Research Project: Development of Management Strategies for Livestock Grazing, Disturbance and Climate Variation for the Northern Plains

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Spatio-temporal patterns of rangeland forage nutritive value and grazer selection with patch-burning in the US northern Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Fire seasonality and herbicide effects on Sarcobatus vermiculatus survival and structure in western Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wade, N.M., Vermeire, L.T., Scasta, J. 2024. Fire seasonality and herbicide effects on Sarcobatus vermiculatus survival and structure in western Great Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 94:64-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.02.001.

Pyrogeography of the Western Great Plains: A 40-year history of fire in semi-arid rangelands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McGranahan, D.A., Wonkka, C.L. 2024. Pyrogeography of the Western Great Plains: A 40-year history of fire in semi-arid rangelands. Fire. 7(1). Article 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7010032.

Above-ground plant properties are not leading indicators of grazing-induced soil carbon accrual in the Northern Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Rinella, M.J., Waterman, R.C., Sanni Worogo, H., Vermeire, L.T. 2023. Above-ground plant properties are not leading indicators of grazing-induced soil carbon accrual in the Northern Great Plains. Global Change Biology. 158. Article 111509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111509.

New applications for point intercept methods: Replacing manual sorting of current-year herbaceous biomass - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Anderson, K.J., Vermeire, L.T., Strong, D.J., Poland, W.W. 2023. New applications for point intercept methods: Replacing manual sorting of current-year herbaceous biomass. Ecological Indicators. 158. Article 111360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.111360.

Grasshopper abundance and offtake increase after prescribed fire in semi-arid grassland - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Exploring effective detection and spatial pattern of Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia genus) from airborne imagery before and after prescribed fires in the Edwards Plateau - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jaime, X., Angerer, J.P., Yang, C., Walker, J., Mata, J., Tolleson, D., Wu, X. 2023. Exploring effective detection and spatial pattern of Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia genus) from airborne imagery before and after prescribed fires in the Edwards Plateau. Remote Sensing. 15(16). Article 4033. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15164033.

Data from: Precipitation manipulation experiments may be confounded by water source - (Database / Dataset)
Reinhart, K.O., Vermeire, L.T. 2023. Data from: Precipitation manipulation experiments may be confounded by water source. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1528983.

Future-proofing extensive livestock production in sub-tropical grasslands and savannas - (Review Article)

Precipitation manipulation experiments may be confounded by water source - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Clipping height and frequency effects on Japanese brome seed production and viability - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Muscha, J.M., Vermeire, L.T., Haferkamp, M.R. 2023. Clipping height and frequency effects on Japanese brome seed production and viability. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 90:290-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2023.04.003.

Grazing intensity and seasonality manipulate invasive annual grasses and native vegetation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vermeire, L.T., Waterman, R.C., Reinhart, K.O., Rinella, M.J. 2023. Grazing intensity and seasonality manipulate invasive annual grasses and native vegetation. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 90:308-313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2023.04.001.

Synergistic effects of canopy chemistry and autogenic soil biota on a global invader - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Majumdar, S., Kaur, H., Rinella, M.J., Erbilgin, N., Callaway, R.M., Cadotte, M., Singh, I. 2023. Synergistic effects of canopy chemistry and autogenic soil biota on a global invader. Journal of Ecology. 111:1497-1513. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14113.

Fire reduces Russian olive seed germination and seedling survival with increasing fuel load - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Muscha, J.M., Vermeire, L.T., Angerer, J.P. 2023. Fire reduces Russian olive seed germination and seedling survival with increasing fuel load. Restoration Ecology. 11. Article e13904. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13904.

The declining Ogallala Aquifer and the future role of rangeland science on the North American High Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rhodes, E.C., Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., Tanner, E.P., Angerer, J.P., Fox, W.E. 2023. The declining Ogallala Aquifer and the future role of rangeland science on the North American High Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 87:83-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2022.12.002.

Establishing forbs for pollinators in agricultural landscapes of the Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Porensky, L.M., Bellows, S.E., Knox, J.M., Metier, E.P. 2022. Establishing forbs for pollinators in agricultural landscapes of the Great Plains. Restoration Ecology. 31(4). Article e13846. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13846.

Weather and fuel as modulators of grassland fire behavior in the northern Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McGranahan, D.A., Zopfi, M.E., Yurkonis, K.A. 2022. Weather and fuel as modulators of grassland fire behavior in the northern Great Plains. Environmental Management. 71:940-949. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01767-9.

Fire and nitrogen effects on Aristida purpurea mineral concentrations - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dufek, N.A., Vermeire, L.T., Waterman, R.C., Ganguli, A.C. 2022. Fire and nitrogen effects on Aristida purpurea mineral concentrations. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 86:44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2022.10.006.

Modeling herbaceous biomass for grazing and fine fuels management in central Arizona - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rhodes, E.C., Tolleson, D.R., Angerer, J.P. 2022. Modeling herbaceous biomass for grazing and fine fuels management in central Arizona. Land. 11(10). Article 1769. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101769.

Effects of mowing, spring precipitation, soil nutrients and enzymes on grassland productivity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Komatsu, K., Vermeire, L.T. 2022. Effects of mowing, spring precipitation, soil nutrients and enzymes on grassland productivity. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 5(4). Article e20320. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20320.

Prefire vegetation structure of high severity wildfires in nonherbaceous-dominated rangelands in the western United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, Z., Angerer, J.P., Wu, X. 2022. Prefire vegetation structure of high severity wildfires in nonherbaceous-dominated rangelands in the western United States. Earth's Future. 10(10). Article e2021EF002624. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002624.

Barriers to prescribed fire in the US Great Plains, Part II: Critical review of presently used and potentially expandable solutions - (Review Article)
Clark, A., McGranahan, D.A., Geaumont, B.A., Wonkka, C.L., Ott, J.P., Kreuter, U. 2022. Barriers to prescribed fire in the US Great Plains, Part II: Critical review of presently used and potentially expandable solutions. Land. 11(9). Article 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091524.

Barriers to prescribed fire in the US Great Plains, Part I: Systematic review of socio-ecological research - (Review Article)
Clark, A., McGranahan, D.A., Geaumont, B.A., Wonkka, C.L., Ott, J.P., Kreuter, U. 2022. Barriers to prescribed fire in the US Great Plains, Part I: Systematic review of socio-ecological research. Land. 11(9). Article 1521. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091521.

Estimating rangeland fine fuel biomass in western Texas using high-resolution imagery and machine learning - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, Z., Angerer, J.P., Jaime, X., Yang, C., Wu, X. 2022. Estimating rangeland fine fuel biomass in western Texas using high-resolution imagery and machine learning. Remote Sensing. 14(17). Article 4360. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14174360.

The Dunn Ranch Academy: Developing wildland fire literacy through hands-on experience with prescribed fire science and management - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mcgranahan, D.A., Maier, C.M., Gauger, R.P., Woodson, C.A., Wonkka, C.L. 2022. The Dunn Ranch Academy: Developing wildland fire literacy through hands-on experience with prescribed fire science and management. Fire. 5(4). Article 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5040121.

Heterogeneity-based management restores diversity and alter vegetation structure without decreasing invasive grasses in working mixed-grass prairie - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Duquette, C., McGranahan, D.A., Wanchuk, M.R., Hovick, T., Sedivec, K., Limb, R. 2022. Heterogeneity-based management restores diversity and alter vegetation structure without decreasing invasive grasses in working mixed-grass prairie. Land. 11. Article 1135. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081135.

Lessons from a next generation carbon ranching experiment - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Rinella, M.J., Sanni Worogo, H., Waterman, R.C., Vermeire, L.T. 2022. Lessons from a next generation carbon ranching experiment. Global Change Biology. 425. Article 116061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116061.

The impacts of wildfires of different burn severities on vegetation structure across the western United States rangelands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, Z., Angerer, J.P., Wu, X. 2022. The impacts of wildfires of different burn severities on vegetation structure across the western United States rangelands. Science of the Total Environment. 845. Article 157214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157214.

Grazing and defoliation timing effects in Great Plains ponderosa pine woodland following a large summer wildfire - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Williams, A.R., Vermeire, L.T., Waterman, R.C., Marlow, C.B. 2022. Grazing and defoliation timing effects in Great Plains ponderosa pine woodland following a large summer wildfire. Forest Ecology and Management. 520. Article 120398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120398.

Mineral nitrogen and microbial responses to soil heating in burned grassland - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McGranahan, D.A., Wonkka, C.L., Rana Dangi, S., Spiess, J.W., Geaumont, B. 2022. Mineral nitrogen and microbial responses to soil heating in burned grassland. Geoderma. 424. Article 116023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116023.

Fuel properties of effective greenstrips in simulated cheatgrass fires - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McGranahan, D.A., Wonkka, C.L. 2022. Fuel properties of effective greenstrips in simulated cheatgrass fires. Environmental Management. 70:319-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01659-y.

Book review: “The Pyrocene: How We Created an Age of Fire, and What Happens Next" by S. Pyne - (Other)
McGranahan, D.A. 2022. Book review: “The Pyrocene: How We Created an Age of Fire, and What Happens Next" by S. Pyne. African Journal of Range and Forest Science. https://doi.org/10.2989/10220119.2022.2070278.

Roots of invasive woody plants produce more diverse flavonoids than non-invasive taxa, a global analysis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Borda, V., Reinhart, K.O., Ortega, M., Burni, M., Urcelay, C. 2022. Roots of invasive woody plants produce more diverse flavonoids than non-invasive taxa, a global analysis. Biological Invasions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02812-8.

Evidence, causes, and consequences of a global decline in ecosystem nitrogen availability in terrestrial ecosystems - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mason, R., Elmore, A., Fulweiler, R.W., Groffman, P., Craine, J., Lany, N., Jonard, M., Ollinger, S., Angerer, J.P., Read, Q., Reich, P.B., Templer, P.H. 2022. Evidence, causes, and consequences of a global decline in ecosystem nitrogen availability in terrestrial ecosystems. Science. 376(6590). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh3767.

Low neighbor abundances are often necessary but insufficient for establishing seeded shrubs - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J. 2022. Low neighbor abundances are often necessary but insufficient for establishing seeded shrubs. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 82:37-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2022.02.004.

Management strategies determine how invasive plant impacts on rangeland provisioning services change net revenue on California annual rangeland - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
James, J.J., Brownsey, P., Davy, J., Forero, L., Stackhouse, J., Shapero, M., Becchetti, T., Rinella, M.J. 2022. Management strategies determine how invasive plant impacts on rangeland provisioning services change net revenue on California annual rangeland. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 82:29-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2022.02.001.

Early calving benefits livestock production under winter and spring warming - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Bellows, S.E., Geary, T.W., Waterman, R.C., Vermeire, L.T., Van Emon, M.L., Cook, L.A., Reinhart, K.O. 2022. Early calving benefits livestock production under winter and spring warming. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 81:63-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2022.01.003.

Low rate of aminopyralid nearly eliminates viable seed production in barb goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Bellows, S.E., Beitz, P.A. 2022. Low rate of aminopyralid nearly eliminates viable seed production in barb goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis). Invasive Plant Science and Management. 15:57-60. https://doi.org/10.1017/inp.2022.3.

Ruminating on the science of carbon ranching - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Worogo, H., Rinella, M.J. 2021. Ruminating on the science of carbon ranching. Journal of Applied Ecology. 59(3):642-648. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14100.

Pasture-scale evaluation of postemergence applications of aminopyralid for controlling medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Bellows, S.E., Davy, J.S., Forero, L.C., Hatler, W.L., James, J.J. 2021. Pasture-scale evaluation of postemergence applications of aminopyralid for controlling medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae). Rangeland Ecology and Management. 79(1):201-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.09.001.

Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains - (Abstract Only)
Reinhart, K.O., Worogo, H., Rinella, M.J., Vermeire, L.T. 2021. Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 79(1):22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.07.006.

Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Worogo, H., Rinella, M.J., Vermeire, L.T. 2021. Livestock increase soil organic carbon in the Northern Great Plains. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 79:22-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.07.006.

Capacity of plants to accumulate sulfur and improve the quality of livestock drinking water - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Petersen, M.K., Muscha, J.M. 2021. Capacity of plants to accumulate sulfur and improve the quality of livestock drinking water. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:100-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.06.005.

Influence of grazing season, residual herbage, and precipitation on rumen extrusa diet quality - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Waterman, R.C., Vermeire, L.T., Reinhart, K.O., Rinella, M.J. 2021. Influence of grazing season, residual herbage, and precipitation on rumen extrusa diet quality. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:117-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.06.004.

Annual bromes decrease with increasing fall defoliation intensity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Waterman, R.C., Vermeire, L.T. 2021. Annual bromes decrease with increasing fall defoliation intensity. Global Ecology and Conservation. 28. Article e01652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01652.

Contrasts in forage mineral content with patch-burn grazing: a preliminary analysis - (Proceedings)
Wanchuk, M.R., McGranahan, D.A., Sedivec, K.K., Swanson, K.C., Hovick, T.J., Limb, R.F. 2021. Contrasts in forage mineral content with patch-burn grazing: a preliminary analysis. Translational Animal Science. 5(S1):S75-S79. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab173.

Importance of phytobiomass and ungulates to hydrologic function in a temperate grassland - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Vermeire, L.T. 2021. Importance of phytobiomass and ungulates to hydrologic function in a temperate grassland. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.04.009.

Individual and combined effects of fall fire and growth-regulator herbicide on annual bromes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vermeire, L.T., Rinella, M.J., Strong, D.J. 2021. Individual and combined effects of fall fire and growth-regulator herbicide on annual bromes. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 76:129–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.02.009.

Globally, plant-soil feedbacks are weak predictors of plant abundance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Bauer, J.T., Mccarthy-Neumann, S., Macdougall, A.S., Hierro, J.L., Chiuffo, M.C., Mangan, S.A., Heinze, J., Bergmann, J., Joshi, J., Duncan, R.P., Diez, J.M., Kardol, P., Rutten, G., Fischer, M., Van Der Putten, W.H., Martijn Bezemer, T., Klironomos, J. 2021. Globally, plant-soil feedbacks are weak predictors of plant abundance. Ecology and Evolution. 11(4):1756-1768. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7167.

Water quality for livestock in northern great plains rangelands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Muscha, J.M., Reinhart, K.O., Petersen, M.K. 2020. Water quality for livestock in northern great plains rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 75:29-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.11.005.

Comparisons of efficiency of two formulations of verbenone (4, 6, 6-trimethylbicyclo [3.1.1] hept-3-e3n-2-one) for protecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Progar, R.A., Fettig, C.J., Munson, S.A., Mortenson, L.A., Snyder, C.L., Kegley, S.J., Cluck, D.R., Steed, B.E., Mafra-Neto, A., Rinella, M.J. 2021. Comparisons of efficiency of two formulations of verbenone (4, 6, 6-trimethylbicyclo [3.1.1] hept-3-e3n-2-one) for protecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 114(1):209–214. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa289.

Effects of defoliation, litter, and moss on Bromus arvensis in a northern mixed-grass prairie - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Reinhart, K.O., Williams, A., Vermeire, L.T. 2020. Effects of defoliation, litter, and moss on Bromus arvensis in a northern mixed-grass prairie. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 73(5):607-610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.06.005.

Fall water effects on growing season soil water content and plant productivity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vermeire, L.T., Rinella, M.J. 2020. Fall water effects on growing season soil water content and plant productivity. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 73(2):252-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.11.006.

Control of downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus) using glyphosate and four graminicides: effects of herbicide rate, plant size, species, and accession - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Metier, E.P., Lehnhoff, E., Mangold, J., Rinella, M.J., Rew, L. 2019. Control of downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus) using glyphosate and four graminicides: effects of herbicide rate, plant size, species, and accession. Weed Technology. 34(2):284-291. https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2019.112.

Seeding causes long-term increases in grass forage production in invaded rangelands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinella, M.J., Knudsen, A., Jacobs, J.S., Mangold, J.M. 2019. Seeding causes long-term increases in grass forage production in invaded rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 73(2):329-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.10.008.

Can mowing substitute for fire in semiarid grassland - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vermeire, L.T., Strong, D.J., Gates, E.A., Marlow, C.B., Waterman, R.C. 2019. Can mowing substitute for fire in semiarid grassland. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 73(1):97-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.08.006.