Preserving California’s State Grass: How Grazing Supports Survival in a Changing Climate

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California’s purple needlegrass, known scientifically as Stipa pulchra, is more than just the state grass—it is a living symbol of resilience. Once dominating vast stretches of California’s grasslands, this deep-rooted perennial has faced relentless challenges from invasive plants, habitat loss, and climate extremes.

However, a groundbreaking six-year study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology offers hope. By combining meticulous field observations with advanced statistical modeling, researchers have uncovered how strategic grazing can revive Stipa pulchra populations, even in the face of droughts and erratic rainfall.

The Decline of Stipa pulchra and the Role of Invasive Species

To understand the significance of this research, it’s important to first grasp the challenges facing Stipa pulchra. Historically, this grass formed dense stands across California’s valleys and foothills, stabilizing soils with its deep roots and supporting a unique ecosystem.

However, the arrival of non-native annual grasses like wild oats (Avena fatua) and ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) disrupted this balance. These invasive species grow aggressively in wet seasons, outcompeting native plants for water and sunlight. When they die back in summer, they leave behind thick layers of dead biomass, or litter, which smothers Stipa seedlings and blocks sunlight.

Litter, in ecological terms, refers to dead plant material like leaves, stems, and grass blades that accumulate on the soil surface. While small amounts of litter can protect soil moisture and provide habitat for microorganisms, excessive litter—common in ungrazed grasslands—creates physical and chemical barriers that hinder seed germination and plant growth.

For Stipa pulchra, which relies on sunlight and open soil for seedling establishment, heavy litter layers are particularly detrimental. Compounding these threats is California’s climate volatility. Between 2012 and 2015, the state endured one of its worst droughts in recorded history, followed by an exceptionally wet El Niño year in 2016–2017.

Such extremes create unpredictable conditions for native plants, making traditional conservation strategies—like fencing off areas or planting seeds—often ineffective. For a long-lived species like Stipa pulchra, which can survive for decades, the key to persistence lies not just in surviving bad years but in capitalizing on good ones.

The Study: Tracking Thousands of Plants Across Six Years

From 2014 to 2019, a team led by Dr. Loralee Larios of the University of California, Riverside, and Dr. Lauren Hallett of the University of Oregon conducted a detailed study of Stipa pulchra populations.

The research focused on two sites in Northern California: Vasco Caves Regional Preserve, a sheep-grazed area, and Los Vaqueros Watershed, which is cattle-grazed. These sites represent California’s valley grasslands, where remnants of native bunchgrasses persist amidst invasive annuals.

The researchers set up paired plots at six locations—some grazed by livestock and others fenced to exclude grazing. Over six years, they tracked nearly 5,000 individual Stipa plants, recording their survival, growth, and reproduction.

Each plant was categorized into one of three life stages: seedlings (new sprouts less than 1 cm in circumference), juveniles (1–3 cm), and adults (over 3 cm). By comparing grazed and ungrazed plots, the team could isolate the effects of grazing on each life stage and overall population health.

Life stages are critical in demographic studies because they help scientists understand how different phases of a plant’s life cycle contribute to population growth.

For example, seedlings are vulnerable to environmental stress, while adults, with their established root systems, are more resilient. Tracking these stages allows researchers to pinpoint which parts of the life cycle are most affected by management practices like grazing.

The study period included dramatic climate shifts. The first two years (2014–2015) were part of a historic drought, with rainfall 30–40% below average. This was followed by an El Niño year (2016–2017) that brought heavy rains, triggering explosive growth of invasive grasses.

El Niño refers to a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which often leads to increased rainfall in California. These conditions allowed the researchers to test how grazing interacts with environmental variability.

Key Findings: Grazing Outperforms Ungrazed Management

The results of the study were striking. Grazed populations of Stipa pulchra not only survived but thrived, while ungrazed populations declined. To quantify this, the researchers used a metric called lambda (λ), which represents population growth rate. A lambda greater than 1 indicates a growing population, while a value below 1 signals decline.

On average, grazed plots had a lambda of 1.05, meaning the population grew by 5% annually. In contrast, ungrazed plots had a lambda of 0.93, reflecting a 7% annual decline. This difference was even more pronounced in wet years.

For example, during the El Niño year of 2016–2017, grazed populations surged with a lambda of 1.24, while ungrazed plots barely maintained stability at 1.02. During drought years, both grazed and ungrazed populations declined, but grazing did not worsen the situation. Grazed plots had a lambda of 0.89 during droughts, compared to 0.78 in ungrazed areas.

One of the most important discoveries was the role of adult plants. Adults, with their deep roots and large size, contributed far more to population growth than seedlings or juveniles.

In grazed plots, adult survival and growth added 0.15 and 0.12 to lambda, respectively, while seedling recruitment had a minimal impact (0.03). This finding challenges conventional restoration strategies, which often prioritize planting seeds over protecting established adults.

Why Grazing Works: Reducing Competition and Litter

The success of grazing lies in its ability to tip the balance in favor of Stipa pulchra. Livestock, such as sheep and cattle, preferentially eat invasive annual grasses, which are more palatable and quicker to regrow. By reducing the biomass of these competitors, grazing creates open spaces and reduces litter buildup.

In the study, ungrazed plots had nearly twice as much litter (499 grams per square meter) as grazed areas (263 grams per square meter). This litter layer blocks sunlight, traps moisture, and creates physical barriers that stifle seedling establishment.

Grazing also benefits adult plants by reducing competition for resources. In wet years, invasive grasses grow rapidly, monopolizing soil moisture and nutrients. By suppressing these competitors, grazing allows adult Stipa to allocate more energy to growth and reproduction. For example, adults in grazed plots grew 30% larger during the El Niño year compared to those in ungrazed areas.

Importantly, the study highlighted that grazing did not harm Stipa pulchra during droughts. This is likely because land managers reduced stocking rates—the number of animals per acre—during dry periods. At Vasco Caves, for instance, stocking rates dropped to 0.25 Animal Units per Month (AUM) per acre during droughts, compared to 0.49 AUM in normal years.

Stocking rates are a measure of grazing pressure, where one AUM represents the amount of forage consumed by one adult cow and her calf in one month. Adaptive stocking rates prevent overgrazing by adjusting animal numbers to match available forage, ensuring that plants are not overstressed during droughts.

Role of Adult Plants And Lessons for Land Managers and Conservationists

The resilience of Stipa pulchra hinges on its adults. These long-lived plants, which can survive for decades, act as anchors for the population. Their deep roots access water and nutrients unavailable to shallow-rooted annuals, allowing them to endure droughts.

Adults also produce far more seeds than younger plants—up to 300 seeds per plant annually—ensuring the next generation. Grazing supports adults in two key ways. First, by reducing competition from invasive grasses, it frees up resources that adults can use for growth and reproduction.

Second, by clearing litter, grazing improves light penetration and air circulation around adult bunches, reducing disease risk and promoting new shoots. In contrast, ungrazed areas become choked with dead biomass, creating unfavorable conditions even for robust adults.

Furthermore, the study offers actionable insights for those working to restore California’s grasslands. First and foremost, it underscores the importance of adaptive grazing—adjusting livestock numbers based on rainfall and plant conditions.

During wet years, increasing grazing pressure can suppress invasive grasses and promote Stipa growth. In droughts, reducing stocking rates helps prevent overgrazing and conserves soil moisture.

Adaptive grazing is a management approach that tailors grazing intensity and timing to ecological conditions. Unlike fixed grazing schedules, adaptive strategies respond to real-time data like rainfall, plant growth, and soil health. This flexibility is critical in variable climates like California’s, where rigid management plans often fail.

Second, land managers should prioritize monitoring and protecting adult plants. Instead of focusing solely on planting seeds, efforts should include measures to reduce competition around established adults, such as targeted mowing or herbicide application. Maintaining a density of at least five adults per square meter can provide a buffer against population declines.

Third, litter management is critical in ungrazed areas. Prescribed burns or mechanical raking can mimic the effects of grazing by removing dead biomass and creating openings for seedlings. However, these methods require careful planning to avoid damaging existing plants.

Finally, the study highlights the need for long-term monitoring. Stipa pulchra populations respond slowly to management changes, and short-term interventions may not yield visible results for years. By tracking populations over decades, managers can identify trends and adjust strategies accordingly.

Broader Implications for Grassland Conservation And Challenges

The lessons from this study extend far beyond California. Globally, grasslands face similar threats from invasive species, climate change, and land-use shifts. In the Midwestern United States, for example, prescribed grazing with bison or cattle has helped native prairie plants compete against invasives like Kentucky bluegrass.

In Mediterranean regions, sheep grazing maintains biodiversity by preventing woody shrubs from encroaching on grasslands. The key takeaway is that grazing, when managed adaptively, can be a tool for conservation rather than a threat. By aligning grazing practices with ecological goals, landowners can support both livestock production and native ecosystems.

This approach is particularly relevant in the face of climate change, where flexibility and resilience are paramount. While the study provides a roadmap for Stipa pulchra conservation, challenges remain. Overgrazing, even at moderate levels, can degrade soils and reduce plant diversity if not carefully managed.

Additionally, the benefits of grazing may vary depending on local conditions, such as soil type and invasive species composition. Future research could explore how grazing interacts with other management tools, such as prescribed fire or herbicide use. For example, combining light grazing with targeted burns might enhance litter reduction while minimizing fire risk.

Researchers could also investigate the economic incentives for ranchers to adopt adaptive grazing, such as payment programs for ecosystem services. Another open question is how climate change will alter the effectiveness of grazing. As droughts become more frequent and severe, the window for beneficial grazing may narrow. Identifying drought-resistant populations of Stipa pulchra and protecting them as genetic reservoirs could be a critical strategy.

Conclusion

The story of Stipa pulchra is a testament to the power of adaptive management. By embracing moderate, climate-informed grazing, land managers can revive this iconic grass and restore balance to California’s grasslands. The study’s findings remind us that conservation is not about eliminating human influence but about harnessing it in ways that support ecological resilience.

For Stipa pulchra, the path forward involves recognizing the irreplaceable role of adult plants, reducing competition from invasives, and adapting to climate extremes. These principles apply equally to other ecosystems under threat. In a world of escalating environmental challenges, solutions that blend traditional knowledge with modern science offer the best hope for preserving biodiversity.