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Field Project

powerpoint presentation on grassland prairie

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faith anderson
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17 views

Field Project

powerpoint presentation on grassland prairie

Uploaded by

faith anderson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Field Project:

Plants

Greyson Rehbein
Faith Anderson
Introduction
The tallgrass prairie makes up the eastern
portion of the North American Great Plains.
Extends north and south from Manitoba to Texas.
Through the eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas,
and Oklahoma.
A prairie peninsula that extends east into
Minnesota and Iowa.
Between the eastern deciduous forests to the
east and the mixed grass prairie to the west.
Plant species in tallgrass prairie

Total = 500
Grass = 40 to 60
Herbaceous = 420 to 450
Woody = 10 to 20
Methods-DBH

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)


• Measure diameter of each specimen at breast height
using calipers
• Collect 10 specimen measurements in each area
Results-DBH

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) averages


o North: 0.86 cm
o West: 1.09 cm
o South: 0.69 cm
Methods-Line Transects
Line Transects
• Measure 50 meters in a straight line
• Collect samples of species every 10 meters starting
at 0 and ending at 50
Results-Line Transects
West Transect Area
• 0 meters, Big Bluestem, 1.8 m average height, 50% ground coverage
• 10 meters, Yellow Indian Grass, 1.5 m average height, 45% ground coverage
• 20 meters, Hairy Aster, 0.8 m average height, 30% ground coverage
• 30 meters, Goldenrod, 1.7 m average height, 35% ground coverage
• 40 meters, Black-eyed Susan, 0.7 m average height, 35% ground coverage
• 50 meters, Little Bluestem, 1.0 m average height, 40% ground coverage
Results-Line Transects
North Transect Area
• 0 meters, Chinese Silver Grass, 1.4 m average height, 40% ground coverage
• 10 meters, Burro Grass, 1.2 m average height, 38% ground coverage
• 20 meters, Meadow Foxtail, 0.9 m average height, 32% ground coverage
• 30 meters, Awlfruit Sedge, 1.0 m average height, 35% ground coverage
• 40 meters, Common Vervain, 0.8 m average height, 30% ground coverage
• 50 meters, Canada Goldenrod, 1.6 m average height, 50% ground coverage
Results-Line Transects
South Transect Area
• 0 meters, Goldenrod, 0.9 m average height, 33% ground coverage
• 10 meters, Sea Wrack, 1.0 m average height, 35% ground coverage
• 20 meters, Birds-Foot Trefoil, 0.7 m average height, 28% ground coverage
• 30 meters, Prairie Fleabane, 0.8 m average height, 30% ground coverage
• 40 meters, Curlytop knotweed, 1.2 m average height, 42% ground coverage
• 50 meters, Cuman Ragweed, 0.6 m average height, 25% ground coverage
Methods-Circular Plots
Circular Plots
• Determine the size and location of the plot
• Use a hula hoop to place the circular plot
• Cut all the plants in that plot
• Place them in a labeled bag
• Count the number of stems
Results-Circular Plots
Dense Area Less Dense Area
• Woody-32 • Woody-11
• Herbaceous-543 • Herbaceous-4
• Grasses-67 • Grasses-620
• Total-642 • Total-635
Results
Density Less Dense Area
Individuals/Area Woody
Individuals=I I/A=28.58
Radius=r Grasses
r=.35 I/A=1611.04
Area=A=π(r^2) Herbaceous
I/A=10.39
Results
Density Dense Area
Individuals/Area Woody
Individuals=I I/A=83.15
Radius=r Grasses
r=.35 I/A=174.10
Area=A=π(r^2) Herbaceous
I/A=1410.96
Interpretation of Results
• Dense growth area-more diverse, denser herbaceous layer
• Less Dense growth area-Higher density of grasses, grasses
dominate less dense areas
Comparison-Restored Prairies
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge UNI-Irvine Prairie

• 6,000 Acres • 292 Acres


• Over 100 species • Over 100 Native Prairie Plants
• Keystone Species Bison
Comparison-Restored Prairies
Richard Pohl Memorial Preserve United Community
• 22 acres • Original landscape
• Nearly 100 species • Not a restored prairie
• One of the most significant sized
pieces of original tall grass left in Iowa
Important Plant Species
Grasses Herbaceous
• Big Blue Stem-(Andropogon • Cuman Ragweed-(Ambrosia
gerardii) psilostachya)
• Yellow Indian-(Sorghastrum • Hairy Aster-(Symphyotrichum
nutans) pilosum)
Important Plant Species
Woody
• Black Walnut-(Juglans
nigra)
• Eastern Cottonwood-
(Populus deltoides)
Benefits of the Species
Grasses Herbaceous
• Soil Stabilization • Supporting pollinators
• Habitat for wildlife • Enhancing soil health with nutrient
• Resilience against invasive species cycling
Benefits of the Species
Rare and Uncommon Species Woody
• Provides varied habitats • Low presence=Prairie Integrity
• Enhances ecological resilience • Monitor to prevent domination
Future of Tallgrass Prairie
• Only 4 percent of original extent due to agricultural land
and urban development
• Climate change, droughts, floods, and increased
temperatures disrupt the ecosystem
• Sustainable agriculture and land planning could help
reduce habitat loss and support prairie conservation

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