FORWARD

This book was written to help resource managers broaden their perspective relative to management of grazing animals and heighten their awareness of the role they play in maintaining the integrity of ecological systems. A conceptual synthesis of a rapidly expanding literature base addresses the fundamental ecological concepts and managerial principles pertaining to grazing management. Ecological and managerial constraints common to all grazed systems is the central focus of the book with the application of these concepts serving only as specific examples. Concepts and principles discussed are applicable to a diverse array of vegetation types and geographical regions even though rangelands have been specifically referenced. The preponderance of examples from Texas rangelands simply reflects the professional backgrounds of the authors.

The book is written for a broad readership and will be of benefit to students, educators, scientists, agency personnel and informed practitioners in the field. Each author has written their respective chapters with the assumption that the reader possesses some familiarity with fundamental ecological principles and grazing management concepts. The chapters have been written to present an independent treatment of a specific topic but have been cross-referenced to provide an expanded discussion of specific concepts. This book represents the culmination of six years of involvement by the various contributors in an integrated approach addressing grazing management research.

Chapter 1 contains a general discussion of the basic principles of grazing management and is written to provide a conceptual framework to integrate the remaining nine chapters. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the nutritional aspects of grazing animals with specific attention on the animal's various morphological and physiological adaptations utilized to garner sufficient resources to meet a specific set of nutrient requirements. Chapter 3 addresses the foraging behavior of grazing animals in relation to the adjustments required to facilitate nutrient acquisition in various plant communities. The physiological and morphological consequences of defoliation on individual plants and their implication to population and community structure are considered in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 expands upon these concepts and focuses on the long-term impacts of herbivory on ecological succession and ecosystem stability and function. The consequences of biomass removal, shifts in species composition and the physical impact of herbivores on the hydrological characteristic of plant communities are the subject of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 defines how livestock production is influenced by animal numbers, kind and class, and temporal and spatial distribution of animals in a wide array of management regimes. Indigenous wildlife populations occupy many rangelands so Chapter 8 contrasts needs of wildlife and livestock with emphasis on the concept of critical habitat requirements. Chapter 9 evaluates the socio-economic aspects of grazing management decision processes. Chapter 10 provides a discussion of the management planning process for developing effective grazing management strategies.