Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Forestry and Environmental Conservation
Committee Chair/Advisor
Donald Hagan
Committee Member
David Jachowski
Committee Member
Matias Aguerre
Committee Member
Ellen Welti
Abstract
The Northern Great Plains (NGP) is one of the largest intact grasslands remaining in the world. These two studies examine a few of the ecological concerns on the NGP today. First, the woody encroachment of conifers into grasslands and the effects of wildfires. Second, the effects of bison (Bison bison) reintroduction on plant communities. In Chapter 1, this study aims to examine the effects of wildfire and mechanical timber thinning, using a two-by-two factorial design, on plant community responses and forage quality in the Bull Mountains area of central Montana, USA. We found that our treatments had varying effects on the plant community and forage quality.
In Chapter 2, this study examined plant community responses to bison reintroduction in comparison to cattle grazing and grazing exclusion over three years in mixed-grass prairies in north-central Montana, USA. We found that over the study period, there were significant increases in native plant cover and vegetation height, but it was not possible to attribute this increase to bison, cattle, or grazer exclusion.
Recommended Citation
Van-Derpoel, Ethan H., "Plant Community Responses to Wildfire, Timber Thinning, and Bison Reintroduction on the Northern Great Plains" (2025). All Theses. 4650.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4650