The Keystone Role of Bison in North American Tallgrass Prairie
Abstract
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Grazing and browsing combine with fire to stimulate productivity and increase the diversity of forbs and grasses in grassland ecosystems around the world.
“For example, grazing and browsing combine with fire to stimulate productivity and increase the diversity of forbs and grasses, a dynamic observed in grassland ecosystems around the world (Knapp et al., 1999; Larson, 1940; McNaughton, 1984; Sinclair et al., 2010).”
From Bison alter the northern Yellowstone ecosystem by breaking aspen saplings (2023) · cites this paper as Knapp et al., 1999
Bison can have multiple effects on ecosystems and plant communities.
“Bison can have multiple effects on ecosystems and plant communities (Knapp et al. 1999; White et al. 2015) and our field measurements evaluated some of these effects, particularly regarding the growth and mortality of cottonwood, a relatively long-lived deciduous species.”
From A Century of Overabundant Ungulates in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley: First Elk and Now Bison (2026) · cites this paper as Knapp et al. 1999
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“Bison can have multiple effects on ecosystems and plant communities (Knapp et al. 1999; White et al. 2015) and our fi eld measurements evaluated some of these effects, particularly regarding the growth and mortality of cot-tonwood, a relatively long-lived deciduous species.”
- Authors
- Knapp, A. K., Blair, J. M., Briggs, J. M., Collins, S. L., Hartnett, D. C., Johnson, L. C., & Towne, E. G.
- Venue
- BioScience
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1999-01
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 39
- ISSN
- 0006-3568 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2138143480
- Cited by
- 834
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 25.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BioScience (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Keywords
- bison, tallgrass prairie, keystone species, prairie restoration, grazing, North American prairies
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