Intro to Rangelands/Types

Question 1

What are the 5 stages of range mgmt history?

Answer 1

1. Pre Industrial
2. exploitation (i.e. range problem)
3. steady state mgmt (max sustainable yield of most valued good)
4. ecosystem mgmt (planning for integrated ecosystems-more diverse stakeholder feedback)
5. resilience based mgmt (multiple ecosystem and services to society)

Question 2

Launchbaugh’s def’n of Rangeland Mgmt

Answer 2

use and stewardship or rangeland resources to meet goals/desires of humans

Question 3

Holecheck’s def’n of Rangeland Mgmt

Answer 3

manipulation of rangeland components to obtain optimum combo of goods/services for society on a sustained basis

Question 4

practical def’n of Rangelenad Mgmt

Answer 4

planning –> implementing –> assessing –> start over…

Question 5

adaptive mgmt def’n

Answer 5

allows us to examine different options to implement then assess for best future outcome (we decide what’s best via: tradition, wants, needs, qualitative, quantitative)

Question 6

7 Types of Rangelands

Answer 6

1. Desert
2. Tundra
3. Wetlands
4. Savannas
5. Shrublands
6. Forests
7. Grasslands (40%)

Question 7

Cultivated Pastures vs. Range

Answer 7

Pasture:
cultivated to maintain vegetation
pasture has non native vegetation
irrigation/fertilization
agronomic, not ecological

Range: used land, wild open spaces, very diverse
*not all rangelands are grazed by livestock but all are grazed by something (wildlife)

Question 8

4 common factors that influence rangeland

Answer 8

limited precipitation
sandy/saline/wet soil
steep topography
rocks

Question 9

What percent globally are rangelands

Answer 9

47%-70% (depending on who you ask)

Question 10

what percent of the US is rangeland?

Answer 10

36%

Question 11

What percent of the west is Rangeland?

Answer 11

53%

Question 12

What percent of MT is rangeland?

Answer 12

70% or 68 million acres

Question 13

8 multiple uses of Rangelands

Answer 13

1. livestock production
2. recreation
3. open space
4. forage
5. renewable energy
6. water
7. wildlife habitat
8. cultural significance

Question 14

Rangeland Challenges are…

Answer 14

unsustainable grazing practices
fire damage
invasive plants
climate change
human development

Question 15

Difference between Grasslands/Rangelands/Drylands

Answer 15

Grasslands (40%) - ID by vegetation
Drylands (45%) - ID by moisture
Rangelands (47-70%) - umbrella term, land use based

Question 16

4 Rangeland Biomes

Answer 16

1. woodlands/savanna
2. shrublands
3. grasslands
4. tundra

Question 17

What is the Whitaker biome?

Answer 17

table that depicts annual precip vs. temp
*rangelands fall across all temps but < 200 cm precip annually

Question 18

Difference between woodlands and savannahs?

Answer 18

amount of trees

woodlands –> short, open stands of trees
savannas –> scattered trees, lots of grasses (tropical/subtropical)

both have dry winter/summer
wildfire adapted species

Question 19

Shrublands are…

Answer 19

1. transitional between grasslands/forests
2. dominated by wood plants (perennial, secondary growth)
3. some trees okay, tall, single stem/trunk

Question 20

Grasslands are…

Answer 20

dominated by herbaceous plants (annual and perennial) ex. grasses and forbs

Question 21

Tundras are…

Answer 21

Arctic (northern hemisphere, latitude based)

Alpine (high/mountainous, elevation-based)

both have short growing seasons, low precip/temp/light/nutrients

Question 22

Deserts/Dryland systems are..

Answer 22

40% of the population lives here

range from Hyper arid to arid to semi-arid to dry subhumid
(MT is semi-arid)

Question 23

Multiple Use Principles

Answer 23

competing interests complicate planning/implementing/assessing process

need to understand physical/biological, and social processes

natural forces can impact across multiple ownerships

sources guiding decisions can include: qualitative, quantitative, traditions/cultures, needs/wants