Abstract
The effect of various frequencies and seasons of military tank traffic on native mixed-grass prairie was examined in a randomized and replicated field experiment. Vegetation (in 10×10 m plots) was subjected to tank traffic at the following rates: (a) one pass per day of training from May until August; (b) one pass per day in May and June; (c) one pass per day in July and August; (d) one pass every three weeks from May until August; (e) zero (control). Species composition and the amount of bare ground were found to vary significantly with traffic frequency. Plant species alien to North America invaded plots subjected to spring driving. Regression analysis showed spring driving to produce more bare ground than summer driving. The regression models suggested that much higher intensities of training could be conducted without damage if spring driving were avoided. Regression models were also used to estimate the frequency of traffic associated with a significant change in species composition, where species composition was expressed as the ratio ofBouteloua gracilis toStipa spartea, an indicator of disturbance-induced change in prairie vegetation. This relationship predicted the capacity of the vegetation of a training area of any given width to support tank traffic without changing species composition. The predictive ability of the model was tested by comparing predicted traffic capacities with the amount of traffic actually applied to two training areas in 1986. Where traffic capacity was exceeded, the model successfully predicted a significantly higher frequency of bare ground and ratio ofBouteloua gracilis toStipa spartea.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Anderson, M. L., and A. W. Bailey. 1979. Effect of fire on aSymphoricarpos occidentalis shrub community in central Alberta.Canadian Journal of Botany 57:2819–2823.
Beare, H. T. 1972. The effect of tracked vehicle traversal on the soil physical properties of prairie terrain. Suffield Unclassified Memorandum 1/72. Defence Research Establishment Suffield, Ralston, Alberta.
Best, K. F., G. G. Bowes, A. G. Thomas, and M. G. Maw. 1980. The biology of Canadian weeds. 39.Euphorbia esula L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 60:651–663.
Bird, R. D., 1927. A preliminary ecological survey of the district surrounding the entomological station at Treesbank, Manitoba.Ecology 8:207–220.
Brown, M. A., and S. S. Waller. 1986. The impact of experimental design on the application of grazing research results.Journal of Range Management 39:197–200.
Bultsma, P. M., and R. G. Lym. 1985. Survey for spotted knapweed in North Dakota.North Dakota Farm Research 43:19–22.
Clarke, S. E., E. W. Tisdale, and N. A. Skoglund. 1947. The effects of climate and grazing practices on short-grass prairie vegetation in southern Saskatchewan. Canada Department of Agriculture Technical Publication no. 46, Ottawa.
Coupland, R. T. 1950. Ecology of mixed prairie in Canada.Ecological Monographs 20:271–315.
Diersing, V. E., and W. D. Severinghaus. 1985. Wildlife as an indicator of site quality and site trafficability during army training maneuvers. US Army Corps of Engineers Technical Report N-86/03.
Hurlbert, S. H. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments.Ecological Monographs 54:187–211.
Larson, F., and W. Whitman. 1942. A comparison of used and unused grassland mesas in the badlands of South Dakota.Ecology 23:438–445.
McKeman, J. M. 1984. Effects of military training on mixedgrass prairie at Shilo, Manitoba, Canada, and utility of remedial seeding measures. M.S. thesis, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.
Redmann, R. E. 1975. Production ecology of grassland plant communities in western North Dakota.Ecological Monographs 45:83–106.
Risser, P. G., E. C. Birney, H. D. Blocker, S. W. May, W. J. Parton, and J. A. Wiens. 1981. The true prairie ecosystem. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co., Stroudsberg, PA.
Scoggan, H. J. 1957. Flora of Manitoba. National Museum of Canada, Ottawa.
Severinghaus, W. D., and W. D. Goran. 1981. Effects of tactical vehicle activity on the mammals, birds and vegetation at Fort Lewis, Washington. US Army Corps of Engineers Technical Report N-116, Champaign, IL.
Severinghaus, W. D., W. D. Goran, G. D. Schnell, and F. L. Johnson. 1981. Effects of tactical vehicle activity on the mammals, birds and vegetation at Fort Hood, Texas. US Army Corps of Engineers Technical Report N-113, Champaign, IL.
Smoliak, S. 1965. A comparison of ungrazed and lightly grazedStipa-Bouteloua prairie in southeastern Alberta.Canadian Journal of Plant Science 45:270–275.
Smoliak, S., M. R. Kilcher, R. W. Lodge, and A. Johnston. 1982. Management of prairie rangeland. Publication 1589/ E, Ottawa.
Weaver, J. E. 1954. North American prairie. Johnsen Publishing Co., Lincoln, NE.
Weaver, J. E. 1968. Prairie plants and their environment. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE.
Webb, R. H., and Wilshire, H. G. (Eds.). 1983. Environmental effects of off-road vehicles. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilson, S.D. The effects of military tank traffic on prairie: A management model. Environmental Management 12, 397–403 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867529
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867529