ARS | Publication request: IS PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY WORTH MANAGING IN GRAZING LANDS?

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 20, 2002
Publication Date: November 12, 2002
Citation: Sanderson, M.A. 2002. Is plant species diversity worth managing in grazing lands?[abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. Paper No. C06-sanderson072854-oral. 2002 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: The purpose of this symposium is to present the latest concepts in plant biodiversity in grazing land ecosystems and discuss their potential application to management of forage and grazing lands. The symposium begins with an overview of plant diversity in grassland ecosystems, then addresses topics on morphological and physiological interactions among plants; integrating spatial and temporal scales in biodiversity; functional traits of temperate pastures; and manipulating plant diversity with grazing animals. Finally, participants will discuss the potential for exploiting biodiversity concepts in grazing land management. Key questions to be addressed include: are these concepts transferable to production agriculture and what knowledge gaps exist or what barriers are there to the application of these concepts?