Before 1850, our shrub-steppe plant communities were adapted to frequent disturbance, such as wildfire. The resilient native long-lived shrubs, bunchgrasses, and wildflowers were adapted to either re-sprouting or re-growing from seed, in a decades-long predictable pattern of succession. However, with the introduction of non-native annual grasses, primarily cheatgrass, this pattern was dramatically disrupted.

Yes – this is a complicated story! As an educator, I am excited to share a terrific demonstration video that even includes matches and fire, that effectively tells the story of why cheatgrass is such a distruptor. I invite you to watch Unraveling Sagebrush Community Change to Manage for Resilient Sage Grouse Habitats.

The Sage Grouse Initiative partnered with the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center to unravel the secrets of sagebrush plant community change in this 23-minute instructional video designed to help conservationists and landowners manage for more resilient sage grouse habitats. The video uses small plots in a field demonstration to recreate sagebrush community responses to disturbance through time pre- and post-cheatgrass, introduce ecological state and transition concepts, and illustrate how this information can inform management strategies.

The video walks the viewer through a series of a succession demonstration plots and is geared to be a a visual learning tool for land managers who are
responsible for implementing conservation practices. The demonstration illustrates how plant communities change in a historical context after disturbance and the current impact of cheatgrass invasion in these
communities. Understanding succession and the processes acting upon the system is the basis for ecologically-based management.

Spend just 23 minutes to learn how:
•Plant communities are complex and are always changing.
•Land management practices affect plant community change. When one thing changes it affects several.
•There are a number of processes acting on the system.
•Healthy plant communities are the basis for healthy diversity of wildlife species.

Thanks to the collaboration between federal and state agency scientists with university researchers, we are learning how to better manage for wildfire resiliency in our region’s shrub-steppe ecosystems. Check out more resources on the Wenatchee Naturalist website.