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Comparing Terrestrial Wildlife Diversity Between Native and Non-Native Grassland Ecosystems
Abstract
Wildlife diversity is essential and valuable for the environment, society, and the economy. Grasslands have long been a biodiversity hotspot before anthropogenic impacts. In Texas, grasslands comprised much of the landscape in pre-settlement times. Today, 99% of native grasslands are lost. Human activity has significantly altered these grasslands through conversion to monocultural pastures, agriculture, invasive species introduction, and development. Conversion and degradation of native grasslands decrease biodiversity and decrease ecosystem functioning. In turn, this reduces ecosystem services that benefit human society. Diverse grassland systems provide services such as carbon sequestration, water retention and filtration, erosion control, and flood prevention. Native wildlife benefits include birds, insects, and bats that disperse seeds and provide pollination services, as well as game species, such as quail and deer, that provide a lasting heritage and livelihood to many peoples. In this study, we determine if there is a significant difference in the diversity of terrestrial wildlife taxa (herpetofauna, invertebrates, birds, small mammals, bats, and medium-sized and large mammals) between non-native and native grass-dominant ecosystems to understand the potential benefits of restoring native grass systems. Our study results found a significant (P<0.001) positive association between species richness (a measure of diversity) and native dominant vegetation systems. We found that overall, mammal, bird, herpetofauna, and invertebrate richness was nearly 2x greater in native grass-dominant vegetation types than in non-native grass-dominant vegetation types. This research may be used to demonstrate the quantifiable advantages of restoring and conserving native grasslands.
Citation
Van Allen, Mycha Ashlee (2023). Comparing Terrestrial Wildlife Diversity Between Native and Non-Native Grassland Ecosystems. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /199123.