Grasslands Lecture Test 1

Native Grasslands

Sedge meadows

Open bogs

Prairies

Savannahs

Barrens

Surrogate Grasslands

Replaced native grasslands. Majority of grassland habitat.

Hayfields

Pastures

Fallow-fields

Set-aside fields

Old fields

Natural disturbances that maintain grasslands

Grazing

Climate

Fire

Tall versus mixed versus short grass prairie precipitation amounts

tall grass more than 30”, mid grass is more than 12-30”, short grass less than 12”

Tall versus mixed versus short grass prairie natural burning frequency

Tallgrass prairie – 3 to 4 years
Mid-grass prairie – 5 to 8 years
Shortgrass prairie – too little fuel

Major threats to grassland ecosystems

Agricultural intensification

Grassland fragmentation

Encroachment of woody vegetation

Advantages of cool season grasses

Easily established

Green up earlier than warm season grasses for early forage

Can be heavily grazed

Monoculture mangement is simple

Disadvantages of cool season grasses

High maintenance cost (fertilizer, lime, reseeding)

Low quality forage during summer

Sod forming grass impedes wildlife movement

Monoculture reduces plant diversity

Mat down during winter storms

Advantages of warm season grasses

Low maintenance costs after establishment

Extensive root systems regenerate after every three to four years:

• Increases soil fertility, organic matter, and carbon sequestration

• Drought resistance and soil holding capability

Most are bunch grasses:

• More bare ground for wildlife

• Allows space for forbs

Do not mat down during winter storms

More dependable forage production

Species of grass to plant on warm/dry sites

Big Bluestem

Little Bluestem

Indiangrass

Switchgrass

Species of grasses to plant on cool/wet sites

Eastern Gamagrass

Switchgrass

Canada or Riparian Rye

The major criterion used to evaluate the success of a native grass restoration project

One vigorous plant per square foot by the end of
the second growing season is a success.

2 examples of grass species that are excellent summer forage

Warm Season:

Little Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Indiangrass

Switchgrass

Side Oats Grama

Eastern Gammagrass

Johnsongrass

Cool Season:

Canada Rye

Orchardgrass

Smooth Brome

Timothy

Quackgrass

Red top bent grass

2 examples of species that are poor summer forage

Broom Sedge

Smooth Crabgrass

Tall Fescue

Witchgrass

Prairie three-awn

2 examples of grass species that are host plants

Little Blustem

Rice cutgrass

Fall panicum

Switchgrass

Purple tridens

Prairie cordgrass

Eastern gammagrass

2 examples of grass species that are important seed producers

Yellow foxtail

Barnyard grass

Rice cutgrass

Witchgrass

Fall panicum

Switchgrass

Paspalum

Smooth crabgrass

2 examples of grass species that are indicators of overgrazing

Broom sedge

Kentucky bluegrass

Prairie three-awn

Invertebrate biomass in grasslands (where and what group dominates)

Biomass below ground is 10 times higher than above ground. Herbaceous insects dominate

Effects of grassland insects on vegetation

Affect plant growth, reproduction, and survival by direct feeding

Speeds up decomposition rates

Increase nutrient levels of litter

Important seed dispersers

Soil aerators

Maintain soil structure
– Nutrient cycling
– Decomposition
– Pollination
– Herbivory
– Predation
– Parasitism

List 2 species of pollinator plants in the early blooming period

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Smooth Penstemon

Wild Lupine

Aslike Clover

Crimson Clover

Ladino Clover

List 2 species of pollinator plants in the mid blooming period

Butterfly Milkweed

Dotted mint

Great blue lobelia

Purple coneflower

Purple prairie clover

Virginia mountain mint

Wild bergamot

Yellow sweet clover

Partridge pea

Gray-headed coneflower

Swamp milkweed

List 2 species of pollinator plants in the mid-late blooming period

Cup plant

Prairie Blazing star

Purple giant hyssop

Rattlesnake master

Joe Pye weed

Wingstem

Upright coneflower

False Sunflower

List 2 species of pollinator plants in the late blooming period

Field thistle

New England aster

Stiff goldenrod

Illinois bundleflower

Maximillon sunflower

The common names of Ohio bees (extra credit)

Honey Bee

Leaf cutting bee

Bumble bee

Large carpenter bee

Small carpenter bee

Sweat bee

Mason bee

Mining bee

Long horned bee

Hibiscus bee

How does mowing change the structure of grassland vegetation?

Controls woody vegetation and weeds

Adds to litter layer (reduces when cuttings are removed)

Alters plant species composition (Mid-summer mowing of native warm-season grasses suppresses them and favors cool-season grasses and
forbs.)

How does burning change the structure of grassland vegetation?

Control woody vegetation

Reduce litter build up

Stimulate grass and forb production

How does grazing change the structure of grassland vegetation?

Controls some woody vegetation (prickly and thorny species are encouraged)

Reduces vegetation height and density

Reduces litter build up

Timing of management activities that favor/suppress warm and cool season plants

Management in the spring favors warm season grasses and suppresses cool season.

Management in mid to late summer favors cool season grasses and suppresses warm season.

Three components of “conservation mowing”

Raising mower blades to >6 inches

Avoiding night mowing

Using flushing bars on mowing equipment

The month when burning, mowing, and grazing should be terminated to allow growth the following spring

Early September for cool season grasses

Early August for warm season grasses

List 2 grassland nesting birds that increase or decrease after mowing

Abandon fields during the breeding season:
 Bobolink
 Red-winged blackbird
 Dickcissel
 Sedge wren
 Ring-necked pheasant
 Henslow’s sparrow
 Eastern meadowlark

Increase in density after mowing:
 Upland sandpiper
 Savannah sparrow
 Grasshopper sparrow
 Vesper sparrow
 Horned lark
 Western meadowlark

List 2 grassland nesting birds that increase or decrease after burning

Colonize areas or increased density:
 Killdeer
 Upland sandpiper
 Horned lark
 Vesper sparrow
 Lark sparrow
 Grasshopper sparrow
 Eastern meadowlark

Abandon fields or reduced density:
 Northern harrier
 Ring-necked pheasant
 Sedge wren
 Henslow’s sparrow
 Song sparrow
 Red-winged blackbird

List 2 grassland nesting bird species that require heavy grazing

 Horned lark
 Killdeer

List 2 grassland nesting bird species that require moderate grazing

 Upland sandpiper
 Savannah sparrow
 Grasshopper sparrow
 Western meadowlark

List 2 grassland nesting bird species that require light grazing

 Northern harrier
 Dickcissel
 Bobolink
 Eastern meadowlark

List 2 grassland nesting bird species that require no grazing

 Henslow’s sparrow
 Sedge wren

Best burning frequency of grasslands for grassland nesting birds

Burning grasslands every 2-6 years provides the best habitat for grassland nesting birds

Backfire characteristics

Used downwind of the burn site

Ignited on the downwind side of the fuel and burns
slowly into the grassland against the wind

Coolest and safest type of fire

Flank fire characteristics

Ignited on the sides of the burn site parallel to the wind direction at the same time a backfire is lit.
Hotter and faster than a backfire.
Best on square or circular tracts.

Head fire characteristics

Used upwind of the burn site

Fastest and hottest type of fire

Define light grazing in terms of percent cover and average vegetation height

40% or more of vegetation cover >10 inches tall

Define moderate grazing in terms of percent cover and average vegetation height

20 – 40% of vegetation cover >10 inches tall

Define heavy grazing in terms of percent cover and average vegetation height

20% or less of vegetation cover (couldn’t find this in the powerpoint, my notes don’t have the height, probably no height if heavy?)

Reasons why half the normal seeding rate is used in grassland restoration

To lower vegetation height and density and increase diversity

Value of row crops (high or low) to grassland nesting birds

Lowest value

Value of small grains (high or low) to grassland nesting birds

Low to moderate use by nesting red-winged blackbirds, bobolink, horned lark, vesper sparrow, and savannah sparrow.

Value of alfalfa hay (high or low) to grassland nesting birds

Attracts many animals, ecological trap (so… low)

Value of old fields (high or low) to grassland nesting birds

Most valuable

Value of: Lightly to moderately grazed pasture, Fallow fields, Undisturbed wet meadows, Late-cut hay fields to grassland nesting birds

Valuable!

CRP wildlife habitat recommendations

Include native forbs in seed mixes
Include grasses of varying height in seed mixes

Reduce grass seeding rates by 50%

Allow mowing only after 15 July
Allow for management to control woody vegetation and rejuvenate the planting
Encourage enrollment of large fields surrounded by
suitable grassland habitat

SAFE versus CRP

CRP (Conservation Reserve Program): Established breeding habitat for grassland nesting birds.

SAFE (Ohio State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement): Goal is to enroll up to 11,600 acres of cropland in CRP practice CP38 for 10-15 years