Abstract
Oklahoma phlox (Phlox oklahomensis Wherry) is endemic to Butler, Chautauqua, Comanche, Cowley, and Elk Counties of Kansas and Woods and Woodward Counties of Oklahoma. The species comprises populations of a few scattered individuals to several hundred in mixed-grass prairie sites in Oklahoma where cow-calf production is the common agricultural enterprise. It has successfully withstood periods of short-term drought (1 to 4 years) under light to moderate continuous stocking rates (41 to 52 animal unit days per hectare). Under heavy continuous stocking rates and/or prolonged drought, populations of P. oklahomensis tend to decrease in size and number and may disappear in some localities. Prolonged heavy stocking rates and drought will disrupt the reproductive cycle, severely limiting seed production and recruitment of new individuals to populations. During drought periods, livestock managers should use lighter stocking rates or deferred grazing to ensure rapid recovery of all prairie plants, including P. oklahomensis, once the drought ends. This recommendation would likely sustain prairie sites during long-term (longer than 10 years) droughts as well.
Highlights
Oklahoma phlox (Phlox oklahomensis Figure 1) was first described by E
Under heavy continuous stocking rates and/or prolonged drought, populations of P. oklahomensis tend to decrease in size and number and may disappear in some localities
Our intentions in this paper are to describe the effects of short-duration drought and grazing on plant population stability, and to speculate on the effects of drought and grazing on the long-term survival of Phlox oklahomensis in northwestern Oklahoma
Summary
Oklahoma phlox (Phlox oklahomensis Figure 1) was first described by E. Because of its restricted geographical distribution, P. oklahomensis was initially designated as a threatened plant species by Ayensu and DeFilipps [7] under the guidelines of the 1973 Threatened and Endangered Species Act. Plants of the threatened category include taxa that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Our intentions in this paper are to describe the effects of short-duration drought and grazing on plant population stability, and to speculate on the effects of drought and grazing on the long-term survival of Phlox oklahomensis in northwestern Oklahoma. A 20-year continuous stocking rate experiment was conducted at the USDA, ARS, Southern Plains Experimental Range located approximately 27 km northwest of Woodward, Oklahoma (lat 36 ̊37'N, long 99 ̊35'W, elevation 610 - 640 m) [13].
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