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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. UIMQrJ>AA United States Conserving Biodiversity on I Department of ^^^^ Agriculture Native Rangelands: Forest Service Rocky Mountain Symposium Proceedings Forest and Range Experiment Station Fort Collins Colorado 80526 August 17, 1995 General Technical Report RM-GTR-298 Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska » '5 -4 «£> . I Uresk, Daniel W.; GregL. Schenbeck; James T. O'Rourke, tech coords. 1996. Conservingbiodiversity on native rangelands: symposium proceedings; August 17, 1995; Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska. Gen- eralTechnicalReport RM-GTR-298. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range ExperimentStation. 38 p. Abstract: Theseproceedingsaretheresultofasymposium,"Con- serving biodiversity on native rangelands" held on August 17, 1995 in Fort Robinson State Park, NE. The purpose of this symposium was to provide a forum to discuss how elements of rangeland biodiversity are being conserved today. We asked, "How resilient and sustainable are rangeland systems to the increasing demands of a growing human population and to extended periods ofdrought?" Key programs and issues, identifiedbyaprogramcommittee,wereaddressedbyresearchersand managers. Their papers provide research results, management findings, and describe management programs currently used to conserve rangelandbiodiversity. Keywords: biodiversity, rangeland, sustainability, drought, conservation You may order additional copies of this publication by sendingyour mailing information in label form through one of the following media. Please send the publication title and number. Telephone (970) 498-1719 DG message R.Schneider:S28A FAX (970) 498-1660 E-mail /s=r.schneider/[email protected] MailingAddress Publications Distribution Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station 3825 E. MulberryStreet Fort Collins, CO 80524 Editor's note: To deliver symposium proceedings to readers as quickly as possible, manuscripts did not undergo full editing. Views expressed in each paper are those ofthe author and not necessarily those ofthe sponsoring organizations or the USDAForest Service. Trade names are used for the information and conve- nience ofthe reader and do notimply endorsement or preferential treatmentby the sponsoring organiza- USDA tions or the Forest Service. USDA Forest Service September 1997 GeneralTechnical Report RM-GTR-298 Conserving Biodiversity on Native Rangelands: Symposium Proceedings August 17, 1995 Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska Technical Coordinators: Dr. Daniel W. Uresk, Project Leader USDA ForestService Center for Great Plains Ecosystem Research Rocky MountainForest and Range Experiment Station Rapid City, South Dakota GregL. Schenbeck, Northern Plains Wildlife Coordinator USDA ForestService Chadron, Nebraska Dr. James T. O'Rourke, Professor DepartmentofAgriculture and IndustrialTechnology Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska Sponsors: USDAForestService, RockyMountain Forest and Range ExperimentStation Nebraska National Forest Chadron State College, Department ofAgriculture and IndustrialTechnology Central Mountains and Plains Section ofThe Wildlife Society Nebraska Chapter ofThe Wildlife Society Contents Page Introduction 1 A Neotropical Migratory Bird Prioritization for National Forests and Grasslands 3 DickRoth and Richard Peterson Greater Prairie Chicken Nesting Habitat, Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota 13 Clinton McCarthy, TimPella, Greg Link, and MarkRumble Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Status and Future Conservation Planning 19 Daniel W. Mulhern and Craig Knowles J. The Role of Fire in Managing for Biological Diversity on Native Rangelands of the Northern Great Plains 31 CarolynHull Sieg Introduction Rangelands embody biological diversity of pro- large animals has been modified by the conversion found ecological and social significance, yet it is the fromfree-rangingbisonandotherlarge ungulatesto biological diversity of forests and wetlands that has confined domestic livestock and a proliferation of been the focus of research by scientists and concern livestock water developments. Cultivation has frag- bythepublic.Recently,abroadarrayofpeople,from mented and isolated rangelands and often natural ecologistsandbiologiststoranchersandrecreationists, processesnolongerfunction. Aninsidiouschallenge have begun to realize the importance of rangeland to rangeland biodiversity is the invasion of exotic conservationandbiologicaldiversity.Althoughthese plantsintonativerangeoftenattheexpenseofnative groups may not always share a common vision of biota. rangelands,theyshareacommoninterestintheland Thepurpose ofthissymposium was to provide a thatwillfosterabetterunderstandingand apprecia- forum to discuss how elements of rangeland We tion ofthe value ofdiverse and healthy rangelands. biodiversity are being conserved today. asked, Ranchershavelongpracticedconservationofrange- "How resilient and sustainable are rangeland sys- land biological diversity. Most recognize the impor- temstotheincreasingdemandsofagrowinghuman tanceofbothwarmand coolseasongrasses toround population and to extended periods of drought?" out their forage programs, and many have noticed One waytobeginansweringthisquestionis tolook that in some years one grass will do poorly while at our successes and failures in conserving all parts another will thrive, thus balancing the production. of rangeland systems. Key programs and issues, Ranchers depend on native grasses comingbackon identifiedbyaprogramcommittee,wereaddressed their own after drought or a bad grasshopper year; by researchers and managers. Their papers, which somespecieswillreturnquickerthanothers.Looking have received statistical and peer review, are pre- toward the future, ranchers manage their grass fora sented here and provide research results, manage- diverserangelandcommunity,notamonotypicone. mentfindings,anddescribemanagementprograms Thisisconservationofrangelandbiologicaldiversity currently used to conserve rangeland biodiversity. at the grass roots level. The paper "Gap Analysis in the Great Plains: A Together, scientists and rangeland managers are Large-Scale Geographic Strategy for Conservation traveling to new levels ofconservation of rangeland ofBiodiversity"byDennisJelinski,MichaelJennings, biodiversity, but the journey has some formidable andJamesMerchantwaswithdrawnbythe authors challenges.Herbivory,fire,drought,andothernatu- before publication of this workshop proceedings. ral events and processes historically shaped range- This symposium was held concurrently with the land biodiversity and ecological processes long be- AnnualMeetingofthe CentralMountains and Plains fore human action. However, human influence on SectionofTheWildlifeSociety. Wethanktheorganiz- the range has complicated and interrupted many ersofthateventforsuggestingthissymposium.Thanks naturallyoccurringmechanisms.Theuseandcontrol are also extended for the well-attended field trip to of fire has altered its frequency and intensity. The reviewnorthernswiftfoxmanagementin southwest- pattern, frequency, and intensity of herbivory by ernSouth Dakota thatconcluded the workshop. 1 2