Research
Project Importance
The prairie ecosystem provides many benefits, also known as ecosystem services. The long-rooting plants of the prairie hold the soil together to prevent erosion, support water quality, and foster healthy soils that enable ranchers to contribute to our food supply. Prairies also provide shelter and food to pollinating insects, supporting diverse species of plants and flowers. Prairie plants are extremely effective at taking carbon from the atmosphere and storing it away (they are better at storing carbon than trees are!). Prairies sustain biodiversity, and many grassland birds and mammals thrive only in the prairies. These grasslands provide a rich source of nutrition for various livestock and wildlife. Ranch managers rely on quality forage to maintain livestock production and support our food supply. The prairies of Texas, for example, are a leading provider of our nation’s beef.
The diversity of topography, climate change, the history of fire suppression, overgrazing, woody encroachment, and historical ranch management has created a challenging opportunity for fire-grazing studies. Historically, the interaction between fire and animal grazing in the North American Great Plains is responsible for influencing critical ecological processes essential to grassland ecosystem integrity. There is empirical evidence supporting the implementation of fire as a necessary deterrent of woody encroachment and simultaneously promoting grassland productivity and nutritional value.
To conserve and restore the prairie ecosystem, scientists study methods for maintaining native species of plants threatened by woody plants, such as mesquite and juniper. One approach being studied by scientists at Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln utilizes fire and mixed-species grazing to restore and conserve the prairies. This approach, also known as pyric-herbivory, can make prairies more resilient to woody plant encroachment, promote biodiversity, and sustain livestock production in these prairie landscapes. We seek to study animal behavior in responses to prescribed burning to determine the best ways to sustain the prairie ecosystem and its associated ecosystem services. We want to work together to determine how fire affects animal behavior and assess fire and grazing impacts on the prairies. This is where your engagement comes in!
The Edwards Plateau ecoregion of Texas (EP) has multiple livestock potential, including cattle, Spanish goats, wool sheep, and Dorper sheep. Livestock production is a primary agricultural industry in the EP, and the introduction of prescribed fires can enhance landscape restoration and increase forage production. Prescribed fires may also impact wildlife communities in the EP, containing wild boars, javelinas, bobcats, white-tailed deer, foxes, axis deer, coyotes, raccoons, jackrabbits, armadillos, and many other small mammals, exotics, and diverse avian species. The implementation of prescribed fires through the scope of pyric-herbivory will significantly benefit livestock productivity, the biodiversity of forage, and in turn, wildlife habitat. This Zooniverse project is beneficial for evaluating spatiotemporal changes from how burned and unburned areas of the ranch are being utilized by livestock and wildlife through behavioral activities during the day and night.
Location and setting
How can the Zooniverse volunteers help?
We offer volunteers an opportunity to engage in scientific research by exploring how livestock and wildlife respond to prescribed burning from many wildlife camera perspectives throughout a prairie landscape. These animal activities and behaviors are critical functions for ensuring the benefits of pyric-herbivory to livestock production and conservation of habitats for diverse plants and animals across the region. To that extent, our goals in Zooniverse include:
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Identify the different livestock and wildlife species visiting the burned and unburned areas, and determine the number of individuals per species during the day and night hours.
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Assess each animal’s activity (e.g., grazing, browsing, resting, walking, or no activity) at the burned and unburned areas during the day and night hours.
