Synthesis of Climate and Ecological Science to Support Grassland Management Priorities in the North Central Region
This USGS Open‑File Report synthesizes climate and ecological science to support grassland management priorities in the North Central Region of the United States. Covering Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, it highlights climate impacts on vegetation, water, wildfire, grazing, and land‑use change.
Subject Tags
- Climate adaptation
- Ecosystem management
Abstract
Grasslands in the Great Plains are of ecological, economic, and cultural importance in the United States. In response to a need to understand how climate change and variability will impact grassland ecosystems and their management in the 21st century, the U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center led a synthesis of peer-reviewed climate and ecology literature relevant to grassland management in the North Central Region (including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas). This synthesis was done to begin to address grassland managers’ information needs and identify research gaps. This open-file report summarizes the impacts of climate change and variability on temperature, water availability, wildfire, vegetation, wildlife, large-bodied ruminants, grazing, and land-use change and the implications for grassland management in the North Central region. This open-file report also identifies areas in which further research is needed. U.S. Geological Survey funded this project.
Citations
Miller Hesed, C. D., Yocum, H. M., Rangwala, I., Symstad, A., Martin, J. M., Ellison, K., ... & Zale, A. V. (2023). Synthesis of climate and ecological science to support grassland management priorities in the North Central region. USGS Report, 15.
TNC Authors
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Marissa Ahlering
The Nature Conservancy
Email: mahlering@TNC.ORG