Effects of Herbivory on a Grass: Population Processes, Landscape Patterns

有蹄类动物放牧对裂蹄草的影响 （小蓝茎草）将在几个层次上进行调查。 草食动物对植物形态、适合度和动物的影响 偏好性将被用来预测草食性对S. scoparium种群结构和调控， 分布S. scoparium横跨整个景观. 这些 预测将通过进一步的实地实验和 调查现有的S. scoparium横过the 景观利用）和验证）现有的空间 放牧强度在多个尺度上的变化。 本研究 将有助于填补我们对植物/动物知识的重要空白 相互作用：草食动物对植物适合度的影响， 植物种群以及这些水平上的过程如何决定 重要草地牧草景观格局。

The effects of ungulate grazing on Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem grass) will be investigated at several levels. The effects of herbivory on plant morphology, fitness and animal preference will be used to predict the effects of herbivory on S. scoparium population structure and regulation and on the distribution of S. scoparium across the landscape. These predications will be tested by further field experiments and by surveying existing populations of S. scoparium across the landscape taking advantage of )and verifying) existing spatial variation in grazing intensity at several scales. This study will help fill important gaps in our knowledge of plant/animal interactions: the effects of herbivores on plant fitness and plant populations and how processes at these levels determine landscape patterns of important rangeland forage grass.