Mixed-Grass Prairie Field Restoration: How long does it really take?
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Date
2024-07-04
Authors
Farrant, Daryn
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Abstract
This thesis explores the success of mixed-grass prairie field restoration efforts in Grassland National Park, SK (GNP) by analyzing the progress of several fields over time; Laouenan 2001, Belzas 2003 and Gergovia 2005, relative to GNP’s target endpoints. The surrounding vegetation is dominated by native grasses. In addition, I ran a space for time analysis on the Gergovia fields, where measured data from 2021 for fields of varying seeding, years was substituted for time. This allowed me to use data collected from the newer monitoring protocol to track changes in vegetation over time. Cover estimates of bare ground, litter, native herbaceous were tested against target endpoints chosen by GNP to reflect that of native prairie, extrapolated from Thorpe (2007), in order to determine if a field is considered restored. Based on the findings of this study we can conclude that GNP’s fields that met targets for bare ground took an average of 10 years to match that of native prairie. In all GNP’s fields the bare ground target took the longest to be met, with one field failing to meet the target 13 years after seeding. Furthermore, at GNP, native grasses took an average of 5 years to establish and reach the target endpoint. Litter in all fields were found to exceed that of Native prairie, indicating a need for a prescribed burn or other management strategies. The endpoint target not met (exceeding the target) 10 years post-seeding was non-native species which could be reduced using a prescribed burn. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive monitoring protocols, field initiation and seed mix documentation for evaluating restoration success accurately. Overall, the findings affirm the effectiveness of GNP's restoration efforts and emphasize the need for further research into species composition and diversity to fully meet the SER (2004) criteria of a restoration project, which includes the reparation of ecosystem processes, productivity and services, and the re-establishment of the pre-existing biotic integrity in terms of species composition and community structure (SER 2004).
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Keywords
mixed-grass, prairie field restoration, native prairie