Prairie Restoration: Preserving North America's Unique Grasslands

1. Prairie RestorationKevin Kulik http://www.wildanimalplanet.com/prairie.html

2. What is a Prairie? • French explorers first came across what they called “Prairies” which was their word for meadows. • One of the earliest formal definitions of a Prairie was by John T. Curtis, an ecologist at The University of Wisconsin. • -An open community dominated by grasses, and having less than one tree per acre.

3. Plants of the Prairie • Over 30 grass species • Extensive roots • Decay in Place • Over 250 forb species • Sunflower • Milkweed • Less extensive roots

4. Animals of the Prairie • Bison • Prairie Dog • Badger • Grasshopper • Butterfly • Ant

5. Soil • Contain 120 tons of organic matter per acre • Forests in comparison contain 70tons/acre • Grass roots extend 5 to 7 feet down • Enrich the soil with nutrients as they decay • Ants build mounds and as they do so mix and aerate the soil. • Bring up nutrients and clay particles from subsoil. • Abandon mounds continuously and build new ones.

6. Along comes Agriculture • Prairies exploited because of their rich soil. • East of the Missouri • Critically Endangered • 99% of Prairies lost • West of the Missouri • Endangered • 85% of Prairies lost http://projectgroupb.wordpress.com/the-amish-culture/ “The tossing, blooming, perfumed grass is swept away by wheat” -Vachel Lindsay

7. More Human Impact… • Most Bison have been eliminated • Added certain livestock • Cows, Pigs, etc. • Altered Water Tables • Suppressed Natural Fires http://www.amazon.com/Settlers-Plains-Fighting-Prairie-Giclee/dp/B0033F5E50

8. Benefits of Restoration • Attract Wildlife • Songbirds, Butterflies, Bison • Environmental Benefits • Deep root system helps improve water quality • Improves air quality • Improved Aesthetics • More diversity and more appealing than farm land • Education • Provide a place where people can take their kids and teach them about nature

9. Starting Off • Collect seeds • Buy from supplier • Collect by hand if from rare plants • When Collecting • Take no more than 50% of seed pop from perennials • Take no more than 10% of annual plants http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/rareplants/conservation/success/frozen_garden.shtml

10. Planting and Dealing with Weeds • The amount of weed seed present in the planting site is one of the most unpredictable factors in prairie restoration. • This can be counteracted by Planting in the middle of the growing season • Allows weeds to grow and be eradicated before Prairie plants are planted. • Planting and then mowing taller weeds and leaving smaller Prairie plants unharmed Is also effective

11. Fire in the Restoration • Fire can be used to reduce weeds. • This effectively provides more nourishment for native prairie plants • In the later stages of restoration fire helps keep out woody species. • Burning should be done in Spring • This provides cover for wildlife in the colder winter months. http://blog.travelks.com/prairie-fire-festival-honors-dramatic-flint-hills-tradition/

12. Adding Bison • If site is large enough Bison can be added • To sustain bison • 1,000 acres supports around 90 bison units • 1 bison unit = 1 1,000 pound bison • Bison grow annually by 80-90% based on mature females • Remove oldest and youngest once ideal pop has been reached • Sell for profit http://buffalo-meat.info/buffalo-meat-facts/

13. Benefits of Bison • Forage Selectively on Grasses • Increase other plants abundance • Wallow • Create great habitats for weeds • Once burned these weeds give way to Prairie Pioneers http://www.npcn.net/index.php/pages/pages_template/documents/bittercreek_sum.PDF/P10/

14. Resources • "Benefits of Prairies." HCUCA. Hamilton County Urban Conservation Association, Inc. Web. 21 Apr. 2011. <http://www.hamiltoncountyuca.org/prairiebenefits.html> • Howe H. F., 1994. Managing Species diversity in Tallgrass Prairie: Assumptions and Implications. Conservation Biology *: 691-704 • Karnowski, Steve. "Bison Market Expanding Fast | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN."JournalGazette.net - Home Page | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN. Associated Press, 10 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2011.  • Noss, R. F., E. T. LaRoe III, and J. M. Scott. 1995. Endangered Ecosystems of the United States: a Preliminary assessment of Loss and Degradation. Biological Report 28. National Biological Service, Washington, D. C., USA. • Packard, Stephen, and Cornelia Fleischer. Mutel. The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook: for Prairies, Savannas, and Woodlands. Washington, D.C.: Island, 1997. Print. • Schramm, P. 1978. The ‘‘do’s’’ and ‘‘don’ts’’ of prairie restoration. Pages 139–150 in D. C. Glenn-Lewin and R. C. Landers, editors. Proceedings of the Fifth Midwest Prairie Conference, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, US • Shirley, Shirley. Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie: an Illustrated Manual for Iowa and the Upper Midwest. Iowa City: University of Iowa, 1994. Print.