Study

Macroinvertebrate community composition of temporary prairie wetlands: a preliminary test of the effect of rotational grazing

  • Published source details Silver C.A. & Vamosi S.M. (2012) Macroinvertebrate community composition of temporary prairie wetlands: a preliminary test of the effect of rotational grazing. Wetlands, 32, 185-197.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Change season/timing of livestock grazing: freshwater marshes

Action Link 		Marsh and Swamp Conservation
  1. Change season/timing of livestock grazing: freshwater marshes

    A replicated, site comparison study in 2008 of 13 ephemeral prairie pothole marshes in two pastures in Alberta, Canada (Silver & Vamosi 2012) found that summer/autumn-grazed marshes contained more wetland plant genera, and taller vegetation, than spring/summer-grazed marshes. The average number of wetland plant genera was significantly greater in the summer/autumn-grazed than the spring/summer-grazed marshes (data not reported). Three genera were only ever found in summer/autumn-grazed marshes: pondweeds Potamogeton spp., sedges Carex spp. and buttercups Caltha spp. Emergent vegetation was also significantly taller, on average, in summer/autumn-grazed (59 cm) than spring/summer-grazed marshes (32 cm). Methods: In July 2008, vegetation was surveyed in 13 ephemeral marshes: seven in one pasture grazed May–June and six in one adjacent pasture grazed August–October. Both pastures had been grazed by cattle (density not reported) under these regimes since 1994. All plant genera were identified in each marsh. For emergents, five random plants/genus/marsh were measured.

    (Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)

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