Range size, local abundance and effect inform species descriptions at scales relevant for local conservation practice

Authors: Espeland, Erin; Sylvain, Zachary

Submitted to: Biodiversity and Conservation Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2018
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Citation: Espeland, E.K., Sylvain, Z.A. 2019. Range size, local abundance and effect inform species descriptions at scales relevant for local conservation practice. Biodiversity and Conservation Journal. 28(4):909-920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01701-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01701-2

Interpretive Summary: Oil and gas development affects rangelands in the Great Plains of the US. To understand how plant communities and biological invasions change as a result of development, we measured undisturbed federally-managed lands of the mixed grass prairie of western North Dakota. We observed 56 plant species that may change in abundance as development continues in the northern Great Plains. Flowering plants and grasses had different patterns of abundance: flowering plants tended to be rare. We characterized the distribution, abundance, and impact of thirteen common grasses. The invasive Kentucky bluegrass has a competitive ability similar to native grasses, however its invasiveness (distribution) and landscape-level impact is quite high in this region - more than twice as high as the most impactful native, Bouteloua gracilis. Measuring distributtion, competitive ability, and impacts provide starting point from which to measure changes in plants in response to future development.

Technical Abstract: Oil and gas development continues to expand and affect rangelands in the Great Plains of the US. Therefore, we measured baseline plant community data in undisturbed federally-managed lands of the mixed grass prairie of western North Dakota. The 56 vascular plant species we observed may change in abundance as development continues in the northern Great Plains. Dicots and monocots had different patterns of abundance: dicots tended to be rare. Using metrics of landscape penetration and impact, we characterized the distribution and abundance of thirteen common monocots. Our data support the findings of others: while Poa pratensis has competitive ability similar to native grasses, its invasiveness (landscape penetration) and impact is quite high in this region - more than twice as high as the most impactful native, Bouteloua gracilis. We suggest that landscape penetration, effects on other plants, and impacts provide community- and species- level benchmarks from which to measure future fragmentation effects in real time.