grasslands – envirobites

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Mowing through challenges: cutting-edge ways to improve grassland restoration efforts

June 6, 2024June 6, 2024 Lauren Glevanik 0 Comments grasslands, habitat restoration, invasive species, native plants, plant communities, plant ecology, Restoration

A new study explores how grassland restoration can be limited by seed dispersal, plant competition, and environmental factors. Drawing from ecological theory to test the best restoration strategies, researchers recommend mowing to manage weeds and promote native plant success. In years with plenty of rain, adding seeds of small native plants to areas where grass has been removed is an effective strategy to increase native herbaceous plant cover.

Climate Environmental Science

Proper land management can offset greenhouse gas emissions from grass-fed cattle

August 28, 2019 Lauren Bonatakis 0 Comments cattle, grasslands, greenhouse gases, land management

Greenhouse gas emissions from the cattle industry have proven to be a big problem. As the demand for beef has increased, the amount of cattle farming operations has increased in response, both in the form of grass-fed and feedlot-finished feeding methods. Although many consumers prefer grass-fed beef, studies have shown that grass-fed beef produce more greenhouse gas emissions than feedlot-finished cattle in their lifetime. However, a recent study has shown that by changing the way that cattle graze on grassland, grass-fed beef could ultimately benefit the environment.

Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science

Saving the Scrub: In defense of “ugly” landscapes

April 22, 2019September 16, 2022 Abigail Lewis 0 Comments carbon, coastal sage scrub, Conservation, grasslands, lawns

It’s easy to advocate for the value of beautiful landscapes. But what about when the plants are brown all summer? Here, a student-led team uses carbon calculations to demonstrate the importance of California Sage Scrub conservation on a global level.