The Rangeland Research Institute provides researchers with opportunity to conduct a wide range of short- and long-term research projects focused on providing a solid scientific foundation for the sustainable management of rangelands.
We support research that combines expertise and approaches from a variety of academic disciplines and addresses issues related to the competing demands of ecosystem conservation and resource use, including energy exploration and extraction, grazing, water management, wildlife management and biodiversity conservation, and sustainable landscape management.
Read the University of Alberta Beef and Range Report, published in August 2014.
Recent Research
Canadian team tests virtual cattle fence
Farm & Ranch Guide – August 2, 2023 by Jamie Henneman During the summer months when cattle are out grazing on pastures, the work of building and repairing fence, as …Read More »Eye in the Sky: Drone technology research helps precision ranching develop new tools for success
Greenhouse Magazine, Spring 2018, by Cait Wills. Dr. John Church of Thompson Rivers University in collaboration with Dr. Cameron Carlyle are using drones to assess heat stress in cattle as …Read More »Defoliation and altered precipitation effects on soil microbial communities in the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. Scott Chang | Professor, Department of Renewable Resources Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Alberta The impact of grazing and irrigation on soil microbial communities is poorly …Read More »Quantifying the carbon balance of the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. John Gamon | Professor, Cross-appointed Departments of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Alberta Dr. Gamon is continuing to measure net carbon uptake at …Read More »Biophysical quantification and mapping of soil quality at the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez | Assistant Professor, Department of Renewable Resources Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Albert Forage productivity, quality and persistence are essential factors for …Read More »Grazing effects on the plant-pollinator relationship: a contrast of native legumes with an invasive (Astragalus cicer L.)
Dr. Cameron Carlyle | Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Alberta Native pollinators experienced a rapid decline in …Read More »Quantifying carbon stocks across Alberta’s grasslands in support of a provincial carbon strategy
Dr. Edward Bork | Professor and Mattheis Chair in Rangeland Ecology & Management Director, Rangeland Research Institute Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences …Read More »Long-term monitoring of rangeland ecosystem functions on the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. Cameron Carlyle | Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Alberta To better understand the sustainability of ecological goods …Read More »Effects of defoliation and soil moisture level on methane production and oxidation in soils of the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. Scott Chang | Professor Department of Renewable Resources Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Alberta Rangelands are a significant global sink for atmospheric methane, however, little is …Read More »Oasis on the prairie: quantifying and characterizing the water resources of the Mattheis Research Ranch
Dr. Miles Dyck | Assistant Professor Department of Renewable Resources Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences University of Alberta Water quantity and quality are important issues that affect and are …Read More »
Currently Active Research (by Category)
Active Researchers
- Dr. Edward Bork Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science; Director, Rangeland Research Institute
- Dr. James Cahill Biological Sciences
- Dr. Cameron Carlyle Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science
- Dr. Scott Chang Renewable Resources
- Dr. Miles Dyck Renewable Resources
- Dr. John Gamon Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Biological Sciences
- Dr. John (Jack) Ives Anthropology; Director, Institute of Prairie Ecology
- Dr. Ellen Macdonald Renewable Resources
- Dr. M. Anne Naeth Renewable Resources; Director, Land Reclamation International Graduate School
- Dr. Scott Nielsen Renewable Resources