Our Work
Field-based research, education, and partnerships advancing wildlife conservation and resilient landscapes across the Borderlands.
Long-Term Vegetation Change Under Different Grazing Systems
SJ Gilbert
SJ’s research examines long-term changes in desert grassland vegetation under rotational and continuous livestock grazing. Using historical monitoring records and newly collected vegetation and soil data, she is evaluating changes in plant composition, perennial grass cover, bare ground, and shrub abundance through time. Her research will also consider how grazing management interacts with drought and variable precipitation to shape vegetation communities. By distinguishing grazing-related changes from broader environmental variability, the project will provide a clearer understanding of grassland responses to management. The findings will support adaptive grazing strategies that maintain productive, diverse, and resilient rangelands for livestock and wildlife.
