| Abstract: | The objectives of this study were to compare vegetative and reproductive growth characters of bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata Pursh) stands as they relate to browsing levels. Growth characters were measured on 10 ecologically diverse stands in southwestern Montana on which browsing ranged from 0% to 60% of all current annual long shoot (LS) growth. Bitterbrush plants exhibited both twig-level and plant-level responses to browsing. Total bud density per plant was similar for browsed and unbrowsed sites, but differed ( P P P P P < 0.05). Our data suggest that long-term unbrowsed plants should not be used as a standard for comparison with normally browsed plants. |
