"There’s cows in them thar hills": The impacts of
cattle grazing on riparian vegetation in the alpine, subalpine and
montane ecoregions of Southwestern Alberta.
Authors:
Glenda M. Samuelson, Geography Department, University of Calgary,
Calgary, AB, Stewart B. Rood, Biological Sciences, University of
Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
Abstract: Riparian forests, located on the floodplain of
streams and rivers, are diverse and dynamic plant communities.
They serve several important functions including wildlife habitat
and maintaining water quality. Riparian areas are also a focus of
human-related activity, including livestock grazing, and overuse
has resulted in their status as threatened ecosystems in Canadian
Prairie Provinces. The riparian forests of Drywood Creek and
Yarrow Creek, located north of Waterton Lakes National Park in
southwestern Alberta, were studied to compare the effects of
different livestock management practices. Results indicate that
livestock grazing of riparian forests affects the number and
abundance of ‘decreaser’ species, ‘increaser’ species and
‘invader/weedy’ species, as well as overall species richness
throughout the ecoregions. In addition, heavy cattle grazing
resulted in changes to plant community types, in particular in the
alpine ecoregion. Overall, this study provides information
previously lacking on the response of alpine, subalpine and
montane riparian vegetation to livestock grazing.
