight species were included in the sample, of which the 13 more commonly found were chosen for statistical analyses. Mean densities of all species were compared among four sampling transects, as well as among three physiognomically distinct habitats (i.e., basin slope, creosotebush, and piedmont). Comparisons between transects yielded a few significant differences that cannot be attributed to features of the habitat. Significant variation among habitats was found for most species; the creosotebush band had the lowest densities and the other two varied mainly in species composition.}, keywords = {bird, distribution, bird,community composition, bird,habitat preference, bird,species densities, dissertation, dissertations, theses, thesis}, author = {L. G. Naranjo} } @article {51845, title = {High-resolution climatic analysis and southwest biogeography}, journal = {Science}, volume = {232}, year = {1986}, note = {//LOCAL, USDA//NONE, LTER//}, month = {1986}, pages = {27-34}, abstract = {

A method that allows year-to-year patterns of weather variability to be characterized in the contexts of global warming and cooling trends in applied in a combined analysis of long-term monthly weather records and data from an ecological monitoring project in southern New Mexico. The analysis suggests a cause-effect hypothesis of recent decertification in the North American Southwest. The links between the atmosphere and the biosphere are based on the fundamentally different responses to specific weather regimes of semidesert grasses with a C4 photosynthetic pathway and desert shrubs with a C3 photosynthetic pathway. The hypothesis appears to be of sufficient generality to explain the complex, but well-documented, floristic changes that have occurred in the same region since the last glacial maximum.

}, keywords = {article, articles, biogeography, global climate, climate, analysis, climate, global, climate, vegetation response, grassland,climate, journal, journals, seedling establishment, Bouteloua,seedling establishment, vegetation response,climate}, doi = {10.1126/science.232.4746.27 }, author = {R. M. Nielson} } @article {52094, title = {Growth patterns and biomass relations of Xanthocephalum sarothrae (Pursh) Shinners on sandy soils in southern New Mexico}, journal = {Journal of Range Management}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, year = {1980}, note = {//NMSU//NONE//}, month = {1980}, pages = {394-397}, abstract = {Growth patterns of broom snakeweed were studied on three areas of sandy range sites in southern New Mexico by measuring plant canopy biweekly during the growing season and calculating canopy volume. Canopy volume increased during the summer of 1977 on all three study areas. In 1978, canopy volume declined throughout much of the growing season because effective rainfall came late in the season. More than 60\% of the canopy biomass was contributed by brown stems and leaves, about 30\% by green leaves and stems, and less than 10\% by inflorescence on most dates. Coefficients of determination relating canopy volume to canopy biomass were less than 0.70. Growth forms and patterns were quite variable among the populations studied.}, keywords = {article, articles, biomass,Xanthocephalum, journal, journals, plant productivity,Xanthocephalum, Xanthocephalum, biomass estimates, Xanthocephalum,growth patterns, Xanthocephalum,productivity}, author = {Samu Nadabo and Pieper, Rex D. and Reldon F. Beck} } @mastersthesis {52161, title = {Growth patterns of broom snakeweed (Xanthocephalum sarothrae (Pursh) Shinners) in southern New Mexico}, year = {1978}, note = {//NMSU//NONE//}, month = {1978}, pages = {67}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {A study was conducted to evaluate growth characteristics of broom snakeweed plants at three locations on the New Mexico State University Ranch, located about 32 km north of Las Cruces. Twenty individual plants were marked with wooden stakes at each location. Height and average diameter of each plant were measured biweekly during the growing season in 1977 and 1978. Measurements of the same attributes were taken biweekly on ten additional plants at each location in 1977, These plants were harvested and hand-separated into green and brown leaves and branches and flower parts, oven-dried and weighed. Regression analysis, used to predict biomass of snakeweed and component parts from height, diameter and volume measurements, indicated that these variables accounted for much of the variations in the models obtained. Further analysis of variance generally showed that differences among sites and dates were significant (P<.05), indicating that there was considerable variation in growth form among plants within and between growing seasons. Observations also suggested that adequate and timely precipitation, especially in July and August, significantly influenced the growth form of snakeweed plants during both growing seasons.}, keywords = {biomass,Xanthocephalum, dissertation, dissertations, plant,snakeweed, plant,Xanthocephalum,plant,Gutierrezia, productivity,Xanthocephalum, snakeweed, SEE , theses, thesis, Xanthocephalum, Xanthocephalum, biomass estimates, Xanthocephalum, growth patterns}, author = {Samu Nadabo} } @mastersthesis {52312, title = {Carcass performance of Brangus, Hereford and reciprocally crossbred steers}, year = {1973}, note = {//NMSU//NONE//}, month = {1973}, pages = {43}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {Four breeding groups of purebred Brangus, Hereford and their reciprocal crosses raised at the New Mexico State University College Ranch and the Fort Stanton Experimental Range were evaluated for carcass characteristics.... Correlations among various live and carcass traits were calculated. As would be expected, quality grade and marbling were highly correlated. Slaughter weight was moderately related to weaning weight and average daily gain. Carcass weight per day of age was moderately related to average daily gain, weaning weight and slaughter weight. Significant correlations of rib eye area with slaughter weight and conformation were apparent. Cutability and yield grade were both strongly related to adjusted fat thickness along with moderate relationships to rib eye area and internal fat. Lean cuts per day of age was highly related to carcass weight per day of age and was moderately related to average daily gain, slaughter weight and rib eye area.}, keywords = {cattle, carcass performance, cattle,breeding, dissertation, dissertations, theses, thesis}, author = {Steven Paul Neville} } @article {52368, title = {Liquid and dry supplements for wintering range beef calves}, year = {1971}, month = {1971}, pages = {8 }, address = {Las Cruces}, abstract = {The nutritive value of range plants decreases as they mature. When these plants are dormant, they are often deficient in certain nutrients, particularly protein and phosphorus. These deficiencies have been shown by many studies, including those at New Mexico State University. To correct these deficiencies during the winter, supplemental nutrients may be provided in many forms, the most common being meals, pellets and blocks. A relatively new practice is the use of liquid supplements. Such supplements have a liquid base, usually molasses, to which other ingredients are added. The most common addition is nonprotein nitrogen, such as urea, next most common is phosphorus and others are vitamins, minerals and antibiotics. Most liquid supplements are used in feedlot rations. Animals on pasture or range may also be offered liquid supplement free-choice, either ad libitum (at will) or restricted. With ad lib feeding, the supplement is placed in an open container with animal intake restricted only by formula modification. With restricted feeding, intake is controlled by mechanical feeders. The feeder is usually a covered container with one or more wheels extending down through the cover; the wheels turn as they are licked by the animals and a fresh layer of liquid is picked up with each turn. Decisions about supplements to feed to grazing cattle during the winter season should be based on what nutrients are lacking in the forage available for grazing. Many forms and formulations of supplements may be purchased and the increased availability of liquidsupplements has raised many questions concerning their nutritive value. To answer these questions, the NMSU Agricultural Experimental Station compared weight gains and feed costs of range beef calves fed liquid and dry supplements. Liquid supplements were compared to dry supplements in four experiments. All comparisons were with beef calves weaned in October and allowed to graze in native grass pastures. The pastures contained adequate quantities of dry grass, although the number of acres required per head varied considerably.}, keywords = {cattle, government publication, range plants, supplemental nutrients, winter grazing}, url = {/files/bibliography/131.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and Neumann, A.L. and C.H. Herbel and Yarbrough, C.C. and E. Parker and Whittenburg, J.} } @mastersthesis {52396, title = {Occurrence of vegetation and emergence of species from surface soil collected on two southwestern desert range sites}, year = {1970}, note = {//NMSU//NONE//}, month = {1970}, pages = {30}, school = {New Mexico State University}, type = {M.S. Thesispp}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, abstract = {The main objective of this study was to determine the number and species of plants that emerged from the surface two centimeters of soil collected from three locations: 1) under the canopy of creosotebush plants; 2) form open areas dominated by creosotebush but outside the canopy of the plants; and, 3) from a mesquite dominated site. Also species present on the sites in the field were compared with those species emerging from collected soil in the greenhouse under different soil moisture levels.... For each of the three locations the total number of different species found on the sites was higher than the number of species emerging form the collected soil. No mesquite plants emerged in soil collected from mesquite location or either of the creosotebush locations; nor did any creosotebush plants emerge in soil collected from the mesquite site.}, keywords = {creosotebush, germination, dissertation, dissertations, mesquite, germination, seedling germination, theses, thesis}, author = {Nava, Guillermo} } @article {52397, title = {Chemical composition of forage species grazed by cattle on an arid New Mexico range}, year = {1970}, month = {1970}, pages = {33 }, abstract = {Range beef cattle performance depends greatly upon the level of nutrients in the forage consumed. Chemical composition indicates the nutritive value of plants, although the composition varies because of such factors as stage of plant maturity. Watkins reported chemical composition of several grasses on the New Mexico State University ranch (20 miles north of Las Cruces), by month of harvest, which reflected stage of maturity. Samples of grasses were clipped at specified heights above the ground in exclosures which}, keywords = {chemical composition, forage species, government publication, range cattle}, url = {/files/bibliography/127.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and C.H. Herbel and Jackson, H.M.} } @proceedings {52424, title = {Chemical composition of the diet of cows grazing on arid range}, volume = {20}, year = {1969}, month = {1969}, pages = {355-360}, abstract = {Chemical composition of range plants offers an indication of their nutritive value. The protein content of forages usually decreases as plants mature. The levels of fiber and lignin are generally reflections of the availability of energy from the plant because, as plants grow and mature, the level of fiber and degree of lignification increase and the digestibility of these fibrous portions decreases. Several New Mexico studies (Watkins, 1943; Watkins and Repp, 1964; and others) have reported the chemical composition of range plants collected throughout the state. These reports concern forage species found in a pasture without emphasis on proportions or quantities of each species grazed by livestock. Also, sampling has not included many forbs, which may constitute a major portion of the diet of grazing cows. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of the plant species grazed by cattle on an arid range in southern New Mexico.}, keywords = {arid range, cattle, chemical composition, diet, forage species}, url = {/files/bibliography/119.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and C.H. Herbel and Jackson, H.M.} } @article {52423, title = {Performance of hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle on an arid New Mexico range}, year = {1969}, month = {May 1, 1969}, pages = {15 }, institution = {USDA, Agricultural Research Service}, address = {Las Cruces, NM}, abstract = {The dominant breed of beef cattle on the arid rangelands of Southwestern United States is Hereford. Cattle with some Zebu (Brahman) breeding may be better adapted to the hot, arid environment of this area. Santa Gertrudis was selected as a breed in this latter category. An 8-year-study of calf weaning weights and percentage calf crop weaned and a 3-year-study of blood composition of cows of these two breeds was conducted on the Jornada Experimental Range, 25 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico.}, keywords = {hereford, New Mexico range, performance, Santa Gertrudis}, url = {/files/bibliography/120.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and Holland, L.A. and C.H. Herbel} } @proceedings {52450, title = {Blood composition of range beef cows}, volume = {18}, year = {1967}, month = {1967}, pages = {177-182}, abstract = {Normal levels of certain bovine blood constituents have been listed by many, including Dukes (1955), Gardner (1947) and Long et al. (1952). Several researchers have related blood composition to feed nutrients. Robinson (1966) relates a fall in hemoglobin, plasma protein and hematocrit levels to the dry-season weight losses. Howes et al. (1957) have compared blood composition of Brahman and British breeds of cattle. Seasonal variation in some blood constituents of Hereford cows has been reported by Stufflebeam et al. (1964). Blincoe and Brody (1951) reported slightly higher hematocrit and hemoglobin values for Brahman cows than for Jersey and Holstein cows. The purpose of this study was to determine the breed and seasonal differences in the level of certain blood constituents in Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows in southern New Mexico.}, keywords = {blood composition, breed differences, herefore, Santa Gertrudis, seasonal differences}, url = {/files/bibliography/105.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and C.H. Herbel} } @proceedings {52473, title = {Activities and species preference of hereford and Santa Gertrudis range cows}, volume = {17}, year = {1966}, month = {1966}, pages = {403-408}, abstract = {Diurnal activities of beef cattle and the plant species grazed during various seasons are important in formulating grazing management plans and for nutritional studies. Breeds of cattle may perform differently on rangelands of southern New Mexico. Hereford is the predominant breed in the Southwest. Santa Gertrudis, whose genetic background includes the Brahman, may be better adapted to the hot, arid environment of this area. The purpose of this study is to determine the differences, if any, in the activities and species preference of Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows.}, keywords = {activities, hereford, range cattle, Santa Gertrudis, species preference}, url = {/files/bibliography/101.pdf}, author = {Nelson, A.B. and C.H. Herbel} } @article {52501, title = {Mesquite control with monuron, fenuron, and diuron}, year = {1963}, note = {//??//NONE//}, month = {1963}, institution = {New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, keywords = {book, books, chapter, chapters, herbicide,diuron, herbicide,fenuron, herbicide,monuron, Prosopis,herbicide, report, reports}, isbn = {Bulletin 484}, author = {Norris, J. J. and Valentine, K. A. and J. B. Gerard} } @article {52540, title = {Effect of Rodents, Rabbits, and Cattle on Two Vegetation Types in Semidesert Range Land}, number = {Bulletin 353}, year = {1950}, month = {January 1950}, pages = {24}, institution = {New Mexico Agricultural Experimental Station}, address = {Las Cruces}, keywords = {bulletin, cattle, rabbits, rangeland, rodents, vegetation}, url = {/files/bibliography/103.pdf}, author = {Norris, J. J.} } @article {52541, title = {Effects of rodents, rabbits, and cattle on two vegetation types in semi-desert range land}, year = {1950}, note = {//??//NONE//}, month = {1950}, institution = {New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station}, address = {Las Cruces, New Mexico}, keywords = {book, books, cattle,effect on vegetation, chapter, chapters, rabbit,effect on vegetation, report, reports, rodent,effect on vegetation}, isbn = {Bulletin 353}, author = {Norris, J. J.} } @article {52612, title = {The influence of precipitation and grazing upon black grama grass range}, year = {1934}, month = {April 1934}, pages = {32 }, abstract = {The excellent stand and growth of palatable perennials that once covered much of the semiarid rangelands of the Southwest afforded abundant feed for a thriving livestock industry. Where such conditions still prevail and management is adjusted to sustain production of feed within the limits of climatic conditions, livestock production is effective. On most of the range, however, continued over-stocking and the consequent accumulation of ill effects of overgrazing, combined with recurring drought, have brought about conditions involving not only heavy losses to the livestock producer but even a complete failure of profitable production. How to restore the productivity of these lands is an urgent question and one with many ramifications. One very important consideration is the preservation of the best of the remaining forage and the extension of its present growth. In this connection, one species of perennial grass growing on a considerable part of the semidesert range deserves primary attention. This is both because of its high palatability and its ability to extend its growth abundantly under moderately favorable circumstances, in which particulars black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) is without a peer. Originally, black grama was the mainstay of the range, occurring rather abundantly and in almost a pure type over extensive areas of southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas, and south into Mexico. As such stands deteriorated, black grama died out to a considerable degree, but the plant still occurs as important range forage on extensive areas either in almost pure stands or mixed with other perennial grass species. Black grama is characteristically drought resistant, a quality indispensable to the maintenance of any range forage plant under the climatic conditions prevailing in the Southwest. It is highly palatable and nutritious both in summer and winter, making it a valuable year-long forage plant, especially for cattle. During some winters, the stems remain green up to about the second node from the top, and clusters of leaves may come out at the nodes the following spring. Black grama ordinarily cures well on the stalk and retains its nutritive value through the dry spring period when other range forage is parched and harsh. Although the plant can withstand recurrent grazing by livestock, too heavy utilization impairs its vigor. During drought periods, plants so weakened succumb, thereby greatly depleting the stand. It is of the greatest importance, therefore, to know just what degree of grazing use can be applied without injury to black grama ranges. This bulletin presents the results 13 years of study (1915 to 1927, inclusive) of the influence of the variable precipitation and several intensities of grazing on the black grama range type on the Jornada Experimental Range (formerly Jornada Range Reserve) and adjacent public domain range in southern New Mexico. The adoption on southwestern ranges of such principles as this study has brought to light should make the range cattle business of the region much more stable and profitable.}, keywords = {black grama, government publication, grazing, overgrazing, precipitation, range forage}, url = {/files/bibliography/028.pdf}, author = {Nelson, E. W.} } @article {52621, title = {Methods of studying shrubby plants in relation to grazing}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {11}, year = {1930}, month = {1930}, pages = {764-769}, abstract = {

The development of methods for studying shrubby plants in relation to grazing are of importance principally because of the value of shrubs as a vegetative cover for watersheds on western range lands and because many species rank high in forage value for livestock.

}, keywords = {clay soils, grazing, methods, overgrazing, plant succession, shrubby plants}, url = {/files/bibliography/019.pdf}, author = {Nelson, E. W.} } @article {52639, title = {Calf crop increases on the Jornada}, journal = {Organized Farming}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, year = {1922}, month = {1922}, pages = {1-2}, abstract = {

New Mexico has in the neighborhood of 70,000,000 acres of land chiefly valuable for grazing livestock. About 18,500,000 acres are found in the southern tier of low-rainfall counties. The importance of this vast area in the economic life of New Mexico may be realized when it\’s known that an estimate by the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates places the number of cattle in southern New Mexico at 435,000 head, or about 30 per cent of the total in the state. Investigations in range cattle management have been conducted at the Jornada Range Reserve since 1915 by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with C.T. Turney, a practical stockman of long experience in the Southwest. Periodic droughts, varying from 1 to 4 years in duration, may occur every 7 to 10 years and play such an important part in range production in the Southwest that any system of range management must take in consideration this factor. The investigators have endeavored to work out an economic system of management for range and stock which would maintain a good breeding herd, regardless of the drought factor and, at the same time, secure highest productivity of the forage and its proper use.

}, keywords = {cattle, forage productivity, management system, New Mexico, range}, url = {/files/bibliography/009.pdf}, author = {Nelson, E. W.} }