Professor of Range Ecology
Interim Department Head
114 Linfield Hall, MSU-Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717
phone (406) 994-3721
fax (406) 994-5589
bolson@montana.edu

Education
B.A. University of California, Berkeley, Botany, 1977
M.S. University of California, Berkeley, Range Management, 1982
PhD Utah State University, Range Ecology, 1987

Classes
ARNR 240 Natural Resource Ecology
ARNR 453 Habitat Inventory and Analysis
ARNR 541 Range Ecophysiology

Research Interests

• Determine how livestock use the landscape on winter range.
• Develop effective grazing recommendations for controlling noxious weeds
• Develop effective grazing recommendations for minimizing grasshopper outbreaks

Accomplishments and Interests

• Assessed cattle use patterns on winter range to identify how to minimize weight loss
• Identified effects of sheep grazing on two noxious weeds in Montana, using several approaches from basic plant biology to animal behavior and nutrition
• Conducted a unique, longterm study to assess effects of livestock grazing on grasshoppers, and cumulative effects of livestock grazing and grasshopper herbivory on plant communities
• Used the stable ¹³C isotope as a tracer to assess carbon allocation in plants, and used background levels of ¹³C/¹²C in plant tissues to indicate water use efficiency of leafy spurge and spotted knapweed and native grasses
• Using ¹⁵N isotope as a tracer to assess N uptake in spotted knapweed and native plants
• Conduct studies and develop models that indicate the importance of solar radiation for the thermal balance beef cattle grazing winter rangeland

Recent Publications

• Keren, E.N. and Olson, B.E. 2007. Applying thermal imaging software to cattle grazing winter range. J. Ther. Biol. 32:204-211.
• Whitney, T.R. and Olson, B.E. 2007.  Will molasses or conditioning increase consumption of spotted knapweed by sheep? Rangeland Ecol. Manage. 60:533-537.
• Hill, J.P., Germino, M.J., Wraith, J.M., Olson, B.E, Swan, M.B. 2006. Advantages in water relations contribute to greater photosynthesis in Centaurea maculosa compared with established grasses. Inter. J. Plant Sci. 167:269-277.
• Keren, I.N., Olson, B.E. 2006. Thermal balance of cattle grazing winter range: model development. J. Ther. Biol. 31:371-377.
• Keren. I.N., Olson, B.E. 2006. Thermal balance of cattle grazing winter range: model application. J. Anim. Sci. 84:1238-1247.
• Whitney, T.R., Olson, B.E. 2006. Conditioning ewes and lambs to increase consumption of spotted knapweed. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 100:193-206.
• Olson, B.E. and K. Launchbaugh. 2006. Managing herbaceous broadleaf weeds with targeted grazing. IN: Targeted grazing: A natural approach to vegetation management and landscape enhancement. pp 32-39. American Sheep Industry Association
• Henderson, J. and B.E. Olson. 2006. Understanding plant response to grazing. IN: Targeted grazing: A natural approach to vegetation management and landscape enhancement. pp 58-67. American Sheep Industry Association
• Hook, P.B., Olson, B.E., Wraith, J.M. 2004. Effects of the invasive forb Centaurea maculosa on grassland carbon and nitrogen pools in Montana, USA. Ecosystems 7:686-694.
• Blicker, P.S., Olson, B.E., Wraith, J.M. 2003. Water use and water use efficiency of spotted knapweed and three native grasses. Plant Soil 254:371-381.
• O’Neill, K.M., Olson, B.E., Rolston, M.G., Wallander, R.T., Larson, D.P., Seibert, C.E. 2003. Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) abundance. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 97:51-64.
• Olson, B.E., Blicker, P.S. 2003. Response of the invasive Centaurea maculosa and two native grasses to N-pulses. Plant Soil 254:457-467.
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T. 2003. Comparing indicators of sheep grazing leafy spurge and perennial grasses. Sheep and Goat Res. J. 18:101-108.
• Sperbe, T.D., Wraith, J.M., Olson, B.E. 2003. Soil physical properties associated with the invasive spotted knapweed and native grasses are similar. Plant Soil 252:241-249.
• Blicker PS, Olson B.E., Engel R. 2002. Traits of the invasive Centaurea maculosa and two native grasses: effect of N supply. Plant and Soil 247:261-269.
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T. 2002. Does ruminal retention time affect leafy spurge seed of varying maturity? J. Range Manage. 55:65-69.
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T. 2002. Effects of invasive forb litter on seed germination, and seedling growth and survival. Basic and Applied Ecology 3:309-317.
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T. 2002. Influence of winter weather and shelter on activity patterns of beef cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 82:491-501.
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T. 2001. Sheep grazing of spotted knapweed and Idaho fescue. J Range Manage 54:25-30
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T., Beaver J.M. 2000. Comparing nondestructive measures of forage structure and phytomass. Can. J. Plant Sci. 80:565-573
• Olson, B.E., Wallander, R.T., Paterson, J.A. 2000. Do windbreaks minimize stress on cattle grazing foothill winter range? Can. J. Anim. Sci. 80:265-272.

 

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