National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Find a National Park Near You
Wind Cave National Park Wildflowers
view map
text size: largest larger normal
printer friendly
Wind Cave National Park
Abstract - Grazing History, Defoliation, and Competition: Effects on Shortgrass Production and Nitrogen Accumulation
 

Jaramillo, V.J. and Detling, J.K. 1988. Grazing history, defoliation, and competition: Effects on shortgrass production and nitrogen accumulation. Ecology 69. pp 1599-1608.

Abstract

Plants of Bouteloua gracilis were collected from heavily grazed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies (ON-colony) and lightly grazed uncolonized sites (OFF-colony) in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Results support the hypothesis that genetically based morphological and physiological differentiation has occurred in B. gracilis as a result of strong selection pressure from grazing mammals on prairie dog colonies. We suggest the ON-colony population displays a strategy that reduces grazing severity rather than a 'grazing tolerance' response to aboveground herbivory.

You are exiting the National Park Service website

Thank you for visiting our site.

You will now be redirected to:

We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable.
Bull Elk

Did You Know?
Elk were the most widely distributed member of the deer family in North America and spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Mexico to northern Alberta. Elk began to disappear in the eastern United States in the early 1800s.
more...
Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: May 01, 2007 at 12:45 MST