Bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) and big squirreltail (Elymus multisetus) are high-priority species for restoration of millions of hectares of rangeland in the western United States that have been degraded by accelerated wildfire and introduced annual grasses. Previous research has compared potential germination and seedling performance of these species in a common environment and noted significant genetic differentiation in characteristics that are associated with their environments of origin. In this experiment, we used wet-thermal germination models and long-term simulations of seedbed microclimate to conduct a virtual reciprocal-garden analysis of the potential germination response of these species. We confirmed significant species differentiation in germination rate that appears to confer site-specific advantages for initial seedling establishment in their respective habitats of origin. Our results specifically highlight the relative importance of late-fall seeding for the more rapidly germinating E. multisetus in order to avoid early-fall germination and post-germination seedling mortality from freezing conditions in the winter. In contrast, the slower-germinating E. elymoides ssp. brevifolius A is less likely to germinate in the fall and likely avoids inherently harsher winter temperatures in the seedbed. Virtual simulations of this type might lead to identification of complex-trait genetic markers that are associated with intraspecific and interspecific adaptations to specific environments. Identification of these traits could also inform management of plant communities that are under threat from invasive weeds and climate change.

Ecological resources sustain life, influencing ecology and landscape but demanding sustenance. Urbanization is impacting such resources, which is a critical concern for stakeholders. However, appreciating green infrastructure (ecological resources) is relative as the resourceful and resource-deficient nourish divergent views. Socioeconomic determinants significantly influence urban environmental integrity, making their study cardinal. This study evaluated the empirical information for holistic appraisals. The data were obtained from planned (Faisalabad) and semi-planned (Jhang) cities through a cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire from 250 households. These two cities were selected because they are physically and economically homogenous but have divergent urbanization trends. Findings construe 48.6% perceiving the environment as unhealthy. About 97.6% understood urban ecological degradation, showing concern. The statistical inferences based on Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests rendered that age, education, profession, and nature of job influence (P ≤ 0.05) awareness regarding urban-ecological resilience. In contrast, gender, duration of stay, and income were insignificant. However, 64.6% showed an inclination for active participation. Contrarily, the majority complained about the city administration. The meagerness of female participation was noticeable, demanding redressal. An enhanced focus on the younger segments of urban society is also needed. Conclusions render that all stakeholders must join hands for urban ecological resilience.

Human-carnivore conflicts arising from livestock depredation can impact both livestock producers and carnivore populations. We used livestock depredation insurance claims from 2 895 depredation events involving 7 411 livestock throughout Mexico to evaluate the diversity of carnivores and livestock involved in depredations and identify attributes related to species-specific livestock depredation sites and carnivore predation patterns. Cattle comprised 48% of depredation events, followed by sheep (36%), goats (13%), equids (2%), and hogs (< 1%). Coyotes were responsible for 28% of depredation events, followed by domestic dogs (27%), pumas (22%), jaguars (15%), and bears (5%). Both kill sites of differing livestock species and predation patterns of carnivores varied with respect to predator responsible or prey killed, landscape attributes, and season; patterns reflected primarily species-specific habitat preferences, livestock husbandry practices, and tolerances of carnivores for human impacts. Our results indicate that the greatest challenge of managing depredation conflicts in Mexico is that depredations by carnivores that kill the most livestock (coyote, domestic dog) are facilitated by increasing human impacts and the canid's adaptability. Depredations associated with carnivores limited to relatively rare ecological conditions (e.g., proximity to protected natural areas [PNAs]) can be mitigated by cultural changes, such as avoiding establishing new livestock production areas near PNAs, or new PNAs adjacent to traditional livestock production areas. Opportunities to limit ecologically and sociologically problematic impacts such as retaliatory killing of carnivores include accurate identification of the actual depredating carnivore.

Wind and water erosion can severely impact natural resources and ecosystem services, making soil erosion management essential to sustaining agroecosystems. Land health assessment protocols, such as Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH), provide valuable information to make decisions on managing soil erosion in vulnerable drylands. Using quantitative erosion models with land health assessments can further inform management decisions. For example, sediment transport estimates from the Aeolian EROsion (AERO) model and Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) can help in understanding the impacts of differences in soil and vegetation on wind and water erosion risk. In this article, we provide a conceptual basis for using AERO and RHEM to support IIRH assessments that are used extensively by managers across United States rangelands. We describe how using erosion models with IIRH can (1) improve understanding about potential erosion rates for different types of storm events; (2) support identifying areas at risk of erosion where erosion evidence is not (yet) significant; (3) increase land health assessment consistency by providing reproducible erosion indicators; (4) provide another line of evidence to support assessment conclusions about land health; and (5) improve understanding about potential erosion rates across ecologically similar sites and over time. Effectively using erosion models to support land health assessments will improve wind and water erosion management in drylands, thus helping to protect and restore these ecosystems.

Grassland ecosystems have suffered intense modification worldwide, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. Birds that breed in grasslands have experienced steep population declines over recent decades. When modifications of grasslands reduce the available breeding habitat, birds may select habitat features that do not favor their breeding success. However, the relationship between selected nesting habitat and nest survival is not well established for many grassland birds. We studied the nest site selection and nest survival of a common grassland bird, the Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola, in the Flooding Pampa of Argentina, a region comprised mostly of large natural rangelands. We searched for nests over three breeding seasons (2017–2020) and used linear models to analyze whether finches selected nest sites according to distance from grassland edges, type of grassland community, vegetation density, visual concealment, and grass height. We modeled daily nest survival rates (DSR) to assess whether these variables influenced breeding success. We confirmed the fate of 133 nests, of which 93 (70%) failed, predation being the principal cause (84% of failures). Our models showed that finches selected shrubby grasslands over other types available, and sites with high overhead visual concealment. Only overhead concealment was positively correlated with DSR. This may indicate that their nests are affected by avian predators that search for prey from above and that they benefit from tall and dense vegetation that provides good overhead cover. We believe that preserving areas of heterogeneous and dense shrubby grasslands within grazing plots is a good starting point that could benefit this bird species and others with similar nesting strategies.

Vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) plays a crucial role in assessing the quality and function of terrestrial ecosystems. The Qilian Mountains (QLM) are an important ecological barrier and water conservation area in northwest China. However, the driving factors of the NPP change in the greening (NPP increased) area and browning (NPP decreased) area of QLM remain unclear. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of NPP in QLM over the past two decades by utilizing hydrometeorological data and human activity (HA) data. Employing spatial and trend analyses to explore the variation of NPP. Additionally, the gravity model was introduced to track the migration of NPP's gravity center, and the Geodetector model was employed to identify the driving factors and their interactive impacts on NPP change. Finally, the Hurst index was used to predict the persistence of the changing trend. Results reveal a fluctuating increasing NPP trend (2.38 gC m^–2 a^–1) in QLM from 2000 to 2020, with cultivated vegetation and broad-leaved forests showing greater increases. Approximately 75.37% of QLM pixels display increased NPP trends, primarily located in the southeastern regions. The NPP gravity center shifted northwestward by 18.24 km. Spatially, high NPP values cluster concentrated in the southeast, while low values cluster concentrated in the northwest. In the greening area, precipitation, vapor pressure deficit, and evapotranspiration dominate NPP changes, contributing 46.1%, 31.5%, and 25.0%, respectively. In the browning area, soil moisture, HA, and precipitation were the primary factors driving NPP change with contributions of 8.4%, 7.6%, and 6.6%, respectively. The results of the Geodetector model indicated that the explanatory power of a single factor was nonlinearly enhanced when it interacted with other factors. The Hurst index suggests that the NPP change was not persistent, showing clear reverse persistent characteristics, which implies uncertainty of the vegetation change in QLM. These findings reveal nonlinear responses of NPP to climate change and human activities in the context of global warming, providing insights for QLM's ecological protection and sustainable development.

In response to the challenge of simultaneously controlling invasive plant species and restoring desired species, seed technologies have been developed that use activated carbon to protect desired plants from pre-emergent herbicides that target invasive plants, such as herbicide protection pellets (HPPs). One ecosystem imperiled by this challenge is the sagebrush steppe of the Western United States. Land managers in the sagebrush steppe may use consecutive or concurrent applications of different pre-emergent herbicides in order to control invasive annual grasses while restoring desirable perennial vegetation that helps stabilize soil and reduce the frequency of wildfires. We conducted a pot study looking at the efficacy of HPPs for six perennial species with novel herbicide practices used by land managers: an application of both imazapic and indaziflam. The six test species included four bunchgrasses, one shrub, and one forb. The bunchgrass species responded well to the HPPs with similar seedling counts and biomass to bare seed when herbicide was not applied and higher seedling counts and biomass than bare seed when a double herbicide treatment was applied. Our results demonstrate that broader testing of HPPs with the application of both indaziflam and imazapic is needed, especially across wide climoedaphic field conditions.

A comprehensive understanding of how native grasslands (rangelands) respond to chronic nutrient addition requires considering interactions with climate variability, water availability in particular, and with stocking rate management. We assessed animal production responses to phosphorus plus nitrogen fertilization sustained over a decade on a highly diverse subtropical grassland. Between 2002 and 2011, paddocks (2 ha) stocked with Hereford heifers received 15 kg P + 50 kg N/ha in April/May, plus 50 kg N/ha in August/September, or were left as unfertilized controls (n= 2). Monthly, independent per-paddock, put- and-take adjustment of stocking rates kept sward height within the 6–12 cm range across all paddocks and years. Herbage production, stocking rate, and liveweight gain per animal (LWG_A) and per hectare (LWG_H) were measured over the 10 consecutive one-year cycles. Fertilization increased LWG_H (+53%) because it increased both herbage production (+32%) and liveweight production per unit produced herbage (trophic efficiency +29%). Such higher trophic efficiency was not a direct effect but a consequence of the increased grazing intensity brought about by the 48% higher stocking rate required to maintain target sward heights in fertilized paddocks, especially in winter and spring. Fertilization increased LWG_H substantially more in years with higher summer precipitation. Considering that nutrients were added in autumn–winter, greater responses in wetter summers suggest active excreta-driven nutrient recycling between the sequential growth of cool- and warm-season species. Nutrient addition did not decrease temporal stability of herbage production, LWG_A or LWG_H. A stocking rate management that precluded fertilized paddocks from becoming taller than unfertilized controls, hence mitigating competition for light, could be the reason underlying this unexpected result. By disentangling intrinsic effects of fertilizers from grazing regime-mediated effects, this study helps understand how extensive animal production (agroeco) systems reliant on highly diverse rangelands respond to progressive nutrient enrichment.

Sustainable beef production is a growing concern worldwide, particularly in arid regions where limited natural resources availability and adverse environmental conditions pose significant challenges. This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of the potential of Criollo cattle breeds as an alternative for sustainable beef production in America. Criollo cattle, known for their resilience, hardiness, and adaptability to arid and semiarid environments, offer unique advantages in sustainable livestock production systems. Therefore, the use of criollo cattle and their crossbreds may be an alternative to face current and emerging challenges in beef production, which include a decrease in rangelands carrying capacity, adaptation to adverse environmental conditions, increase in diseases and parasites due to climate change, and diminished regional feed and forage production. This manuscript discusses the environmental sustainability of Criollo cattle production, including resource use efficiency, carbon footprint, and land management practices, providing insights into the potential ecological and economic benefits of these breeds. Also, it highlights the role of Criollo cattle in assisting organic and grass-fed beef producers in producing high-quality products using primarily forage-based diets. This approach can significantly enhance their organic or grass-fed certification. Criollo cattle have a unique flavor profile, which is highly sought after by consumers of organic and grass-fed beef. The meat of Criollo cattle produces omega-3, linoleic, and other fatty acids, which are beneficial to human health. Criollo cattle breeds are a valuable resource for enhancing resilience, promoting local biodiversity, producing good quality meat, and contributing to sustainable beef production in America.

Residents of the Sahel depend on livestock, but harsh environmental conditions during the dry season limit rangeland forage, which is the main source of livestock feed. Al-though operational tools exist for assessing and monitoring forage quantity during the dry season, assessments of forage quality are lacking. We addressed this gap by developing satellite-based monitoring of forage quality across Sahelian rangelands during the dry season. Acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and crude protein (CP) content (%) were measured in forage samples collected from 11 sites across the Senegalese rangelands in 2021. Multilinear (MML) regression and support vector machine (SVM) models were calibrated with spectral indices to estimate these parameters of forage quality. The vegetation variables assessed were herbaceous mass (HQ), woody foliage mass (LQ), and total fo-rage mass (HLQ). The MML regression provided the most accurate estimates for CP (HQ: R² = 0.81, LQ: R² = 0.72, and HLQ: R² = 0.70), ADF (HQ: R² = 0.70, LQ: R² = 0.77, and HLQ: R² = 0.61), and NDF (HQ: R² = 0.47, LQ: R² = 0.83, and HLQ: R² = 0.60). Temporal analysis revealed a slight decrease in CP and an increase in fiber during the dry season. Spatial analysis indicated that CP was higher in the steppe zone than in the savanna zone, and a decrease correlated with the rainfall gradient. The HQ alone was insufficient to meet livestock needs during the dry season, highlighting the importance of woody plants as an additional forage source. These findings will improve feed balance calculations in Sahelian countries, enable more sustainable use of rangelands, and contribute to the resilience of Sahelian communities to climate change.

Wildfire is an increasing concern throughout the world, with wildfires increasing in size, frequency, suppression cost, and loss of lives and resources. Targeted grazing has been suggested as a tool to establish and maintain strategic fuel breaks by reducing the fine herbaceous fuel load and subsequently fire behavior metrics. In a full factorial replicated experimental design, we evaluated the effect of domestic cattle grazing at two seasons (summer and fall) and two utilization levels (low and moderate) on fuel characteristics and fire behavior metrics in two big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities. Shrub cover and herbaceous biomass before and after grazing were estimated in 2014 and 2015. Grazed and control plots were burned in late September 2015 under low fuel moisture conditions; flame height and fire rate of spread were measured. Cattle grazing reduced the herbaceous fuel load and grass height and increased herbaceous litter cover on the soil surface following the short-term grazing treatments. The more intensely plots were grazed also resulted in lower fuel loads than less intensely grazed plots. The season of grazing did not affect herbaceous fuel loads at the time of prescribed fire because utilization of grasses and forbs varied by season resulting in similar herbaceous biomass among both seasons of grazing at the time of the prescribed fire. Grazing was found to be an effective tool at altering herbaceous wildland fuels, which reduced fire behavior metrics when shrub cover was below 18%. Flame height was positively correlated with the amount of herbaceous vegetation, grass height, and annual grasses in the plant community at low shrub cover. However, at higher shrub canopy cover (>18%), cattle grazing for fuel reduction and alteration was limited due to low herbaceous biomass and the wildfire's potential to carry through the shrub canopy.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Alpine pastures in the Kashmir Himalayas through a multidisciplinary approach, combining remote sensing and field-based assessments for biomass estimation and time series analysis of the (NDVI) Index for the growing season from May to October 2022. The Alpine and Subalpine region of Kashmir was delineated using ALOS PALSAR Digital Elevation Model, and Landsat 8 imagery was classified using a maximum likelihood algorithm, revealing a total grassland area of 160,974 hectares. After grassland delineation Biomass estimation was carried out based on data collected from 18 pastures, each of which was subjected to a stratified sampling approach to establish four 1 m² quadrats, with two designated for grazed areas and two for ungrazed areas, this yielded average biomass yields of 20.87 t/ha and an average dry weight biomass of 5.16 t/ha. Pastures like Daksum (28.36 t/ha), Tragbal (28.22 t/ha), Krush (27.83 t/ha), Lung Marg (27.03 t/ha), observed high biomass availability, while moderate levels were found in locations like Gangbal (22.75 t/ha), Hangel Marg (22.68 t/ha), Dagwan (21.76 t/ha), Gumri (20.82 t/ha), Bangus (20.66 t/ha), Pir Galli (18.52t/ha), Maalish (18.21 t/ha), In contrast, lower biomass values were recorded in Mohand Marg (11.47 t/ha), and Thajwas (9.81 t/ha). These findings were complemented by (NDVI) metrics, which varied across sites. For example, high NDVI values were observed for sites such as Pir Gilli, Bangus, and Kud Marg, indicating a healthier vegetative profile with less impact of grazing during the grazing season. In contrast, pastures like Mohand Marg, Thajwas, Razdan, and Tragbal recorded moderate NDVI values, suggesting a moderate level of grazing impact. Pasture sites with lower NDVI values and high standard deviation, such as Hangel Marg and Gumari, witnessed high seasonal variability, suggesting a high grazing impact, besides other natural factors responsible, like early snowfall. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing, multifaceted ecological assessments for the sustainable management and conservation of these critical Alpine ecosystems.

State and transition models (STMs) are widely used for organizing, understanding, and communicating complex information regarding ecological change. One foundational component of STMs is the representation of the current state of ecological sites (ecosites) delineated by topoedaphic features. Field inventory and assessment techniques used to characterize ecosites are labor-intensive and based on limited sampling in time and space. Remote sensing and Geographic Information System technologies increasingly offer opportunities to generate synoptic, high-resolution characterizations of ecosites in heterogeneous and remote rangelands. Here, we show how advanced remotely-sensed hyperspectral data acquired by the National Ecological Observatory Network can be combined with uncrewed aerial vehicle data within a GIS framework to quantify land cover at scales that inform STMs in Sonoran Desert landscapes in southern Arizona. Using 1 m airborne hyperspectral reflectance data, spectral vegetation and moisture indices (derived from hyperspectral bands and rendered together with the hyperspectral stack), and aerial imagery for ground-truthing, we were able to 1) produce a classification product quantifying some, but not all, plant and soil categories used in STMs and 2) delineate the spatial pattern and areal extent of ecological states on several ecological sites. Our remote sensing-based assessments were then compared to vegetation state maps based on traditional field surveys. We found that with the exception of native vs. nonnative grass ground cover, remote sensing picked up contributions of key ecostate classification variables. Remote sensing products thus have value for planning and prioritizing field surveys and pinpointing areas of concern or novelty. Furthermore, remote sensing approaches more thoroughly encompass greater spatial extents and are ostensibly more cost-effective than traditional field surveys when viewed through the lens of the time-series analyses needed to document whether the ecological states in STMs are stable or in the process or transitioning.

Virtual fencing (VF) is a rapidly expanding technology that uses global positioning technologies to send audible and electrical cues to livestock that create invisible boundaries to replace physical fencing. The technology portends several benefits, from replacing costly and hazardous physical fencing to being an additional tool to contain, exclude, or move livestock. While researchers and VF providers work to improve the technology and applications, little is known about producer perceptions of its capabilities and what they most want in a system. We conducted phone and in-person interviews with beef cattle producers to ask them about their views and experiences related to virtual fencing technology. We included producers that already use the technology (including producers currently installing the technology) and producers not actively considering or using the technology. Our findings identify benefits and barriers of VF from the cattle producers' perspective. These perspectives can guide new research, improve VF technology, guide educational programs, and help producers considering a VF system. Survey responses are organized into eight themes: animal stress and welfare; effectiveness, function, and technology; management impacts; financial and economic perspectives; improvements and advice; learning; privacy; and implementation. Producers who use the technology had greater optimism about the applications and economics and have found creative applications of VF specific to their operations. While they have more confidence in the technology, they still report issues such as collars falling off or base stations not working. Producers new to VF should expect a learning period both for themselves and their animals. Producers from all groups cite potential benefits from better use of forages, reduced wildlife conflicts, more flexibility and convenience, to the ability to better manage sensitive landscapes such as riparian areas or other areas affected by fire or drought.

Understanding the mechanistic link between plant functional traits and foraging patterns across seasons and grazing intensities is crucial for implementing sustainable grazing systems and predicting ecological successions. We assessed the interaction effects of grazing intensity, season, and leaf functional traits on herbivore grazing patterns in a native grassland composed of functionally diverse patches in four 10–14 ha paddocks managed under lenient or moderate grazing intensities. Seasonal botanical composition was estimated in permanent 20 × 20 cm patches. Defoliation events of species in patches were recorded every 7–10 d, four times during summer-autumn, and five times during winter and spring. Leaf dry matter content, specific area, tensile strength, and width of dominant grass species were measured seasonally, and species were allocated to functional groups. The proportion of total defoliation events occurring in each functional group and their selectivity index were estimated for each period and season. We tested the relationship between trait community weighted mean in the pasture and that grazed by cattle for each quadrant and period within seasons. Cows focused grazing on resource-acquisitive strategy species with wider and more tender leaves during summer-autumn under both grazing intensities. As herbage mass and accumulation decreased during winter, cows shifted their foraging strategy toward shorter patches and previously rejected, tougher-thinner leaves and resource-conservative strategy species stockpiled from summer-autumn, not overgrazing the resource-acquisitive species. However, this general pattern was modulated by grazing intensity; cows grazed taller patches and more tender and wider-leaved species under lenient than moderate grazing intensity. Thus, the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of desired and rejected stockpiled patches of different functional groups was managed by integrating seasonality, grazing intensity, and leaf functional traits. Therefore, the general principle of foraging selectivity toward desired species can be altered by management practices and inherent species attributes, maintaining communities of species of different ecosystem functions in equilibrium.

Reduction of vegetation following wildfire in rangelands of the western United States can result in invasion of exotic annual grasses and elevated soil loss to wind erosion. In response to these threats, various mechanical seeding methods (such as drill seeding and mechanical mixing of broadcast seeds) are commonly employed by restoration practitioners. Despite their common use, little information exists about how additional disturbance from mechanical seeding (following wildfire disturbance) may further contribute to soil loss from wind erosion. Here, we compared the effects of mechanical seeding techniques on soil properties following two wildfires occurring in similar climates with contrasting soil textures (silty loam and gravelly loam soils). Using either a rangeland or minimum-till drill to create furrows or mix broadcasted seeds into soils, we quantified wind erosion risk for unburned sites, burned nonseeded sites, and seeded sites according to soil aggregate stability, horizontal sediment flux, surface microtopography, and soil compaction. Effects of mechanical seeding were small relative to those created by wildfire. For burned areas, differences in site stability were greatest between sites. Following wildfire, the largest decrease in site stability occurred in fine-textured soils, where horizontal sediment transport was increased by nearly five orders of magnitude relative to unburned areas. Despite these initial differences, site stability in fine-textured soils may have improved to a greater degree than stability at the coarse-textured site. Furthermore, we found minimal differences between drill types on site stability but, instead, observed that the largest differences in soil properties were created by furrow versus broadcast seeding. The different outcomes of rehabilitation on site stability found here, paired with the spatial extent to which wildfire affects landscapes, highlights the importance of postfire monitoring of site stability in more locations that vary by soil, plant, landscape, and climatic variables.

Habitat destruction is one of the biggest threats to wildlife populations. Climate change may exacerbate the impacts of habitat destruction and alter the distribution of species. We projected the impact of climate change on the distribution of mouflon (Ovis gmelini) in central Iran in 2055 and 2085, evaluated the efficiency of protected areas for protecting this species, and identified potential climatic refugia for this species. We analyzed presence data of mouflon according to climate and topographic factors and generated an ensemble model of habitat suitability based on nine species distribution models. In the modeling process, the most important uncorrelated variables were chosen. Using circuit theory, potential connectivity between habitat patches was estimated. To assess the impact of climate change on the study area in 2055 and 2085, two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), SSP 2.6 and SSP 8.5, were used based on the global circulation models. Based on the climatic suitability model, approximately 34.11% of protected areas were recognized as suitable habitats for mouflon. In the forecasted climate conditions, approximately 3.30% of suitable habitats would become unsuitable and approximately 9.36% of the current protected areas will lose their efficiency in supporting this species. In addition, climate change may reduce habitat connectivity for mouflon in the future. We conclude that the development of the network of protected areas and attention to habitat connectivity are necessary for the future migration and survival of this species; therefore, conservation planning should consider the future potential of protected/unprotected areas in supporting mouflon populations.

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes are known as the main factors causing soil degradation, which presents considerable obstacles to maintaining soil quality and the resilience of ecosystems. Human activities substantially impact LULC changes, particularly in areas experiencing rapid development. The objective of this study is to assess the changes in LULC, land surface temperature (LST), Normalized Differentiate Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Differentiate Built-up Index (NDBI) in Kasur District from 1991 to 2021. The study analyzed five major LULC classes: Water bodies, Urban areas, barren land, forest Cover, and vegetated areas. Our analysis revealed that the Urban area of Kasur expanded by around 16.27%. The vegetation cover experienced a slight decline of just 1%, while water bodies declined by 0.26%. Forest cover experienced a decrease of about 0.54%, and bare land decreased significantly by 14.4%. The imagery classification achieved an overall accuracy of 88% to 92%. The highest NDVI value was observed in 1991 (+0.89), while the lowest was in 2021 (+0.56). Similarly, the highest NDBI recorded was +0.83 in 2021, while the lowest was +0.65 in 1991. The linear regression analysis revealed a strong negative association between the NDVI and NDBI. LST results exhibited a 0.55°C increase between the years 1991 and 2021. The study's findings align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana (L.) Wight & Arn.) is a pest tree species on rangelands throughout South Texas and is expanding in range and density, due in part to prolific seed production. We aimed to determine the optimum diurnally-fluctuating temperature conditions for huisache seed germination by testing scarified and nonscarified seed in four temperature treatments: 35/25, 30/20, 25/15, and 20/10°C. We used alternating 12-hour light/dark photoperiods in a growth chamber, and seed germination was recorded daily. Germination of scarified and nonscarified seeds at each temperature treatment was analyzed via ANOVA for a completely randomized design (with appropriate posthoc tests). Although total cumulative germination percentages were similar among temperature treatments, seeds in the 20/10°C temperature treatment germinated more slowly. In addition, scarified seeds germinated more quickly, and with greater total percent germination. Results show that huisache seeds can be expected to germinate over a wide range of temperatures, with germination slowing when temperatures are low. Because we found huisache seeds germinated slowly in cooler temperatures, landscape managers may consider prioritizing control efforts of recently-germinated seedlings following warmer, wetter weather.