Inhibitional Effects of the Four Dominant Tall Grass Prairie Species PDF Download

Author: Wanida Sritecha
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Chemical inhibitors
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Author: Allison M. Lambert
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
Cultivars of dominant C 4 grasses, selected for characters such as high productivity and stress tolerance, are commonly used in tallgrass prairie restorations despite potential physiological dissimilarity to local seed sources. Since dominant species play crucial roles in community structure and ecosystem function, population source of dominant C 4 grasses may have consequences for diversity, productivity, and ultimately success of grassland restorations. The objectives of this study were to test if intraspecific variation in physiology and productivity exists between cultivar and non-cultivar population sources of dominant prairie grasses ( Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and Schizachyrium scoparium ) in both a greenhouse study and in an experimental prairie restoration (second year). Physiological characteristics including rates of net photosynthesis (A net ), stomatal conductance (g s ), water use efficiency (WUE), and fluorescence (F v /F m ) were measured in addition to primary production (i.e., ANPP). Cultivar population sources had equivalent or higher A net , g s , WUE, F v /F m , and ANPP than non-cultivars in both studies. A positive correlation between physiology (i.e., A net ) and primary productivity (i.e., ANPP) was found, indicating a link between physiological performance and ecosystem processes. This study was the first to experimentally test for intraspecific variation in physiology and productivity between cultivar and non-cultivar dominant prairie grasses in a common environment. It demonstrates equivalent or enhanced physiological performance and productivity in cultivars of dominant prairie grasses widely used in tallgrass prairie restorations. Therefore, population seed source should be considered as a potential filter on ecosystem re-assembly during restoration.

Author: Edwin Lane Netherland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Author: Rachel Kathleen Goad
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Restoration of resilient plant communities in response to environmental degradation is a critical task, and a changing climate necessitates the introduction of plant communities adapted to anticipated future conditions. Ecotypes of dominant species can affect associated organisms as well as ecosystem function. The extent of ecotypic variation in dominant tallgrass prairie species and the consequences of this variation for ecosystem functioning were studied by manipulating two potential drivers of plant community dynamics: climate and the soil microbial community. Longer term studies will clarify whether ecotypes of dominant prairie grasses affect ecosystem function or community trajectories differently during restoration. Ecotypes of dominant species may support different soil microflora, potentially resulting in plant-soil feedback. A second experiment tested for local adaptation of prairie plant assemblages to their soil microbial community.

Author: Marilyn A. Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Allelopathy
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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Author: Ryan P. Klopf
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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The overall objective of this study was to quantify the effects of dominant grass propagule source (i.e., cultivar vs. non-cultivar) and seeded diversity of propagules on community structure and ecosystem function during prairie restoration. Two field experiments, and two chronosequences were used to investigate this main objective. The two field experiments were established at the same latitude separated by 620 km (corresponding to a precipitation gradient from eastern Kansas to western Illinois), and consisted of a split plot design, with dominant grass source as the whole-plot factor (2 levels) and seeded dominance of grasses as the subplot factor (5 levels). Percent cover of each species in each treatment combination was quantified during the first five years of restoration. Total plant species richness and diversity were not adversely affected by cultivars in Kansas or Illinois. The effect of the dominant grass population source on the cover of focal grasses, planted species, and volunteer species were contingent upon location. By the fifth year of restoration, diversity and richness were greatest, and cover of volunteer species was lowest in the low grass dominance (i.e., high diversity) treatment. ANPP, as well as total, microbial, and mineralizable pools of C and N were measured to quantify ecosystem function in these two field experiments. Changes in ecosystem function in Kansas and Illinois were primarily driven by time and regional abiotic differences, not propagule source or seeded diversity. The effect of plant species diversity on ecosystem function was further investigated at a landscape scale by developing and sampling two chronosequences of high (HDC; n=20) and low diversity (LDC; n=15) prairies spanning over two decades of restoration in northwestern Illinois. In general most metrics of ecosystem function in both chronosequences moved towards levels measured in remnant prairies. While the constituent prairies of the HDC had higher species richness, diversity, and more rapidly increasing root biomass than the fields of the LDC, recovery of other important ecosystem functions including aboveground net primary productivity, total, microbial, and mineralizable soil C, and soil aggregate mean weighted diameter were achieved equally well with either high or low diversity prairie plantings.

Author: Karen R. Hickman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Author: Harold Gardner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 144197427X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 291

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Book Description
This work advocates the restoration of the North American tallgrass prairie, which is rapidly disappearing. Historical descriptions of prairie aesthetics are outlined. As we are experiencing a worldwide mixing of plant species, prairie restoration is particularly important. Plants alien to North America do not readily support insect populations, including all animal species higher on the food chain. Prairie restoration methods are described for amateurs, academics, and land managers. Some of the techniques described are growing crops for seed production, times of seed gathering for specific species, facile seed processing for amateurs, land preparation, segregation of seed into its preference for habitat, and required seed treatment for germination. Over 200 species are described that comprise the predominant species found in tallgrass prairie nature preserves, as well as degraded prairies. Some additional plants of especial interest are also described. The appendix tabulates all likely species found on prairies regardless of their scarcity. Safe fire management of prairies is described in detail. Finally, methods of controlling aggressive alien weeds by herbicides are detailed.

Author: Jeffrey Dean Witters
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Prairie animals
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Geographic information systems
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
The PRAIRIEMAP web site (http://prairiemap.wr.usgs.gov) contains links to partners, documentation of the data, and a directory of GIS data that can be downloaded.