Integrated Pest Management on Rangeland: A Shortgrass Prairie Perspective

Grasslands comprise the largest and most diverse set of ecosystems in the United States and are among the most extensive in the world. Characterized by scanty rainfall, these western grasslands are too dry for crop production and are used almost exclusively for grazing livestock. The grasslands on the western edge of the Great Plains, known as the shortgrass region, support some unique species of plants and animals as well as some common to other rangeland ecosystems. Invertebrate plant pests, native vertebrate foragers, and weeds can adversely affect the efficient management of this economically and ecologically important region. The contributors–ecologists, entomologists, range scientists, vertebrate biologists, and economists–synthesize and review the available information on shortgrass rangelands, offering the first comprehensive treatment of pest management and ecology within this vital ecosystem.