Abstract
A study was conducted in the South Texas Plains to contrast the short-term impacts of short duration grazing (SDG) and deferred-rotation grazing (DG) systems on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). Foliar cover, species richness, and structural attributes of the vegetation were compared at radio-location sites (quail-used) and sites along random transects (available) within and between the 2 grazing systems. Quail-used sites were characterized by increased species richness, forb cover, and bare ground and decreased plant height and litter accumulations. Principal components analysis revealed that available sites on the SDG during the fall and winter were scored higher along a habitat gradient which had greater species richness and forb cover combined with diminished litter accumulations. This habitat gradient explained 41% of the variation in the ground layer variables. In addition, mark-recapture studies suggested positive population responses on the SDG during the first year following its initiation. Short-term improvements in bobwhite habitats may be realized by initiating SDG on some semiarid rangelands.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
At quail-used sites in the South Texas Plains, species richness, forb cover and bare ground increased.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhites
_falcon_lake_st_park%2C_tx_(8718708333).jpg?width=60)
Colinus virginianuse2 - Outcome
- species richness, forb cover, and bare grounde1
- Direction
- increasede1
- Setting
- South Texas Plainse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_falcon_lake_st_park%2C_tx_(8718708333).jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“in the South Texas Plains”
e1“Quail-used sites were characterized by increased species richness, forb cover, and bare ground”
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
Claim · model-written summary
At quail-used sites in the South Texas Plains, plant height and litter accumulations decreased.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhitesColinus virginianuse2
- Outcome
- plant height and litter accumulationse3
- Direction
- decreasede3
- Setting
- South Texas Plainse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in the South Texas Plains”
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
e3“decreased plant height and litter accumulations”
Claim · model-written summary
On the SDG in fall and winter, available sites scored higher on a habitat gradient with more species richness and forb cover and less litter.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhitesColinus virginianuse2
- Treatment
- SDGe4
- Outcome
- habitat gradiente4
- Direction
- highere4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
e4“Principal components analysis revealed that available sites on the SDG during the fall and winter were scored higher along a habitat gradient which had greater species richness and forb cover combined with diminished litter accumulations”
Claim · model-written summary
The habitat gradient explained 41% of the variation in the ground layer variables.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhitesColinus virginianuse2
- Outcome
- variation in the ground layer variablese5
- Value
- 41%e5
- Setting
- South Texas Plainse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in the South Texas Plains”
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
e5“This habitat gradient explained 41% of the variation in the ground layer variables”
Claim · model-written summary
Mark-recapture studies suggested positive population responses of northern bobwhites to SDG in the first year after its start.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhitesColinus virginianuse2
- Treatment
- SDGe6
- Outcome
- population responsese6
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
e6“mark-recapture studies suggested positive population responses on the SDG during the first year following its initiation”
Claim · model-written summary
Bobwhite habitat improvements may be realized by initiating SDG on some semiarid rangelands.
- Taxon
- northern bobwhitesColinus virginianuse2
- Treatment
- initiating SDGe7
- Outcome
- improvements in bobwhite habitatse7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“on habitats for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)”
e7“Short-term improvements in bobwhite habitats may be realized by initiating SDG on some semiarid rangelands”