In all Prairie Cluster parks, grassland plant communities are important natural resources and the focus of much management attention. Although small in size, Prairie Cluster parks represent the few remaining refuges where the once widespread prairie grasslands persist. Furthermore, intact prairie represents the historical landscape context for the cultural resources the parks are intended to interpret. Profound alteration of lands in the mid-continent to agricultural use has permanently disrupted the natural forces of wildfire and grazing. Consequently, managers employ prescribed fire, manual removal of woody species, exotic control and restoration to maintain the prairie. To date, the effectiveness of management actions in sustaining prairie in the face of fragmentation, disruption of natural disturbance regimes, and exotic species encroachment is uncertain.

Monitoring questions and approach

1. What is the current species composition, structure, and diversity of remnant and restored prairies?

   • Measure vascular plant species composition and foliar cover in permanent plots.

2. Is the structure, composition, and diversity of remnant and restored prairies changing? If so, is this change directional, cyclic, or random?

   • Monitor vascular plant species composition and foliar cover at regular intervals.

   • Initially, monitor for several consecutive years to assess inter-annual variability and obtain a multi-year baseline.

3. Are trends in species composition, structure, and diversity correlated with climatic variables or management activities, such as prescribed fire?

   • Record management actions and acquire climatic data for correlation with monitoring results.

Protocol

• Willson, G.D., L.P. Thomas, M.D. DeBacker, W.M. Rizzo and C. Buck. 2001. Plant community monitoring protocol for six prairie parks. Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, prepared for Great Plains Prairie Cluster Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Program, Republic, MO.

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• Buck, C., G.D. Willson, L.P. Thomas, and M.D. DeBacker. 2000. Background information and methods testing for the development of a plant community monitoring protocol for six prairie parks.Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, prepared for Great Plains Prairie Cluster Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Program, Republic, MO.

  • Download this document (PDF format)

Reports

• Go to the Reports page.