Mark Brunson | Utah State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Mark Brunson

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

IntroductionEcological conditions at a given site are driven by factors including resource availa... more IntroductionEcological conditions at a given site are driven by factors including resource availability, habitat connectivity, and disturbance history. Land managers can influence disturbance history at a site by harvesting resources, creating transportation pathways, introducing new species, and altering the frequency and severity of events such as fires and floods. As a result, locations with different land management histories have also likely experienced different disturbance trajectories that, over time, are likely to result in different ecological characteristics.MethodsTo understand how the presence of different management histories may shape ecological conditions across large landscapes, we examined plant and soil characteristics at matched sampling points across jurisdictional boundaries within four Protected Area-Centered Ecosystems (PACEs) in the western US. We employed Bayesian modeling to explore 1) the extent to which specific ecological variables are linked to disturb...

Rangelands, 2021

On the Ground • Researchers have studied human dimensions of rangelands since the earliest days o... more On the Ground • Researchers have studied human dimensions of rangelands since the earliest days of US rangeland science, usually focusing only on white, male, English-speaking ranch owners. • To address questions of rural prosperity and collaborative management, social scientists and the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network must turn their attention to the perspectives, practices, and experiences of indigenous, non-Anglo, female, and “new rural” rangeland stakeholders as well. • Social science researchers can learn from scholars in related fields whose work is less often consulted in rangeland science, including those working internationally with pastoral communities and in the United States with rural youth. • Understanding these communities is likely to require broadening our conceptions of what constitutes “knowledge,” with a greater focus on seeking just outcomes for the full range of people who depend upon rangelands and rangeland communities for their lives and livelihoods.

Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2014

Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2011

Intact sagebrush communities in the Great Basin are rapidly disappearing because of invasion of n... more Intact sagebrush communities in the Great Basin are rapidly disappearing because of invasion of nonnative plants, large wildfires, and encroachment of pinyon and juniper woodlands. Land management options, including the use of prescribed fire, grazing, herbicides, or mechanical treatments, can reduce the potential for wildfire and restore plant communities. Public acceptance of management actions, and trust in agencies to carry out those actions, is a critical component of developing and implementing successful long-term land management plans. This study examines citizens' opinions and perceptions about rangeland management in the Great Basin. In fall 2006 we conducted a mail survey of randomly selected households in three urban and three rural regions of the Great Basin, receiving 1 345 valid responses for a 45% response rate. Overall, respondents perceived that the environment is moderately healthy; however, they do recognize threats to sagebrush ecosystems. Public acceptance is relatively high for the use of prescribed fire, grazing, felling woodland trees, and mowing shrubs, but low for herbicide treatment and chaining. Although respondents indicated high levels of acceptance for some management actions, they expressed relatively low levels of trust in land management agencies to implement these actions. Resumen Las comunidades intactas de Artemisia sp. en la región del Great Basin del oeste de EEUU están desapareciendo rápidamente debido a la invasión de plantas exóticas, grandes incendios, y la invasión de montes de Pinus sp. y Juniperus sp. Existen opciones de manejo que incluyen el uso de fuego prescripto, pastoreo, herbicidas, o tratamientos mecánicos que pueden reducir el potencial de incendios y restaurar las comunidades vegetales. La aceptación por parte de la opinión pública de las acciones de manejo y su confianza en que los entes del gobierno puedan llevar a cabo dichas acciones, son componentes críticos en la generación e implementación de planes de manejo que sean exitosos en el largo plazo. Este estudio examina las opiniones y percepciones de los ciudadanos acerca de acciones de manejo de pastizales naturales en la región del Great Basin. En el otoñ o de 2006 condujimos una encuesta por correo de hogares seleccionados al azar en tres zonas urbanas y tres zonas rurales del Great Basin recibiendo 1.345 respuestas válidas que correspondieron a una tasa de respuestas del 45%. En te´rminos generales, los encuestados perciben al ambiente como moderadamente saludable sin embargo reconocen que existen factores que amenazan los ecosistemas de Artemisia sp. La aceptación pública del uso de fuego prescripto, pastoreo, corte de árboles del monte, y desmalezado de arbustos es relativamente alta, sin embargo la aceptación del uso de herbicidas y control de leñ osas mediante el uso de cadenas es bajo. Si bien los encuestados expresaron altos niveles de aceptación de algunas acciones de manejo, expresaron niveles de confianza relativamente bajos de que los entes del gobierno encargados del manejo de las tierras implementen dichas acciones.

Springer series on environmental management, 2017

A social-ecological system (SES) is a combination of social and ecological actors and processes t... more A social-ecological system (SES) is a combination of social and ecological actors and processes that influence each other in profound ways. The SES framework is not a research methodology or a checklist to identify problems. It is a conceptual framework designed to keep both the social and ecological components of a system in focus so that the interactions between them can be scrutinized for drivers of change and causes of specific outcomes. Resilience, adaptability, and transformability have been identified as the three related attributes of SESs that determine their future trajectories. Identifying feedbacks between social and ecological components of the system at multiple scales is a key to SES-based analysis. This chapter explores the spectrum of different ways the concept has been used and defined, with a focus on its application to rangelands. Five cases of SES analysis are

U.S. Geological Survey circular, 2017

We organized this series on restoration leading the reader through concepts necessary to make dec... more We organized this series on restoration leading the reader through concepts necessary to make decisions at the landscape and the site level for restoration of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe ecosystems. Most restoration projects within this ecosystem have historically been implemented to meet only site-specific objectives. Recently, the decision to not list the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as a threatened or endangered species was partially dependent on land managers making landscape-and site-level decisions for management actions including actions related to restoring habitat for this focal species. The sagebrush steppe ecosystem is one of the largest and most threatened ecosystems in the U.S. because of fires, invasive species, and human-influenced changes to ecosystem structure and function. The need for restoration far exceeds our means to restore all degraded habitats, but strategic decisions based on sound ecosystem knowledge and landscape principles may allow restoration to keep pace or exceed degradation in key locations to maintain wildlife populations dependent on these ecosystems. This site-level tool is written so it might be used in conjunction with Part 2, landscape-level decision tool of the handbook on restoration of sagebrush steppe ecosystems (Pyke, Knick, and others, 2015) or as a stand-alone tool for any site within the sagebrush steppe. This tool relies on user understanding of a land unit resilience to disturbance and its resistance to invasive plants through soil-climate-plant relationships and it relies heavily on soil temperature and moisture regimes, soil descriptions, and ecological site concepts. These concepts were reviewed in Part 1 of the handbook on restoration of sagebrush steppe ecosystems (Pyke, Chambers, and others, 2015) and are intended as a reference for this site-level restoration decision tool. We encourage users to read and understand these concepts before applying this decision support tool.

U.S. Geological Survey circular, 2015

This Restoration Handbook consists of three parts with the same main title, "Restoration Handbook... more This Restoration Handbook consists of three parts with the same main title, "Restoration Handbook for Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystems with Emphasis on Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat." These parts provide an approach for effective implementation of restoration practices in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. The current document summarizes the literature and synthesizes core concepts that are necessary for a practitioner/manager to apply tools to help make landscape and site-specific decisions. Landscape-level decision tools are designed to help managers prioritize resource allocation among multiple potential restoration projects for achieving the greatest benefit at the landscape level. We are examining how restoration of sagebrush steppe can benefit habitat for sage-grouse because of the timeliness of the upcoming decision to list sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. In addition, we are emphasizing greater sage-grouse because they are an umbrella species within this region where other wildlife species that depend on resilient sagebrush grassland communities will benefit from this restoration. There are additional objectives for restoration of sagebrush grasslands beyond greater sage-grouse habitat, for example, improving rangeland biological diversity, reducing and controlling invasive plant dominance, and improving the stability of livestock forage. For site-level decisions, managers will decide to use passive or active restoration techniques and will learn how to select appropriate plant species and techniques for restoration of sagebrush ecosystems. Landscape prioritization tools and project-level restoration tools use concepts of ecosystem resilience to disturbances and resistance to invasion by annual grasses. We stress that these invasions are the largest threat to sagebrush steppe ecosystems and that restoration, if successful, is a means for reducing this threat and improving greater sage-grouse habitat. Decisions at the landscape-and site-level will be enhanced through knowledge gained by understanding and applying concepts presented in this document.

Social Science Journal, Jun 1, 2017

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Mar 1, 2008

Working ranches are often promoted as means of private rangeland conservation because they can sa... more Working ranches are often promoted as means of private rangeland conservation because they can safeguard ecosystem services, protect open space, and maintain traditional ranching culture. To understand the potential for generating broad social benefits from what have come to be called ''working landscapes,'' one must consider the synergies of people, environment, and institutions needed to accomplish conservation, as well as complicating factors of scale and uncertainty. Focusing on the problem as it has unfolded in the western United States, we review the state of knowledge about the extent of ranchland conversion; reasons why maintaining working ranches may benefit conservation; and the challenges and opportunities of rancher demographics, attitudes, values, and propensities for innovation. Based on this review, we explore whether the supply of traditional, full-time ranch owners is likely to be sufficient to meet conservation demand, and conclude that although demographic trends seem to suggest that it is not, there exist alternative enterprises and ownership forms that could achieve the goals of ranch conservation. We offer suggestions on how potential shortfalls might be addressed. Resumen Los ranchos a menudo se consideran como medios de conservación privada del pastizal ya que pueden salvaguardar los servicios del ecosistema, proteger áreas abiertas y mantener la cultura tradicional del manejo de un rancho. Para entender el potencial que existe al generar beneficios sociales amplios provenientes de lo que´se ha venido llamando ''paisajes de trabajo,'' se deben considerar los aspectos sine´rgicos de la gente, del ambiente y de las instituciones involucradas en la conservación, así como otros factores y puntos impredecibles. Enfocándonos en el problema como se ha manifestado en el Oeste de los Estados Unidos, revisamos los conocimientos disponibles sobre cómo la propiedad se ha utilizado para trabajo de rancho; las razones que existen para mantener los ranchos de manera que éstos pueden beneficiar la conservación; los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrenta el ranchero, y las actitudes, valores y factores para mejorar. De acuerdo con esta revisión, se evaluó si el tradicional tiempo completo de los rancheros es suficiente para resolver las demandas de la conservación. Se concluyó que mientras que las tendencias demográficas parecen sugerir lo contrario, pueden existir empresas alternativas y formas de propiedad que podrían facilitar la conservación del rancho. Hacemos algunas sugerencias de cómo podrían resolverse estas deficiencias.

This compendium of papers was developed in response to the assumption that implementing an ecolog... more This compendium of papers was developed in response to the assumption that implementing an ecological approach to forest management requires an understanding of socially acceptable forestry-what it is and the implications of doing it. The papers in this collection bring to bear perspectives from a variety of social science disciplines and question whether the focus on social acceptability is an appropriate and useful one.

Journal of Forestry, 1998

A study of nonindustrial private forest landowners in Utah and Indiana-states with different owne... more A study of nonindustrial private forest landowners in Utah and Indiana-states with different ownership characteristics and nmben-reveals that direct, simple, flexible educational methods like newsletters and personal assistance are preferred over workshops and high-tech methods. Landowners with large parcels tend to know more about forestry, but the increasing fragmentation of forestland and the diversity of forest landowners mean that foresters must fit the message to new and different audiences. Because

Introduction Utah’s spectacular natural environment draws millions of visitors to the state each ... more Introduction Utah’s spectacular natural environment draws millions of visitors to the state each year. As a result, nature-based tourism has long been part of the economic development strategies of most state and local government entities in Utah. Davis County has not been well-known as a tourism destination, as it is far from the spectacular national parks of southern Utah and lacks the popular ski areas that draw visitors to neighboring counties to the north and south. However, Davis County does offer the best access to another world-class natural setting, albeit one whose attractions may be less obvious to casual visitors: the Great Salt Lake. The county’s tourism and economic development experts now are working to promote the lake as a visitor destination in ways that do not impair its natural qualities.