Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
215 University of North Texas (142103)
Principal Investigator: Gregory,Andrew John
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 32,793
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): No
Start and End Dates: 3/1/22 - 6/30/24
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Advanced Environmental Rsrch
Department, Center, School, or Institute: Research & Innovation
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: The Effects of Regenerative Ranching Practices on Prairie Ecosystem and Integrity
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
National Audubon Society
CFDA:
Program Title: none
Note:
The Audubon society of Texas has been engaging with the local ranching community to improve rangeland health throughout the pan handle of Texas. Through their Certified Bird Friendly Beef program, Audubon incentives ranchers to adopt regenerative and sustainable ranching practices that improve overall ranch health using the lens of bird conservation. Birds tend to be a good model for such work, because they occupy a broad range of ecological conditions and have a very broad niche breadth. Working with Audubon Texas, we will conduct acoustic surveys on ranches in various stages of bird friendliness certification. We will evaluate bird diversity, abundance, and nest success across at approximately 6 ranches. In addition, these regenerative ranching practices are also supposed to improve rangeland quality in terms of soil organic matter, water retention, and resultant improved floristic diversity. Therefore, we will also assess grassland herbaceous vegetation diversity, soil organic layer depth, and water infiltration rates.
Discussion: No discussion notes