Early Intensive Stocking management practices pose a serious threat to biodiversity in the Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie region.
Annual spring burning coupled with intensive cattle stocking following the fire.
This practice has been estimated to be roughly twice the stocking rate as the area can provide.
In which ungulates are grazed for 90-120 days into late summer or early fall (Robbins, et al 239 ).
The combination of fire and intense grazing has been demonstrated to have negative impacts on forb growth and reproduction, and on populations of small animals that depend on these forbs and grasses for survival (Robbins, et al 242).
The Flint Hills region is considered to hold the core populations of many different species.
This situation thus …show more content…
Population has declined by 60% in the last 20 years. ” (Robbins,et al 239)
The Greater Prairie Chicken is one of the three species in North America that has seen the greatest reduction in its range and population sizes (Pruett, et al 1253).
Primarily due to changes in fire frequency and timing along with changes in cattle grazing regimes.
“Early Intensive Stocking” (Robbins, et al 239)
The flint hills region naturally burns every 2-3 years, with grazing from May- October.
In contrast with the management practice of annual early summer burning with grazing shortly following, which lasts 90-120 days. (Robbins, et al 239)
Energy development has caused a shift in the ecosystem dynamics of the Tallgrass Prairie through the introduction of anthropogenic features.
Including wind turbines and power lines associated with energy development.
The introduction of these features further fragments the small remaining regions of the Tallgrass Prairie and may negatively effect species distribution and populations.
There has been little to no environmental oversight of the placement of wind farms and power transmission lines relative to sensitive species of wildlife (Pruett, et al
Annual spring burning coupled with intensive cattle stocking following the fire.
This practice has been estimated to be roughly twice the stocking rate as the area can provide.
In which ungulates are grazed for 90-120 days into late summer or early fall (Robbins, et al 239 ).
The combination of fire and intense grazing has been demonstrated to have negative impacts on forb growth and reproduction, and on populations of small animals that depend on these forbs and grasses for survival (Robbins, et al 242).
The Flint Hills region is considered to hold the core populations of many different species.
This situation thus …show more content…
Population has declined by 60% in the last 20 years. ” (Robbins,et al 239)
The Greater Prairie Chicken is one of the three species in North America that has seen the greatest reduction in its range and population sizes (Pruett, et al 1253).
Primarily due to changes in fire frequency and timing along with changes in cattle grazing regimes.
“Early Intensive Stocking” (Robbins, et al 239)
The flint hills region naturally burns every 2-3 years, with grazing from May- October.
In contrast with the management practice of annual early summer burning with grazing shortly following, which lasts 90-120 days. (Robbins, et al 239)
Energy development has caused a shift in the ecosystem dynamics of the Tallgrass Prairie through the introduction of anthropogenic features.
Including wind turbines and power lines associated with energy development.
The introduction of these features further fragments the small remaining regions of the Tallgrass Prairie and may negatively effect species distribution and populations.
There has been little to no environmental oversight of the placement of wind farms and power transmission lines relative to sensitive species of wildlife (Pruett, et al