Plant Ecology

Rangelands are home to a variety of plant and animal species. The populations that live on rangelands provide sustenance for millions of people. Rangelands are found all over the world and make up about 51 percent of Earth’s land surface (Bloomfield 1). Open grasslands around the world are becoming increasingly populated by woody plants, shrubs, and trees, a process that is expected by experts to continue in future. Climate changes are partly responsible for this phenomenon. Droughts, rainfall pattern changes, and increased CO2 levels all have an impact on these ecosystems. Reductions in the frequency and intensity of fires that have historically marked such regions have also contributed to encroachment of woody plants.

This is particularly true in Oklahoma, where encroachment of eastern red cedar (Juniperis virginiana) and ashe juniper (J. ashei) on rangeland has become a major problem. A 1985 Soil Conservation Service survey showed that by 1985 3.5 million acres in Oklahoma had been invaded by these woody plants, up from 1.5 million acres in 1950 (Engle, Bidwell, and Moseley 1). Ecosystem-invasive plants like the eastern red cedar and ashe juniper have an impact on the quality of rangelands and their ability to sustain biodiversity.

A 1994 survey conducted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service reported that eastern redcedar and ashe juniper were present in all but 9 counties in

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vasions also represent increased fire hazard in grasslands or rangelands. Further, juniper and red cedar invasion change the structure and composition of the habitat. This causes the decline in native wildlife living on these lands for millennia. The Rio Grande turkey, mourning dove, bobwhite quail, and white-tailed deer are all populations that have declined due to invasion of junipers and red cedar. Rod Smith argues that trees and plants that sustain such animals as the Rio Grande turkey should be protected at all costs in Turkey Roost Trees. As the author notes, “One problem is the invasion of eastern red cedar. Turkeys like the area around their roost site to be fairly open. If left unchecked, cedars will become tall and dense and ruin the attractiveness of the site to turkeys. Cedars may also out compete other trees for water, nutrients, and sunlight” (1). When it comes to water and air quality, woody plant invasions also have an impact on these. Increased pollen levels are associated with invasion of juniper into native plant communities. Juniper invasion also decrease water quality, from increases in bare soil between trees or because of mandating soil disturbance for control purposes. According to Engle and Kul
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2376
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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