VIEWPOINT - LIVESTOCK INFLUENCES ON RIPARIAN ZONES AND FISH HABITAT -LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION

A key was used to classify articles about livestock influences on ripa rian zones and fish habitat into 3 classes: papers that contained orig inal data, those that were commentary, and reports about methodology s uch as classification systems, policies, and monitoring criteria. Four hundred and twenty-eight of the total articles were directly related to grazing impacts on riparian zones and fish habitat, Only 89 of thes e grazing impact articles were classified as experimental, where treat ments were replicated and results were statistically valid. This analy sis revealed several limitations of riparian grazing studies that incl uded: (1) inadequate description of grazing management practices or tr eatments, (2) weak study designs, and (3) lack of pre-treatment data. More long-term, replicated treatment studies are needed in the future.