| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Middleton, Elizabeth L. [1], Bever, J. D. [2], Schultz, Peggy A. [3]. Does planting method matter? A comparison of two tallgrass prairie restoration methods. The Nature Conservancy owned Efroymson Restoration at Kankakee Sands is the largest prairie restoration in Indiana. Because the area is actively being restored, we were able to ask questions about how the method of restoration affects the resulting prairie plant community. The first method, employed by the Nature Conservacy involves distributing seed over fallow fields. The second method, developed by Drs. Peggy Schultz and Jim Bever involves planting established seedlings as well as seed into a fallow field. Some of the seedlings were introduced with the soil community from native prairies. These two restoration methods were compared to a naturally colonized post-agricultural field and two prairie remnants. We found that the naturally colonized field is more similar to the restorations than to the remnants. We also found a significant improvement in the restorations’ resemblance to a remnant prairie with the introduction of seedlings. We noted an interaction between native plant diversity and the density of exotic plants in the restoration. As native plant diversity increased, exotic plant density decreased; an unnecessary relationship because exotic plant density is not manipulated in either restoration method. These findings imply that native plant seedlings were able to out-compete exotic seedlings in this restoration site.
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1 - Indiana University, Department of Biology, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
2 - Indiana University, Dept of Biology, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
3 - Indiana University, Department of Biology, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN, 47403, USA
Keywords:
prairie establishment
prairie restoration
Tallgrass prairie.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P49015
Abstract ID:2177 |
