- Sep 13, 2002
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Figured this is a must-read since we will soon have an honest-to-god Bison Bridge heading into Iowa:
While foraging, bison move liberally. As they trample, their hooves aerate the soil, allowing for a variety of plants to thrive and native seeds to disperse. Their thick fur often captures and redistributes additional seeds as they roam, breeding diverse plant life across the plains. Through frequent urination and defecation bison improve plant nutrition and increase the amount of nitrogen found in the soil. Continuous grazing facilitates healthy plant species and food sources for other herbivores.
Bison also create wallows, packed holes of soil that fill with rainwater and provide breeding pools for amphibians and drinking water for other wildlife. As they move from place to place, bison impact other ecosystems, like prairie dog habitats–displacing soil and removing plant life which makes it easier for prairie dogs to dig their burrows. These habitats support key predator species like the black-footed ferret. Once abandoned, these holes offer shelter to burrowing owls and other organisms.
In winter, bison easily clear pathways through the snow using their horns and sheer mass to search for food. These pathways uncover vital vegetation, helping animals like pronghorn antelope and elk survive during colder months. Even when a bison dies, it provides food for scavenging animals and valuable nutrients for the soil. The rippling effects of bison cycles highlight its importance as a central organism within the grasslands and an invaluable keystone species.
The dramatic decimation of the bison was spurred by habitat loss as ranching, farming, and railway development expanded across the interior plains. Non-indigenous hunting led by European settlers increased the demand for bison hides and meats, following a destructive policy set by governments to eradicate this vital food source of Native American populations. Bison hunting had been an integral spiritual practice and primary source of materials. As herds were culled, native tribes were pressured onto Indian reservations or to adopt non-indigenous hunting methods to survive. With the development of commercial hunting and railway travel, the elimination of the bison became an efficient tool of western colonization and the inevitable decline of the plains.
What makes bison a keystone species?
RESTORATION 101 | October 6th, 2021Bison are a driving factor in establishing and maintaining the grasslands of the Great Plains.
A keystone species is..
An organism central to the health and stability of a natural ecosystem. It's removal would cause imbalance and potential degradation to its surrounding environment.Types of keystone species:
Predators
Keystone predators maintain stable populations within an ecosystems by preventing any one species from becoming too dominant and overtaking a landscape with excess grazing or depletion of natural resources.- The grey wolves of Yellowstone National Park are a well know example of predator keystone species. In the 1920s excessive overhunting resulted in the loss of the grey wolf within the park and the inevitable overpopulation of prey species. This led to an eventual decline in local vegetation and degradation of the surrounding environment. The reintroduction of grey wolves in 1995 led to a successful trophic cascade, in this case, an effective reduction in the abundance of prey species which led to an increase in vegetation, beaver populations, and rivers.
Engineers
Keystone engineers transform surrounding ecosystems to create opportunities for plant life and other species to thrive.- The beaver is an important example of a keystone engineer. Felling older trees for its dam, the beaver facilitates the growth of younger trees and alters the edges between land and stream, the riparian zone. The damming of a river or stream creates further habitat changes, known to support amphibians, fish, and birds.
Mutualists
Keystone mutualists engage in reciprocal behavior that supports all participating organisms, the loss of which would greatly impact the surrounding ecosystem.- Bees are a vital keystone mutualist. A primary pollinator, they fertilize and propagate the majority of flowering plants across the planet. Without native bees, many plant species would decline, impacting organisms dependent on these plants for food or habitat.
What are bison?
The American bison is the largest land mammal in North America. A bovine, nomadic grazer, bison are a herd animal, known for traveling in packs across the Great Plains. They were hunted to near extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries, and have since slowly made a comeback.Bison as a keystone species
Bison are keystone ecosystem engineers. They create habitats for other organisms, aerate soil, and spread seeds to facilitate plant growth and a balanced ecosystem. These herbivores are a driving factor in establishing and maintaining the grasslands of North America and their foraging habits facilitate the health and stability of organisms throughout the surrounding environment.While foraging, bison move liberally. As they trample, their hooves aerate the soil, allowing for a variety of plants to thrive and native seeds to disperse. Their thick fur often captures and redistributes additional seeds as they roam, breeding diverse plant life across the plains. Through frequent urination and defecation bison improve plant nutrition and increase the amount of nitrogen found in the soil. Continuous grazing facilitates healthy plant species and food sources for other herbivores.
Bison also create wallows, packed holes of soil that fill with rainwater and provide breeding pools for amphibians and drinking water for other wildlife. As they move from place to place, bison impact other ecosystems, like prairie dog habitats–displacing soil and removing plant life which makes it easier for prairie dogs to dig their burrows. These habitats support key predator species like the black-footed ferret. Once abandoned, these holes offer shelter to burrowing owls and other organisms.
In winter, bison easily clear pathways through the snow using their horns and sheer mass to search for food. These pathways uncover vital vegetation, helping animals like pronghorn antelope and elk survive during colder months. Even when a bison dies, it provides food for scavenging animals and valuable nutrients for the soil. The rippling effects of bison cycles highlight its importance as a central organism within the grasslands and an invaluable keystone species.
The decline of the American Bison
Prior to the European-American settling of the west at the end of the 19th century, bison roamed the plains in estimates of 50-60 million. A staggering number in comparison to the less than 1,000 bison that remained by the late 1880s. Persistent conversation efforts have increased numbers to over 500,000 today, with 5,000 of those animals roaming in the Greater Yellowstone area.The dramatic decimation of the bison was spurred by habitat loss as ranching, farming, and railway development expanded across the interior plains. Non-indigenous hunting led by European settlers increased the demand for bison hides and meats, following a destructive policy set by governments to eradicate this vital food source of Native American populations. Bison hunting had been an integral spiritual practice and primary source of materials. As herds were culled, native tribes were pressured onto Indian reservations or to adopt non-indigenous hunting methods to survive. With the development of commercial hunting and railway travel, the elimination of the bison became an efficient tool of western colonization and the inevitable decline of the plains.
The importance of bison in restoring the Great Plains
The degradation of the Great Plains was directly impacted by the decline of the American bison, hunted through mass slaughter to near extinction. Along with extensive deep plowing, the loss of the American bison spurred The 1930s Dust Bowl and continued land deterioration into today. As we look towards restorative practices for land restoration, the re-introduction of bison to the Great Plains is an important step in rebuilding biodiversity within these ecosystems. Bison will help facilitate deep-root grass systems that revitalize topsoil and support the growth of diverse, regenerative plant species. Re-establishing this crucial keystone species enables other herbivores and apex predators to return to degraded lands and create new habitats.Organizations to follow
- The Lamar Buffalo Ranch was established in 1907 to preserve bison located in Yellowstone National Park. After counting just 25 bison within the park, the landmark wildlife management program was established, purchasing additional 21 animals from private owners. These bison were fed and bred within Lamar Valley and eventually released to mingle with the free roaming population. The program continues, offering stable conservation methods and opportunities to visit.
- Turner Bison Program owned by Ted Turner, focuses on ecologically sensitive and commercially sustainable practices across 14 ranches and approximately 45,000 bison, the largest privately held herd in the world. Turner's ranching activities are concentrated in the western states, in area most conducive to raising bison. After purchasing his first bison in 1976 and first ranch in 1987 Turner made a commitment to promote the conservation of native species.
- 777 Bison Ranch is an education driven ranch, raising its animals holistically, humanely, and sustainably. Located in southwestern South Dakota, this family held ranch supports land restoration through rotating grazing patterns and cultivating diverse native plant life.
