Coastal Prairie Remnant Restoration Belle Harris, Applied Research Intern
Coastal Prairie
ď‚´ Less than 0.1% remains ď‚´ Memorial Park constructed on area that was coastal prairie prior to European settlement
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d5/79/18/d57918188f760e4c2b3fe7f687cc6425.jpg
Restoration Goals Memorial Park Master Plan seeks to “restore the ecology of the park and our connection to it” Restore regions of a “critically imperiled” coastal prairie ecosystem
Photo: Belle Harris
Current State of Memorial Park Prairie Remnants Invasive Species Low Biodiversity Small remnants
Verbena rigida
Cyperus entrerianus
Verbena brasiliensis
Photos: Belle Harris
Biological Assessment
Photo: Belle Harris
Vegetation Survey
Map: Cassidy Ince
Survey Methods ď‚´ Modified Daubenmire frame: 20 cm x 50 cm
Photo below: Belle Harris, photo right: Trevor Surface
Data Analysis
Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index
Equitability http://cnx.org/resources/47c0754d248d18da2aec82225dc79cc1/Figure_47_01_06.jpg
Species-Area Curves (right)
How accurate is the data?
Image: Belle Harris
Results Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H) Prairie plot
Native Species
All Species
Prairie 1
2.012806
2.573187
Prairie 2
2.285278
2.885870
Prairie A
1.701830
2.048404
Prairie B
1.551854
1.850481
Prairie C
1.513398
1.947752
Degraded Prairie
0.822763
1.249847
Wet Prairie
2.661111
3.488123
Shannon-Wiener Diversity Effective numbers (EH) Prairie plot Prairie 1 Prairie 2 Prairie A Prairie B Prairie C Degraded Prairie Wet Prairie
Native Species
All Species
0.495710935
0.633720752
0.562814943
0.710727867
0.419124218
0.504477958
0.382188346
0.45573377
0.372717459
0.47968953
0.202628875
0.307810502
0.655374547
0.85904986
Spatial Differences in Biodiversity
Maps: Cassidy Ince
Management Plan
Photo: Belle Harris
Selecting Species
Grasses ideally make up 50-90% of vegetative cover Remainder = mixture of forb species No woody plants
Photos: Belle Harris
Seed Collecting
Exchange seeds with local prairies Volunteer involvement
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiEgOGby6nVAhXi64MKHXxOD3kQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audubon.org%2Fnews%2Fto-turn-schoolyard-outdoor-classroom-just-add-native-plants&psig=AFQjCNEV8GaQRtYO1zDC8748DTbtV7vqTg&ust=1501249190322928
Seed Dispersal
ď‚´ Volunteers can help
http://www.naturalheritage.com/Newsroom/WAMN-Harvesting-websize.jpg?Action=thumbnail&algorithm=fill_proportional&width=283
Mimicking Natural Management
Mowing Year 1-2: Late spring, midsummer, early fall
Year 2-5: Summer and fall
Grazing animals After 3 years management Avoid overgrazing
http://llstudents.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/04/Arboretum_pr airie_burn2_00.jpg
Moving the Center Point Access Path
ď‚´ Path should lie west of the utility line ď‚´ Preserves remnants with greater biodiversity
Map: Cassidy Ince
Prairie Remnant Expansion
Map: Carolyn White
Community Involvement
ď‚´ Volunteers ď‚´ School and university field laboratories
Photo: Belle Harris
Indicators of a Successful Restoration Increased native species richness Decreased invasive species coverage Establishment of “big four” tallgrass species Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
https://hnpat.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/grandviewcem1104111591.jpg