Unit 3

Question 1

Why would you apply a mechanical treatment?

Answer 1

To get un-stuck successionally

Question 2

2. Before you conduct a mechanical treatment name 7 areas you should consider to help insure your project is beneficial to the landscape?

Answer 2

1. Conduct cost-benefit analysis
2. Will it cause unacceptable soil compaction?
3. Will it create unacceptable amounts or distribution of bare ground?
4. Will it damage desireable existing vegetation
5. will it harm biological soil crusts?
6. will it provide a seed bed for seedling establishment?
7. will the slope of the site contribute to rill or surface erosion?

Question 3

Define weather vs. climate

Answer 3

Weather - short-term condiitons of the atmosphere

climate - long-term average of daily weather

Question 4

define microclimate

Answer 4

day-to-day local conditions in the seedbad and the soil surface as experienced by seeds and seedlings

Question 5

Define safe sites

Answer 5

microsites where conditions are favorable for seedling germination

Question 6

2. How do you calculate GDD and give some examples of how they can be used?

Answer 6

Growing Degree Days are used to estimate the growth and development of species remotely, to determine when an area is ready to be grazed.
Take a sum of the average daily temperatures, buffered for any maximum and minimum temps

Question 7

5. Define prescribed and targeted grazing:

Answer 7

Prescribed Grazing – The controlled harvest of vegetation with grazing animals, managed with the intent to achieve a specific objective
entails anything with planned grazing (broader term)

Targeted Grazing – the application of specific livestock type at a determined season, duration and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation or landscape goals
more specific and detailed
can be sued to control noxious weeds and other invasives

Question 8

6. What are the 4 principles of Targeted Grazing?

Answer 8

1. Stocking rate – also density (related to distribution)
2. Distribution – fencing most common way to manipulate this
3. Species of livestock – cattle are grazers but will browse, sheep like forbs but will graze and browse, goats browse but will graze
4. Season (timing) of grazing – graze before seed set (at the boot)

Question 9

7. Draw the framework for animal taste aversions.

Answer 9

Controlled Stimulus (odor, sight of food)  Uncontrolled stimulus (taste)  Feedback (postingestive consequences)  conditioned response (seek or avoid)

Question 10

8. What are three objectives of pre-conditioning?

Answer 10

increase consumption of a novel or toxic plant

2. decrease the likelihood of food aversions
3. increase the likelihood of consumption of targeted plants in the field

Question 11

9. What are the three main concerns using livestock as tools?

Answer 11

plant secondary chemistry

2. animal welfare
3. Endozoochory – the dispersal of seeds by livestock through feces