Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas
In grassland ecosystems, grazing by large herbivores is a highly influential process that affects biodiversity by modifying the vegetative environment through selective consumption. Here, we test whether restoration of bison is associated with increased bird diversity and cervid occupancy in network...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.821822/full |
| _version_ | 1818284627906789376 |
|---|---|
| author | Andy J. Boyce Andy J. Boyce Hila Shamon William J. McShea |
| author_facet | Andy J. Boyce Andy J. Boyce Hila Shamon William J. McShea |
| author_sort | Andy J. Boyce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In grassland ecosystems, grazing by large herbivores is a highly influential process that affects biodiversity by modifying the vegetative environment through selective consumption. Here, we test whether restoration of bison is associated with increased bird diversity and cervid occupancy in networks of riparian habitat within a temperate grassland ecosystem, mixed-grass prairie in northcentral Montana, United States. We used a long time-series of remote sensing imagery to examine changes in riparian vegetation structure in stream networks within bison and cattle pastures. We then assessed how vegetation structure influenced diversity of bird communities and detection rates of mammals in these same riparian networks. We found that percent cover of woody vegetation, and native grasses and forbs increased more rapidly over time in bison pastures, and that these changes in vegetation structure were associated with increased bird diversity and cervid occupancy. In conclusion, bison reintroduction appears to function as a passive riparian restoration strategy with positive diversity outcomes for birds and mammals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:55:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-651882be9c3a4009bd44f89b1c132870 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T00:55:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-651882be9c3a4009bd44f89b1c1328702022-12-22T00:04:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-03-011010.3389/fevo.2022.821822821822Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian AreasAndy J. Boyce0Andy J. Boyce1Hila Shamon2William J. McShea3Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United StatesSmithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United StatesConservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United StatesConservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United StatesIn grassland ecosystems, grazing by large herbivores is a highly influential process that affects biodiversity by modifying the vegetative environment through selective consumption. Here, we test whether restoration of bison is associated with increased bird diversity and cervid occupancy in networks of riparian habitat within a temperate grassland ecosystem, mixed-grass prairie in northcentral Montana, United States. We used a long time-series of remote sensing imagery to examine changes in riparian vegetation structure in stream networks within bison and cattle pastures. We then assessed how vegetation structure influenced diversity of bird communities and detection rates of mammals in these same riparian networks. We found that percent cover of woody vegetation, and native grasses and forbs increased more rapidly over time in bison pastures, and that these changes in vegetation structure were associated with increased bird diversity and cervid occupancy. In conclusion, bison reintroduction appears to function as a passive riparian restoration strategy with positive diversity outcomes for birds and mammals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.821822/fullgrasslandsongbirdsbuffalocattleconservationungulates |
| spellingShingle | Andy J. Boyce Andy J. Boyce Hila Shamon William J. McShea Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution grassland songbirds buffalo cattle conservation ungulates |
| title | Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas |
| title_full | Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas |
| title_fullStr | Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas |
| title_short | Bison Reintroduction to Mixed-Grass Prairie Is Associated With Increases in Bird Diversity and Cervid Occupancy in Riparian Areas |
| title_sort | bison reintroduction to mixed grass prairie is associated with increases in bird diversity and cervid occupancy in riparian areas |
| topic | grassland songbirds buffalo cattle conservation ungulates |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.821822/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andyjboyce bisonreintroductiontomixedgrassprairieisassociatedwithincreasesinbirddiversityandcervidoccupancyinriparianareas AT andyjboyce bisonreintroductiontomixedgrassprairieisassociatedwithincreasesinbirddiversityandcervidoccupancyinriparianareas AT hilashamon bisonreintroductiontomixedgrassprairieisassociatedwithincreasesinbirddiversityandcervidoccupancyinriparianareas AT williamjmcshea bisonreintroductiontomixedgrassprairieisassociatedwithincreasesinbirddiversityandcervidoccupancyinriparianareas |