Monitoring Idaho fescue grasslands in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming, with a modified robel pole

Daniel Uresk; Thomas Juntti

Treesearch

Monitoring Idaho fescue grasslands in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming, with a modified robel pole

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Daniel Uresk, Thomas Juntti

Year:

2008

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Western North American Naturalist. 68(1): 1-7.

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Abstract

The reliability of monitoring visual obstruction and estimating standing herbage with a modified Robel pole was examined for high-elevation meadows in sedimentary soils on the Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming. Our objectives were to (1) test a modified pole graduated with 1.27-cm (0.5-inch) bands for estimating standing herbage based on linear regression of visual obstruction readings (VORs) on standing herbage, (2) validate the derived regression, (3) provide sample size estimates, and (4) develop guidelines for monitoring mountain grasslands.

Keywords

standing herbage, livestock, grazing, Robel pole, visual obstruction readings, cluster analysis

Citation

Uresk, Daniel W.; Juntti, Thomas M. 2008. Monitoring Idaho fescue grasslands in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming, with a modified robel pole. Western North American Naturalist. 68(1): 1-7.