Date of Award:

12-2025

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Committee Chair(s)

Karen H. Beard (committee chair) Johan T. du Toit (committee co-chair)

Committee

Karen H. Beard

Committee

Johan T. du Toit

Committee

Dan MacNulty

Committee

Kari Veblen

Committee

Julie Young

Committee

Nancy Huntly

Abstract

Rangelands are expansive ecosystems that make up more than 30% of the total surface land area in the contiguous United States. In the west, they are typically categorized as shrublands, grasslands or deserts with low precipitation. The vegetation communities consist largely of grasses and forbs and are thus widely used for livestock grazing. Despite their barren appearance, rangelands are diverse ecosystems that are home to a wide breadth of species.

The Henry Mountains, located in south central Utah, is one example of this system type. With their inspiring red-rock mesas and towering plateaus, this public land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is home to an array of diverse wildlife. Bison, mule deer, black-tailed jackrabbits and desert cottontails are some of the animals that graze alongside cattle, while coyotes prey on smaller mammals, like rodents, rabbits, and hares.

There is a strong focus on livestock and larger game species in rangelands, so the impacts of smaller herbivores often go unrecognized. However, rabbits and hares have high metabolic needs and are preferential foragers, qualities that suggest they may have a greater impact on the plant community than generally thought. Understanding their role requires a greater understanding of their behaviors and the broader ecological context that shapes their populations.

The BLM manages livestock and hunting permits. Moreover, coyotes and other predators are often controlled in rangelands through lethal, state-led measures that aim to reduce their population sizes. Predator control may provide an opportunity for rabbit and hare populations to increase, thereby increasing their potential effects on plant communities. Recognizing these dynamics is essential for the development of effective management practices that account for the full complexity of rangeland ecosystems.

My research found that rabbits and hares reduced native forbs while promoting invasive forbs through selective foraging. I also validated that pellet counts were a reliable estimator of lagomorph abundance, and camera traps revealed a positive relationship between lagomorphs and coyotes. Together, these findings highlight the dual role of lagomorphs as influential herbivores and key prey species, underscoring their relevance in rangeland management and food web dynamics.

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