Rangeland Ecology & Management最新文献_第2页

Long-term Heavy Grazing Reduced the Tiller Number and Tiller Weight of Stipa breviflora Regulated by Endogenous Hormones

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.006

Jirong Qiao , Shaoyu Li , Jiahua Zheng , Bin Zhang , Feng Zhang , Mengli Zhao

Tillering—an important vegetative propagation process in grass whereby new shoots emerge laterally—regulates plant and ecosystem responses to anthropogenic disturbances, especially for desert steppe ecosystems. However, the response of desert steppe plant tillering to grazing and its related physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of long-term (15 yr) grazing intensity, including no grazing (CK), light grazing (LG), moderate grazing (MG), and heavy grazing (HG) on the tiller number, weight, photosynthesis rate, endogenous hormones, and antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as nutrient storage in tiller node and roots of desert steppe species Stipa breviflora. Compared with the CK, grazing reduced the above-ground biomass of S. breviflora in terms of tiller number and weight. Specifically, the tiller number under HG (33 per plant) was significantly lower than under CK (65 per plant). Tiller weight was significantly lower at each grazing intensity compared to CK. While LG improved the leaf net photosynthetic rate, HG decreased the leaf net photosynthetic rate, reduced sugar content, and increased crude protein. Grazing resulted in increased leaf endogenous auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid. Other measured factors were not affected by grazing disturbance. Structural equation modeling showed that grazing-induced decrease in tiller number can be co-explained by excess endogenous hormones (auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid), and lowered photosynthetic rate and crude protein and sugar content (soluble sugar, and reducing sugar), with standard total effect sizes of 0.51, 0.39 and 0.24, respectively. However, the decrease in tiller weight was only the result of endogenous hormone accumulation, with a standard total effect size of 0.60. Our results demonstrate that grazing negatively impacted tiller number and weight, but highlight different regulatory mechanisms, thus illustrating links between plant physiological characteristics, functional traits, and ecosystem functioning in response to grazing disturbance.

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引用次数: 0

Snow Interacts With Defoliation Height to Drive Grassland Sustainability via Grass Biomass Maintenance

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.003

Hengkang Xu , Nan Liu , Gaowen Yang , Hao Zhang , Warwick B. Badgery , Yingjun Zhang

Snow amounts and duration are susceptible to climate change and may significantly affect plant diversity and biomass in grassland ecosystems. Yet, the combined effects of grassland use (type and intensity) and snow depth on plant diversity and productivity remain poorly understood. We established two complementary field experiments to explore the mechanisms driving the effects of grassland use (type and intensity) and snow manipulation on plant diversity and productivity in the meadow steppe. An experiment on grassland use type and snow manipulation showed that lower snow cover in winter reduced soil moisture in the snowmelt period, significantly increased the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and initiated nitrification earlier, resulting in the loss of soil available nitrogen, and then reduced the aboveground biomass of early grasses. An experiment on grassland mowing intensity and snow manipulation showed that moderate mowing intensity can restrain the loss of grass biomass and soil nutrients and maintain grassland sustainability in winters with less snow. Stochasticity has played a more important role in plant community assembly in higher intensity of grassland use. Based on our results, we recommend that optimal defoliation height can restrain the loss of grass biomass and soil nutrients and maintain grassland sustainability in winters with less snow. This study has potential benefits for optimizing sustainable production and maintaining ecosystem function under winter snowfall changes in the future across large regions of arid and semiarid grasslands.

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引用次数: 0

Edge Effects Along Roadside Fuel Treatments in Sagebrush Steppe

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.031

Samuel “Jake” Price, Matthew J. Germino, Chloe R. Watt

Increasing wildfire has motivated the construction of fuel breaks on many rangelands to improve prospects for wildfire suppression. However, the linear shape of fuel breaks greatly increases treatment perimeter:area and thus increased potential for edge effects, e.g., invasions by exotic plants. Potential for edge effects are further increased by the disturbances associated with fuel-break implementation. Fire risk in perennial-dominated and sagebrush-steppe rangelands are increased by exotic species, such as cheatgrass and other associated annuals, and therefore invasions after fuel-break implementation are problematic, yet have rarely been evaluated. Abundances of dominant invaders, cheatgrass and Russian thistle, were measured along treated and neighboring untreated edges in 40 paired plots along ∼61 km of 60-m wide fuel breaks. Fuel breaks were constructed using a variety of shrub-cutting and herbicide applications 1–4 yr before measurement. Generalized linear mixed effect models revealed that fractional cover significantly increased in treated compared with untreated areas by 0.02–0.12 for cheatgrass and 0–0.06 for Russian thistle within 9 m of treatment boundaries (on a scale of 0-1). We neither detected increased invasion in adjacent and untreated areas nor gradients of increasing invasion with proximity to treatment boundaries. Although these findings reveal invasions that were otherwise undetected across the entire 60 m width of fuel breaks, invasion levels did not surpass nominal management thresholds for fire behavior or risk of conversion to annual grasslands.

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引用次数: 0

Rangeland Resource Assessment in the Aqmola Region of Kazakhstan

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.004

Kenneth E. Spaeth Jr. , Mark A. Weltz , Jason Nesbit , Jiaguo Qi , William A. Rutherford , C. Jason Williams , David Toledo , Beth A. Newingham , Gulnaz Iskakova , Maira Kussainova , Tlekles Yespolov

The Republic of Kazakhstan in central Eurasia, is the ninth largest country in the world (2.7 million km²) and ranks fifth internationally in terms of land area of rangeland and pastureland. The spatial and temporal variability of rangeland conditions in Kazakhstan are not specifically known. The Kazakhstan government, as well as private land managers, require systematic knowledge of plant community dynamics and land use impacts, so national strategies can be customized to enhance, manage, and sustain the country's rangelands. Here, rangeland study sites from within the Aqmola region, Kazakhstan, were used to produce a framework for future rangeland monitoring, ecological site, and state and transition model development. A rangeland resource inventory (partially modelled after USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service National Resource Inventory) sampled 51 locations across the Aqmola region. Classification and ordination were then used to explore field-based data to establish a methodology for identifying unique plant groupings or clusters for the development of provisional ecological sites. Ecological associations and potential sites were identified, whereby a prototypic state and transition model was developed that included five unique ecological states and their respective disturbance/restoration transition pathways. This paper highlights an international collaboration between USA and Kazakhstan rangeland professionals to develop a land management framework to conserve and sustain rangelands.

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引用次数: 0

Most Pinyon–Juniper Woodland Species Distributions Are Projected to Shrink Rather Than Shift Under Climate Change

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.002

Adam Noel , Daniel R. Schlaepfer , Brad J. Butterfield , Megan C. Swan , Jodi Norris , Kim Hartwig , Michael C. Duniway , John B. Bradford

Pinyon–juniper (PJ) woodlands are among the most widespread ecosystems in rangelands of western North America, supporting diverse wildlife habitat, recreation, grazing, and cultural/spiritual enrichment. Anticipating future distribution shifts under changing climate will be critical to climate adaptation and conservation efforts in these ecosystems. Here, we evaluate drivers of PJ tree species’ distributions and project changes in response to future climate change. We developed species distribution models with dryland-focused predictors to project environmental suitability changes across the entirety of three pinyon and six juniper species ranges. We identify areas of robust suitability change by combining suitability projections from multiple emissions scenarios and time periods. PJ species’ suitabilities respond to many temperature and moisture covariates expected to change in the future. Projected responses among PJ species are highly variable, ranging from modest declines with concurrent gains for overall little net change to wide-ranging declines with no gains for overall range contractions. Environmental suitability is projected to decline broadly across the arid United States Southwest and remain relatively stable across the northern Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. Our results suggest unique responses of PJ species to future climate change. We found that species were projected to experience more losses than gains in suitability, for overall range shrinks rather than shifts. Land managers have the capacity to increase woodland resilience to drought, and our results can inform rangeland-wide management planning and conservation efforts in PJ woodlands.

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引用次数: 0

Evaluation of the Gap Intercept Method to Measure Rangeland Connectivity

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.001

Sarah E. McCord , Joseph R. Brehm , Lea A. Condon , Leah T. Dreesmann , Lisa M. Ellsworth , Matthew J. Germino , Jeffrey E. Herrick , Brian K. Howard , Emily Kachergis , Jason W. Karl , Anna Knight , Savannah Meadors , Aleta Nafus , Beth A. Newingham , Peter J. Olsoy , Nicole Pietrasiak , David S. Pilliod , Anthony Schaefer , Nicholas P. Webb , Brandi Wheeler , Kristina E. Young

Characterizing the connectivity of materials, organisms, and energy on rangelands is critical to understanding and managing ecosystem response to disturbances. For over twenty years, scientists and rangeland managers have used the gap intercept method to monitor connectivity. However, using gap intercept measurements to infer ecosystem processes or inform management actions and conservation practices on rangelands has been limited because there are few tools and syntheses to help managers pragmatically interpret gap measurements. In this synthesis, we review the different ways the gap intercept method is conducted and highlight considerations when collecting and using gap intercept data. We discuss what is known about how gap intercept data can be used to assess wind and water erosion, biocrust abundance and composition, soil fertility, plant community dynamics, wildlife habitat characteristics, and fuel connectivity and fire behavior. Finally, we identify emerging opportunities regarding the collection and use of gap intercept data to assess rangeland connectivity, ecosystem function, and ecological processes. Through this synthesis we demonstrate the value of the gap intercept method, particularly “all-plant” (i.e., whole-community) canopy gap, in supporting assessments of rangeland condition and vulnerability, and in planning future management actions.

{"title":"Evaluation of the Gap Intercept Method to Measure Rangeland Connectivity","authors":"Sarah E. McCord , Joseph R. Brehm , Lea A. Condon , Leah T. Dreesmann , Lisa M. Ellsworth , Matthew J. Germino , Jeffrey E. Herrick , Brian K. Howard , Emily Kachergis , Jason W. Karl , Anna Knight , Savannah Meadors , Aleta Nafus , Beth A. Newingham , Peter J. Olsoy , Nicole Pietrasiak , David S. Pilliod , Anthony Schaefer , Nicholas P. Webb , Brandi Wheeler , Kristina E. Young","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Characterizing the connectivity of materials, organisms, and energy on rangelands is critical to understanding and managing ecosystem response to disturbances. For over twenty years, scientists and rangeland managers have used the gap intercept method to monitor connectivity. However, using gap intercept measurements to infer ecosystem processes or inform management actions and conservation practices on rangelands has been limited because there are few tools and syntheses to help managers pragmatically interpret gap measurements. In this synthesis, we review the different ways the gap intercept method is conducted and highlight considerations when collecting and using gap intercept data. We discuss what is known about how gap intercept data can be used to assess wind and water erosion, biocrust abundance and composition, soil fertility, plant community dynamics, wildlife habitat characteristics, and fuel connectivity and fire behavior. Finally, we identify emerging opportunities regarding the collection and use of gap intercept data to assess rangeland connectivity, ecosystem function, and ecological processes. Through this synthesis we demonstrate the value of the gap intercept method, particularly “all-plant” (i.e., whole-community) canopy gap, in supporting assessments of rangeland condition and vulnerability, and in planning future management actions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"98 ","pages":"Pages 297-315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142746800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Diverse, Native-Plant Communities as Important Nesting Habitat for Chestnut-Bellied Scaled Quail

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.007

Fidel Hernández , Richard H. Sinclair , Holley N. Kline , Eric D. Grahmann , Timothy E. Fulbright , David B. Wester , Jeremy Baumgardt , Michael Hehman

Habitat loss and fragmentation have been implicated in the decline of chestnut-bellied scaled quail (Callipepla squamata castanogastris) in southern Texas, U.S.A. Although a general affinity of the subspecies for native thornscrub is known, its specific habitat requirements are less studied, and no information exists regarding its demography. We conducted a study in southern Texas (n = 5 ranches; LaSalle and McMullen counties) to 1) quantify survival, reproduction, and occupancy of chestnut-bellied scaled quail and 2) characterize its nesting habitat to help inform future rangeland management. We captured and radio-collared individuals (n = 137) during Mar‒Aug 2013 and 2014 to estimate survival and reproduction and conducted call-count surveys (n = 60 points) during May‒August of both years to estimate occupancy and detection probability. We measured vegetation characteristics at nest sites (n = 53 nests) and paired random points to document habitat use. We documented seasonal survival (0.68‒0.85), clutch size (10‒11 eggs), and apparent nest success (38‒59%) that were within values reported for scaled quail in other portions of its geographic distribution. However, relative abundance was low (0.14‒0.25 calling males/point), as was occupancy (0.56‒0.73) and probability of detection (0.10‒0.32). Regarding nesting habitat, pricklypear (Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm.) was the most common nesting substrate (68%; n = 53 nests), with pricklypear (95% CI β = 0.992‒1.105; P < 0.09), woody plants (95% CI β = 1.001‒1.042; P < 0.04), and native grasses (95% CI β = 0.993‒1.129; P < 0.08) being important variables distinguishing nests from random sites. Nest survival was negatively influenced by non-native grass cover (95% CI β = -0.115 to -0.006). Preservation of diverse shrub and native-grass communities should receive high consideration when planning brush management in southern Texas if conservation of chestnut-bellied scaled quail is a goal.

{"title":"Diverse, Native-Plant Communities as Important Nesting Habitat for Chestnut-Bellied Scaled Quail","authors":"Fidel Hernández , Richard H. Sinclair , Holley N. Kline , Eric D. Grahmann , Timothy E. Fulbright , David B. Wester , Jeremy Baumgardt , Michael Hehman","doi":"10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rama.2024.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitat loss and fragmentation have been implicated in the decline of chestnut-bellied scaled quail (<em>Callipepla squamata castanogastris</em>) in southern Texas, U.S.A. Although a general affinity of the subspecies for native thornscrub is known, its specific habitat requirements are less studied, and no information exists regarding its demography. We conducted a study in southern Texas (<em>n</em> = 5 ranches; LaSalle and McMullen counties) to 1) quantify survival, reproduction, and occupancy of chestnut-bellied scaled quail and 2) characterize its nesting habitat to help inform future rangeland management. We captured and radio-collared individuals (<em>n</em> = 137) during Mar‒Aug 2013 and 2014 to estimate survival and reproduction and conducted call-count surveys (<em>n</em> = 60 points) during May‒August of both years to estimate occupancy and detection probability. We measured vegetation characteristics at nest sites (<em>n</em> = 53 nests) and paired random points to document habitat use. We documented seasonal survival (0.68‒0.85), clutch size (10‒11 eggs), and apparent nest success (38‒59%) that were within values reported for scaled quail in other portions of its geographic distribution. However, relative abundance was low (0.14‒0.25 calling males/point), as was occupancy (0.56‒0.73) and probability of detection (0.10‒0.32). Regarding nesting habitat, pricklypear (<em>Opuntia engelmannii</em> Salm-Dyck ex Engelm.) was the most common nesting substrate (68%; <em>n</em> = 53 nests), with pricklypear (95% CI β = 0.992‒1.105; <em>P</em> < 0.09), woody plants (95% CI β = 1.001‒1.042; <em>P</em> < 0.04), and native grasses (95% CI β = 0.993‒1.129; <em>P</em> < 0.08) being important variables distinguishing nests from random sites. Nest survival was negatively influenced by non-native grass cover (95% CI β = -0.115 to -0.006). Preservation of diverse shrub and native-grass communities should receive high consideration when planning brush management in southern Texas if conservation of chestnut-bellied scaled quail is a goal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49634,"journal":{"name":"Rangeland Ecology & Management","volume":"98 ","pages":"Pages 184-191"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142746884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

From a Bird to a Biome: Exploring the Sage Grouse Initiative's Role in Defending and Growing Sagebrush Core Areas 从鸟类到生物群落：探索鼠尾草行动在保护和发展鼠尾草核心区中的作用

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.015

David E. Naugle , Jeremy D. Maestas , Scott L. Morford , Joseph T. Smith , Kristopher R. Mueller , Timothy Griffiths , Thad Heater

The Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has served as a primary delivery mechanism for Farm Bill investments in voluntary conservation of private rangelands in the western U.S. for fifteen years. Consistent with interagency efforts to extend conservation beyond sage-grouse to the entire sagebrush biome, the SGI has evolved to focus on conservation actions that benefit wildlife by addressing complex ecosystem problems undermining the resilience of working lands. Recent development of the Sagebrush Conservation Design (SCD) provides a common framework to coordinate the efforts of many partners invested in saving the biome's last remaining intact sagebrush ecosystems. In this forum paper, we explore the history of the SGI's strategic conservation on private lands relative to the SCD and reflect on how it could be used to improve future conservation delivery. From 2010 to 2022, NRCS contributed $423USD million in Farm Bill funds through SGI to easements, conifer removal, and invasive annual grass management with the shared goal of defending and growing Core, with most SGI actions occurring in Core (6–14%) and Growth (an additional 40–57%). The SCD's ecological integrity scores suggest that SGI-funded conifer removal has either reversed (7) or halted (2) the degradation attributable to conifer encroachment in nine focal landscapes. Concentrating conifer removals together was 20% more effective at restoring Core and Growth than the 5% gains realized among scattered, isolated treatments. Our evaluation also shows that invasive annuals are undermining the integrity of initial SGI investments and warrant more attention to defend and grow Core. Embracing the SCD could help the SGI more effectively achieve desired wildlife outcomes given the biological relevance of Cores to sage-grouse and sagebrush-obligate songbirds.

十五年来，由自然资源保护局 (NRCS) 管理的 "鼠尾草倡议"（SGI）一直是美国西部私人牧场自愿保护农业法案投资的主要交付机制。SGI 与机构间将保护范围从鼠尾草扩展到整个鼠尾草生物群落的努力相一致，通过解决破坏工作地恢复力的复杂生态系统问题，将重点放在有利于野生动物的保护行动上。最近开发的 "鼠尾草保护设计"（Sagebrush Conservation Design，SCD）提供了一个共同框架，用于协调众多合作伙伴为拯救生物群落中仅存的完整鼠尾草生态系统所做的努力。在本论坛论文中，我们将探讨 SGI 私人土地战略保护与 SCD 相关的历史，并思考如何利用 SCD 改善未来的保护工作。从 2010 年到 2022 年，NRCS 通过 SGI 为地役权、针叶树移除和一年生入侵草管理提供了 4.23 亿美元的农业法案资金，其共同目标是捍卫和发展核心区，其中大多数 SGI 行动发生在核心区（6-14%）和发展区（另外 40-57%）。SCD 的生态完整性评分表明，由 SGI 资助的针叶林移除行动扭转（7 次）或阻止（2 次）了九个重点景观中针叶林侵占造成的退化。在恢复核心和生长方面，集中移除针叶树的效果要比分散、孤立处理的 5% 效果高出 20%。我们的评估还表明，入侵的一年生植物正在破坏最初的 SGI 投资的完整性，因此需要更多的关注来保护和增长核心。考虑到核心区与鼠尾草和依赖鼠尾草的鸣禽的生物学相关性，采用 SCD 可以帮助 SGI 更有效地实现预期的野生动物成果。

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引用次数: 0

Editorial Board/Journal Info 编辑委员会/期刊信息

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-15 DOI: 10.1016/S1550-7424(24)00175-1

引用次数: 0

Modeling Cropland Conversion Risk to Scale-Up Averted Loss of Core Sagebrush Rangelands 建立耕地转换风险模型，以扩大核心沙棘灌木牧场避免损失的规模

IF 2.4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Rangeland Ecology & Management

Pub Date : 2024-10-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.011

Geoffrey Bedrosian , Kevin E. Doherty , Brian H. Martin , David M. Theobald , Scott L. Morford , Joseph T. Smith , Alexander V. Kumar , Jeffrey S. Evans , Matthew M. Heller , John Patrick Donnelly , John Guinotte , David E. Naugle

Cropland conversion is anticipated to continue westward from the Great Plains into the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) biome – the most intact biome remaining in the conterminous United States. However, relatively little is known about the extent and risk of cropland conversion to sagebrush ecosystems and the landscape scale benefits of easements in averting loss of ecological function. Therefore, our goals were to 1) quantify the cropland area of the sagebrush biome, 2) identify where the highest quality sagebrush rangelands are most at risk to future cropland conversion, and 3) estimate the ecological benefits of conservation easements to adjacent public lands. We found that croplands span 14.4 million ha in the sagebrush biome, 16.2 million ha in the historic range of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and are clustered regionally. Our spatial risk model identified 3.7 million ha of high-quality sagebrush rangelands in need of conservation protections from cropland conversion, with higher risk areas clustered regionally (e.g., Northern Great Plains). Our estimates of previous losses to cropland conversion indicated that roughly 80% of at-risk high-quality sagebrush communities have already been tilled. Spatial data and online maps of our risk model are publicly available as planning tools for prioritizing conservation and restoration actions in support of the Sagebrush Conservation Design framework. Using a case study from north-central Montana, we demonstrated that private land easements are crucial for the preservation of Core Sagebrush Areas (CSAs). These easements were found to indirectly preserve an area of CSAs that is 3.6 times larger than the easements themselves. Notably, a significant portion of this conservation benefit—approximately 80%—occurred on public lands adjacent to the easements. Our findings establish a clear connection between investments in private land conservation and beneficial outcomes on nearby public lands, and that focused, permanent protection efforts can extend ecosystem function beyond easements.

预计耕地将继续从大平原向西迁移，进入美国本土现存最完整的生物群落--鼠尾草（蒿属）生物群落。然而，人们对耕地向鼠尾草生态系统转化的程度和风险，以及地役权在避免生态功能丧失方面的景观效益知之甚少。因此，我们的目标是：1）量化鼠尾草生物群落的耕地面积；2）确定哪些地方最优质的鼠尾草牧场最有可能在未来被耕地转化；3）估算保护地役权对邻近公共土地的生态效益。我们发现，在鼠尾草生物群落中，耕地面积达 1,440 万公顷，在大鼠尾草（Centrocercus urophasianus）的历史分布区中，耕地面积达 1,620 万公顷，并且呈区域性聚集。我们的空间风险模型确定有 370 万公顷的优质鼠尾草牧场需要保护，以免被耕地转化，风险较高的地区集中在区域内（如大平原北部）。我们对以往耕地转换损失的估计表明，大约 80% 面临风险的优质鼠尾草群落已经被翻耕。我们风险模型的空间数据和在线地图可作为规划工具公开使用，用于确定保护和恢复行动的优先次序，以支持 "鼠尾草保护设计 "框架。通过对蒙大拿州中北部的案例研究，我们证明了私人土地地役权对于保护核心鼠茅草区（CSA）至关重要。研究发现，这些地役权间接保护的 CSA 面积是地役权本身面积的 3.6 倍。值得注意的是，这种保护效益的很大一部分（约 80%）发生在地役权附近的公共土地上。我们的研究结果表明，私人土地保护投资与附近公共土地的受益结果之间存在明确的联系，集中、永久的保护工作可将生态系统功能扩展到地役权之外。

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引用次数: 0