On this page: Introduction |Project Updates|In the Field
South Dakota Biodiversity Surveys
Documenting changes in biodiversity within the Northern Great Plains as related to changes in cattle grazing patterns (2024 to 2028)
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) biologists and seasonal staff conducted biodiversity surveys on six cattle and bison ranches across eastern Wyoming and South Dakota in 2024. These surveys are part of the larger “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities – The Grass is Greener on the Other Side – Developing Climate-Smart Beef and Bison Commodities” project coordinated by South Dakota State University and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Similar to the work conducted in Kenya, Zambia, and Tanzania, the biodiversity surveys include the quantification of soil carbon, vegetation, invertebrate and wildlife populations to establish baseline conditions that will be used in comparison to replicated surveys conducted in 2027. The future surveys will take place after grazing patterns for cattle have been altered to improve soil carbon sequestration and grassland habitat quality.
Project Overview and Updates
Check out the slide deck below for a project overview and findings from our baseline biodiversity survey!
In the Field
The BRI team surveyed and measured the quality and overall quantity of vegetation within the survey areas and deployed game cameras to monitor wildlife activity and abundance in specified areas. View photos from in the field below!
1. Cattle on a ranch near a survey area; 2. Pronghorn; 3. Deploying autonomous recording units (ARUs); 4. A vegetation survey area
Partners and Support
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G018.
Learn more about our biodiversity surveys!
Photo Credits: Header photo © BRI-Billi Krochuk
