Abstracts for Poster Presentations

s for Poster Presentations Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/napcproceedings Part of the International and Area Studies Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the North American Prairie Conference at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska Lincoln. "Abstracts for Poster Presentations" (2004). Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences. Paper 94. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/napcproceedings/94 ABSTRACTS FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONSS FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONS Abstracts for Poster Presentationss for Poster Presentations (alphabetical by first author) RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: PRAIRIE, SAVANNA, AND KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY RESTORATION IN WISCONSIN John L. Bengtson * and Rebecca A. Bengtson Hamerstrom Reserve, Plainfield, WI , c/o 4538 NE 204" Place, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155; [email protected] A project to restore dry prairie and oak savanna ecosystems is gett ing underway on 120 acres at the Hamerstrom Reserve in central Wisconsin. Restoration objectives include re~estab~ lishing populations of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) , which depend on specific plant assemblages in savanna/dry prairie habitats for survival. Fire suppression, agriculture, and development reduced oak savannas in Wisconsin to less than 0.01 % of their pre~settlement extent; in 1850 the HamerstTom Reserve was mainly oak savanna. The reserve currently has a diverse collection of ecological communities including woodland stands of oak, pine, elm, maple, and aspen; a plot of what may be virgin nat ive grassland; and several old field habitats. Restoration efforts will include controlling invasive plants, opening up woodland tree canopies, and planting appropriate mixes of nat ive forbs and grasses. Structural barriers to Karner blue butterfly dispersal will be removed to create travel corri~ dors and to open the landscape to a more contiguous savanna/prairie complex. These ecological restoration activi~ ties offer many great scientific opportunities to investigate topics associated with the process of restoring oak savanna and dry prairie ecosystems. For example, relevant studies might include: 1) experimentally comparing the effectiveness of different restoration treatments (e.g., burning, cutt ing, herbicide application) to different zones (e.g., woodland vs. old field), Z) monitoring floral and faunal responses to restoration activi t ies, and 3) assessing recolonization rates of Karner blue butterflies and other savanna species. Researchers who are interested in conducting experiments, surveys, monitoring, or other studies in association with these prairie, savanna, and butterfly restorations at the Hamerstrom Reserve are encouraged to contact the authors to discuss potential collabora tions. COMPARISON OF SEEDLING GERMINATION OF THREE MILKWEED SPECIES Erica A. Corbett! and Jesse Baker2 ! Assistant Prof. of Biological Science , Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK 74701-0609; 2Department of Biological Science, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK 74701--0609 Milkweeds (genus Asclepias) are widespread, with 108 species in North America and the Caribbean. Some of these species (e.g., A. tuberosa, A. verticillaw) are components of tallgrass prairie. Previous studies stated A. tuberosa are difficult to raise from seed. We conducted a study of seedling germination and survival of three species of milkweed common to the Oklahoma~North Texas area . One species, A. viridis is consid~ ered weedy and results from overgrazing. The other species, A. tuberosa and A. asperula, are more typical prairie species. Seeds were obtained from wild populations and commercial sources. We tested germination and seedling survival of these species under three different treatments: scarification, outdoor winter exposure, and cold~moist stratification. We also compared heights of seedlings three weeks after germ ink tion. We did not experience problems with A. tuberosa germi~ nation. Most germinat ion took place between seven and 21 days after plant ing. Percent germination of A. tuberosa and A. asperula averaged 70%, and germination of A. viridis averaged 51 %. However, these differences were only marginally signir icant. Treatment had no significant effect on germinat ion. We believe that high variability in germination of A. viridis contributed lack of significance. Many seeds of A. viridis were not filled out or were otherwise inviable. Among seedlings, there was a significant difference (F = 56.5, P < .00 1) in plant height, with the seedlings of A. viridis having an average height of 6.76 cm, A. aS1Jeruia of 5.19 cm, and A. tuberosa of 4.05 cm. We believe that this difference in height is rela ted to the life habit of these plants, with the weedy species growing taller faster to compete for light. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 19 T H NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE CONFERENCE 285 ABSTRACTS FOR PO STER PRESENTATIONSS FOR PO STER PRESENTATIONS = REDUCED DEPENDENCE ON MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI BY INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES Mary C. Damm* and James D. Bever Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 Invasive plant species are a major threat to plant biodiversi ty of grasslands and other ecosystems. In troduced species are successful in new habi tats due to traits of the species them~ selves and properties of the environment in which they invade. One of the species tra its of successful introduced plants may be a lower dependence on mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi. We surveyed a midwestern United States regional flora to examine whether successfully introduced plant species are generally less dependent than native species on mycorrhizal fungi. In the flora of the Chicago region, we find a greater proport ion of introduced species than native species in fami~ lies that are characteristically non~mycorrhiza l in upland habitats. These results suggest that reduced dependence on mycorrhizal fungi may be an importan t aspect of success of some introduced species. USING ECOREGIONAL PLANNING METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING HIGHQUALITY TALLGRASS PRAIRIES AT FORT RILEY MILITARY RESERVATION IN KANSAS Jennifer M. Delisle* and Craig C. Freeman Kansas Biological Survey, Takeru Higuchi Hall , 2 101 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047 In 2002, the Kansas Biological Survey init iated a two~year project examining the vegetation of the Fort Riley Military Reservation in northeast Kansas. We mapped all vegetation communities and assessed the conservation value of 116 prairie tracts using the ecoregional conservation planning framework developed by The Nature Conservancy and its partners. Each site was assigned a grade for the categories of landscape context, size, and condition. An objective assessment of condi~ tion was made using Floristic Quality Assessment, a tool that is based on calculating an average coefficient of conservatism and a floristic quality index for each site. After ranks were assigned in each of the three categories an evaluation matrix was used to determine each site's overall conservation grade. Data on the location of high-quality ta llgrass prairies can help resource managers at the installation protect these important reservoirs of native biodiversity. AN HISTORICAL APPROACH TO THE ORIGIN OF CATSTEPS IN THE LOESS HILLS OF IOWA Kimberly R. Dillon *, Pamela K. Wilcox and Steven H. Emennan Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Simpson College, Indianola, IA 50125 Catsteps are the ubiquitous sta ircase~ like structures seen in the Loess Hills of Iowa. Three hypotheses for the origin of catsteps are (1) they are a result of overgrazing, (2) they are remnants of Indian agricultural practices, and (3) they are a natural phenomenon unrelated to human activities. The objective of this study was to use the histor ical record to decide among the three hypotheses. Catsteps are not mentioned in the journals of Lewis and C lark and cannot be seen in George Caitlin's 1832 pa intings "Grassy Bluffs on the Upper Missouri," "River Bluffs, 1320 Miles above St. Louis," and "Floyd's Grave, Where Lewis and Clark Buried Sergeant Floyd in 1804." On the other hand, catsteps can be clearly seen in the sketches accompanying the 1870 Report of the Geological Survey of the State of Iowa. The earliest known photograph of the Loess Hills, taken in 1906 by u.G. Cornell and published in a geography textbook, also clearly shows the presence of catsteps. The intensive grazing of the Loess Hills did not begin unti l the 1920s. Based on the current evidence, the most likely hypothesis is that catsteps are a na tural phenomenon that may be due to the same climate changes of the mid~nineteenth century that promoted the formation of gullies. Further results will be reported at the meeting. GULF COAST PRAIRIE RESTORATION IN LOUISIANA S. D. Edwards*, L. K. Allain and J. M. Pitre 3737 Government StTeet, Alexandria, LA 71302 Coastal prairie once covered 1.1 million ha in southwest Louisiana and 2.8 mill ion ha in Texas. Today, less than 0.1 % remains due to in tensive agricultural practices and loss to urban sprawl. In Louisiana, less than 100 ha remain primarily as narrow, fragmented strips between highways and railroad righ ts~orway. In an attempt to restore prairie and document the practical aspects of prairie restoration, 98 ha near Gueydan, Louisiana have been enrolled in the USDA NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program. In 2002, 45 ha were restored to pre,cultivation hydrology by removing levees and pimple mounds were constructed to mimic historic topographic features. The restoration plan includes large~scale demonstra~ tions comparing spring and fall plant ing (April and October 2003 ) at 3.4,6.7 and 11.2 PLS kg hai us ing a prairie seed mixture consisting primarily a little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash). The following species were interseeded into the spring and fall planted areas: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Florida paspalum (Paspalum floridanum) , Kansas gay feather (Liatris pycnosrachya), yellow wild indigo (Baptisia Irracteaw), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirw), bur marigold (Bidem ariswsa ), plains coreopsis (Coreol)sis tinc~ toria ), partridge pea (Chamaecrisw fasciculate), and wooly rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheuws). To increase diversity, 1,500 pieces of prairie sod from a remnant area scheduled for destruction were transplanted on the restoration site by a volunteer group of 275 people on February 1, 2003. This project is a mult iple partner and agency effort that will eva I, uate success, ass ist in fu ture restorat ion attempts, and foster the importance of this endangered ecosystem. Demonstration results pending. 286 P ROCEEDINGS OF THE 19 nt NORTH AMERICAN P RAIRIE CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS FOR PO STER PRESENTATIONSS FOR PO STER PRESENTATIONS = OBSERVING THE ABILITY OF LITTLE BLUESTEM, SCHYZACHARIUM SCOPARIUM, ROOTS TO PENETRATE AND MORPHOLOGICALLY ADAPT TO VARIOUS SUBSTRATES OF AN ON-SITE DISPOSAL FACILITY CAP Mark A. Fuchs':', Donald R. Geiger, John Homer and Ann Hemmerle Biology Department. University of Day,on, Day,on, OH 454692320 A clear plexiglass rhizotron system was used as a non~invasive method for monitoring prairie grass roO[ growth, morphology and penetration through adverse soil substrates. Successful restoration on a closed landfill must overcome the challenges of high soil compaction, unfavorable soil types, low soil stabili ty and limited water ava ilability. Performance was eva l~ uated by observing grass roots growing progressively through topsoil, sand, crushed rock, large rock and compacted clay in an aboveground rhizotron unit that simulated the layers of the landfill cap. Li ttle bluestem, a native prairie grass well adapted to growing in poor soil, was chosen as the representative plant to test the system. Examination revealed root expansion to be rapid, exceeding 4 feet of growth in a single growing season, with noticeable differences observed in the types of growth strategies as the roots encountered the different substrates of the heterogenous cap. Destructive analys is after two seasons of growth further revealed substantial changes in root shape, thickness and amount of branching as the plant presumably responded to the different substrate materials and moisture levels within the soil. Although genetics likely plays a predominant role in root development, this study demon~ strates how the dynamic processes of root growth and degra~ dation proceed simultaneously to significantly alter root morphology in varying subsurface conditions. Results of the rhizotron studies display the importance of using non~destruc~ tive methods as an indicator for designing disposal cap ta ll~ grass prairies that help augment native grassland habitat thereby increasing ecosystem diversity. REVERSE FERTILIZATION REDUCES SOIL NITRATE, DOES NOT AFFECT SPECIES COMPOSITION IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE