Impacts of livestock grazing in sagebrush ecosystems

Title	Impacts of livestock grazing in sagebrush ecosystems
Publication Type	Conference Paper
Year of Publication	2004
Authors	Havstad K, Vavra M.
Conference Name	89th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America
Date Published	August 1-6, 2004
Conference Location	Portland, OR
ARIS Log Number	168817
Keywords	impacts, livestock grazing, managed grazing, rangelands, sagebrush ecosystems, stocking rates
Abstract	Differential impacts of grazing by domestic livestock as a function of stocking rates (land area/animal numbers/time) on western rangelands have been recognized for decades. In the sagebrush steppe the general impacts of chronically excessive stocking rates are typically negative, long lasting, and usually complicated by concurrent episodic disturbances (such as drought, fire, and species introductions). There are numerous general theories on the role of large ungulates in shaping rangeland systems and, though domestication has altered some behaviors of their historic predecessors, inherent foraging behaviors of livestock are similar to other wild ungulates. Today, the issues surrounding grazing impacts by livestock revolve less around excessive uses and more about chronic direct and indirect impacts of preference, presence, and pattern of use. This review will acknowledge the well-recognized impacts of excessive use, describe associated impacts (such as landscape fragmentation, predator control, and encroaching or invasive species), and characterize the more pervasive direct and indirect impacts of managed grazing on sagebrush steppe rangelands.