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Native Habitat Restoration In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Native Habitat Restoration In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Anthony D. Falk *Masters candidate, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX. 78363

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Native Habitat Restoration In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

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  1. Native Habitat Restoration In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas Anthony D. Falk *Masters candidate, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX. 78363 Forrest Smith Coordinator, South Texas Natives, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX. 78363  Timothy Fulbright Regents Professor, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX. 78363 Stephen Benn Urban Biologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife 154B Lakeview Dr. Weslaco, TX. 78596

  2. Introduction • Millions of acres lost to non-native species annually • Detrimental to wildlife • With the costs of productive wildlife habitat ↑ there is an ↑ in the need for restoration

  3. Goal • Planting a diverse mix of locally adapted native species would produce a native prairie • Prevent invasion from non-native species • Areas that were seeded would have higher species diversity and more suitable bunch grass clumps for nesting

  4. Site Description • Temperature averages 23 C • 65 cm rain annually however highly variable • Harlingen Clay • South Texas Plains ecoregion • Previously managed for White wing dove and Bobwhite quail • agricultural production

  5. Methods • Control • Nothing done • Prepared • trees removed, mowed, disked, moldboard plowed, disked, leveled • Prepared and seeded • trees removed, mowed, disked, moldboard plowed, disked, leveled, seeded with a Truax™ seed drill and a tube spreader

  6. Seed mix • Seed mix made up of 31 locally adapted • Seeded according to NRCS rangeland guidelines • 8:2 ratio of grasses to forbs • Even distribution of succesional groups • Developed to completely repopulate seed bank • All land preparation and seeding was completed in March 2008

  7. Vegetation Sampling • 20 cm X 50 cm frame • 1m belted transects • Estimate suitable bunch grass clumps • ≥25.4cm x ≥25.4cm

  8. Statistical Analysis • Experiment is a Randomized Complete block design with 4 blocks • Analyzed using repeated measures analysis SAS 9.1 • α ≤0.05 • Independent variable • Treatment and Time • Dependent variable • Cover

  9. Results • Establishment of 83% planted species • Several species have increased • Slender Grama (Bouteloua repens) • Plain Bristle Grass (Setaria spp.) • Establishment of several species that were ≤1% of the seed mix

  10. Results • Mean of 3,457suitable bunchgrass clumps/ha in seeded treatments • 0 in control and prepared treatments

  11. Discussion • Without seed any disturbance will end up as a non-native community • Little native seed bank • Nothing left to fill the void • Can not compete • Creates simplified plant community

  12. Discussion • Planting a diverse mix of native species prevents non-native species from establishing • A diverse mix competes with non-natives • Provides good early competition • Provides year round competition • Potentially fills all available

  13. Falls within the published limits for quality nesting habitat • ≥730 nest clumps/ha • Prepared and controls treatments have higher non-native species cover • Only one part of the quail equation

  14. Conclusions • Are able to get native species established • Increase the species richness • Planting appears to prevent invasion • Able to produce suitable nesting habitat

  15. For The Future • Continued monitoring of this project • Adding management • Herbicide • Grazing • Burning

  16. Acknowledgements • Texas Parks and Wildlife • South Texas Natives • South Texas Chapter Quail Unlimited • Everyone that helped with data collection • Coauthors and committee members

  17. Questions ?

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