Countering Misinformation Concerning Big Sagebrush
Author | : Bruce Leigh Welch |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 38 |
Release | : 2003 |
ISBN-10 | : MINN:31951D03001924C |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (4C Downloads) |
Book excerpt: This paper examines the scientific merits of eight axioms of range or vegetative management pertaining to big sagebrush. These axioms are: (1) Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.wyomingensis) does not naturally exceed 10 percent canopy cover and mountain big sagebrush (A.t.ssp.vaseyana) does not naturally exceed 20 percent canopy cover; (2) As big sagebrush canopy cover increases over 12 to15 percent, bare ground increases and perennial grass cover decreases; (3) Removing, controlling, or killing big sagebrush will results in a two or three or more fold increase in perennial grass production; (4) Nothing eats it; (5) Biodiversity increases with removing, controlling, thinning, or killing of big sagebrush; (6) Mountain big sagebrush evolved in an environment with a mean fire interval of 20 to 30 years; (7) Big sagebrush is an agent of allelopathy; and (8) Big sagebrush is a highly competitive, dominating, suppressive plant species.