PSSC 330 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Habitat Fragmentation, Food Security, Herbaceous Plant
6 Sep 2016
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Rangeland- uncultivated land that provides necessities of life for grazing and browsing animals. All areas of the world that are not barren deserts, farmed, or covered by bare soil/rock/ice/concrete. Grazing- consumption of standin forage (edible grasses & forbs) by livestock or wildlife. Browsing- consumption of edible leaves and twigs from woody plants (trees & shrubs) by a large hoofed animal. Grazing & browsing are the main focus of rangeland. Pasturelands- distinguished from rangelands by the fact that period cultivation is done to maintain introduced (non-native) forage species, and agronomic inputs (such as irrigation and fertilization) are applied annually. The amount of rangeland in the world varies each year. Large area of land in central great plains region shifted between rangeland & cropland. Depends on economic condition (price of beef vs. grain) Rangeland ecosystem- an area with similar ecological characteristics on which humans have placed boundaries for management purposes. Particular plant & animal community associated with each.
