http://hdl.handle.net/10150/635521 Mon, 11 May 2026 09:20:25 GMT 2026-05-11T09:20:25Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/650539 Journal of Range Management, Volume 46, Number 2 (March 1993) Complete digitized issue. Mon, 01 Mar 1993 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10150/650539 1993-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644660 Viewpoint: Trend assessment by similarity—a demonstration Ratliff, R. D. Methodology for assessing trend in range condition is still evolving. This paper demonstrates use of Dice's community similarity coefficient, 2a/(2a + b + c), with communities present at 3 times and a notional community as a goal. Coefficients range from 0 (indicating a complete lack of similarity) to 1 (indicating complete similarity). Similarity is classed as low (0 - 0.25), moderate (0.26 - 0.50), high (0.51 - 0.75), or full (0.76 - 1). Study of time-goal coefficent graphs is suggested for deciding whether trend is up, down, or static. Defining goals and lack of statistical tests are major limitations. The goal concept and use of data standardization are discussed. Mon, 01 Mar 1993 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644660 1993-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644651 Utilization of globemallow (Sphaeralcea) taxa by sheep Rumbaugh, M. D.; Mayland, H. F.; Pendery, B. M.; Shewmaker, G. E. Globemallows (Sphaeralcea spp.) are well adapted to semiarid and arid environments. They are potentially useful as the forb component of seeding mixtures for rangeland improvement in the western states. However, the degree of acceptability of globemallow forage to livestock has not been well established. We tested 13 globemallow accessions representing 4 species and compared their utilization by sheep (Ovis aries) with that of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. X A. desertorum (Fisch.) Schult.] and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) during fall 1988 and 1989, and spring 1990 and 1991. Alfalfa consistently produced more forage per plant than wheatgrass or globemallows, and a greater portion of the alfalfa was eaten than of the other species. Sheep utilized wheatgrass more than globemallows in the fall, but the converse was true during spring pasturing. Over the 4 years, sheep ate similar proportions of wheatgrass and individual globemallows. The percentage of S. coccinea (Pursh) Rydb. forage consumed equaled that of crested wheatgrass or alfalfa in the fall but did not equal the percentage of alfalfa consumed in spring. However, S. coccinea produced much less total forage than the other species evaluated. Pre-grazing plant dry weight, dry matter content, and the occurrence of rust caused by Puccinea sherardiana Korn were negatively associated with globemallow utilization. Over-winter mortality of grazed globemallow exceeded that of ungrazed plants. Crested wheatgrass and alfalfa stands were not reduced by grazing. Globemallows are acceptable, but not highly preferred, forbs which can be seeded in environments where alfalfa and other more desirable species are not adapted. Mon, 01 Mar 1993 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644651 1993-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644646 The use of conditional probability functions in range data analysis and simulation Lambert, D. K.; Harris, T. R. Managers and range scientists are interested in the response of such variables as forage production and animal performance to various environmental and management factors. Due to the inability to control many of the factors affecting range systems, production responses should include distributional information in addition to their expected values. Recent developments in the estimation of conditional probability distribution functions provide the range scientist with a practical procedure to more fully characterize variable responses. The conditional probability distribution approach is applied to an analysis of forage production data from the literature. An illustration of the procedure in range decision analysis derives distributional information on animal performance and net return under several different steer stocking levels. Mon, 01 Mar 1993 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644646 1993-03-01T00:00:00Z