Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture

Agricultural research in i) bison livestock production and performance ii) native species conservation, restoration and management, and iii) ecosystem and landscape studies. The main research focus area relates to the practice of bison ranching conducted in economically sustainable and ecologically sensitive manner while promoting the conservation of native species and habitats. There are significant research needs in areas of bison physiology, health, productivity, feeding, meat quality and nutrition, genetics and breeding, husbandry and handling, social structure and communication, national and native peoples heritage, environmental impacts of bison, role of grazing in maintaining native ecosystems and ecosystems services, and the response to wildlife to bison grazing.1. Grant -$11,000 - seasonal and dietary heat flux of bison (bison bison) in the northern great plains. Thermal heat flux is an indicator of metabolic activity for mammals, including bison and beef cattle. Bison exhibit wide seasonal differences in metabolic rates resulting in body mass decline of approximately 10-15% through the winter season (i.e., 'winter slump'), yet cattle maintain a higher metabolic rate through winter with minimal body mass change. We will use remotely sensed thermal imagery of bison to resolve heat flux differentials generated from seasonal adaptations and from dietary treatment differences. 2. Grant - $11,000 - differences in female and bull bison behavior and resource selection within a sandhills mixed-grass prairie. Quantifying grazing behavior and locations of free ranging animals can be difficult, especially on extensive rangelands. Remote tracking with gps technology has tremendous potential to study bison grazing selection and use patterns on the landscape. Understanding spatial variability of bison grazing patterns within pastures and seasonal shifts in selection can help better develop grazing strategies unique to bison producers to improve rangeland health and animal production.3. Grant -$102,525 - influence of finishing system and finishing location on the carcass traits, sensory attributes, and phytochemical richness of bison meat. Recent work by the Institute demonstrated that pasture-finished bison concentrated higher levels of compounds considered favorable for human health in their meat when compared to pen-finished animals. Pasture-finished bison also appeared to have better metabolic health than pen-finished bison. Adaptive grazing of bison on rangelands has the potential to be regenerative and produce positive ecosystem effects. 4. Grant - $71,560 - management of Nebraska sandhills wet meadows: impacts on soil health and biotic communities. The Nebraska sandhills are considered the largest grass-stabilized dune system in the western hemisphere. A unique feature of these grasslands is the variety of wetland systems (e.g., depressions, shallow lakes, fens, and wet meadows) interspersed throughout valley bottoms between dune formations. Although these wetlands occupy approximately 10% of the land area in the sandhills, they are critical resources that provide important ecosystem services such as flood attenuation, groundwater recharge and discharge, water filtration and storage, carbon storage, forage production for livestock, and habitat for a wide diversity of plant and animal species, the Institute is interested in restoring wet meadow systems where practicable. Without a clearer understanding of these relationships, it is difficult to assess the condition of wet meadow restorations as well as set achievable targets for successful wet meadow restorations and guide future management and restoration strategies for wet meadows.5. Grant - $58,455 - evaluation of cougar predation and bear kleptoparasitism on vermejo, new mexico. Understanding large predator populations and their role in regulating elk (and other ungulate) populations is an important, but relatively unexplored question at vermejo. Black bear predation can be a major source of mortality on elk calves. Similarly, cougars, especially males, select for elk calves during summer months. Black bears may benefit from cougar kills through kleptoparasitism, thereby negatively affecting cougars. The Institute is undertaking this study to document cougar prey selection on vermejo and the influence of bear kleptoparasitism on frequency and volume of cougar prey. This information will provide insights on the magnitude of elk and mule deer killed by cougars annually and inform future wildlife and range management decisions.6. Grant - $54,000 - movement and habitat use of reintroduced bolson tortoises in southern new mexico. The bolson tortoise is the largest and rarest of the six gopherus species native to north america. Today, however, fewer than 2,500 individuals remain in the wild, all of which are restricted to discontinuous basins in the mapim sub-province of north-central mexico, representing >90% extirpation from their pleistocene range. We will conduct a habitat selection study at multiple spatial scales that focuses on juvenile tortoises at the translocation site. Additionally, we will compare home ranges and movement rates to evaluate the effects of release timing on settlement patterns. This work will provide vital information for reestablishing bolson tortoise populations throughout the chihuahuan desert.7. Grant - $61,540 - population dynamics and life history characteristics of rio grande cutthroat trout (rgct) in the upper rio costilla watershed, new mexico to restore rio grande cutthroat trout natural resource management agencies have instituted various conservation efforts including habitat restorations, species reintroductions, and removal of nonnative fish. Conservation questions remain in the value of high mountain lakes. Rio grande cutthroat trout have been stocked into previously fish-less lentic systems throughout their distribution. Unfortunately, baseline population demographics and dynamics data for lentic populations are largely lacking. These data are necessary for understanding how lentic populations function and for guiding management actions. Furthermore, population-level data can help to identify potential threats (e.g., unsuitable habitat, overexploitation) to the persistence of these critically important populations.8. Grant - $28,132 - small mammal community within a restored blowout penstemon (penstemon haydenii) habitat. Blowout penstemon is considered an endemic, successional species found only in and around sand blowouts in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. Historically, blowout penstemon was common across the Nebraska sandhills, but in 1987 the species was listed as endangered species and is currently known as the "rarest species native to the great plains region". Today, only a few small populations remain, primarily due to sand dune stability which is likely the result of current moisture patterns and modern grazing patterns in the sandhills. Thus, restoration and conservation of this penstemon species requires development of suitable habitat by managing (e.g., grazing, mechanical, etc.) For disturbance that creates bare and blowing sand. The Institute is conducting this project to measure the potential impacts of creating small scale, isolated blowout habitats on the small mammal community.9. Grant - $100,000 south dakota state university bison center of excellence. The Institute provided funding to south dakota state university's bison center of excellence to support a bison focused research and teaching faculty position.