Blogs

Ecologists hypothesize that alien species of plants may become invasive in new environments because they can escape their natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens,...). Fine. But can this also be true for native species that colonize new, that is physically separate, habitats?

Yes, according to Canadian researchers (MacKay, James & Peter Kotanen. "Local escape of an invasive plant from above-ground and below-ground enemies in its native area." Journal of Ecology, 96-6, pp. 1152-1161). They found that common ragweed (which does escape it normal enemies in Europe) does this in its native environment by moving from site to site.

So? Just another good reason to proceed with ecological restoration. Think about it.

This year's restoration projects are in full swing. We are in the field most days either collecting seed or processing the seed already in the shed here at Lonetree. This year we have seven restoration projects, all of which will require lots of seed - though not as much as the 1,750 pounds collected last year.

So please understand. For the most part, work on this website will need to wait until after the first week in November, when all this seed hits the ground.

A rough survey of Lost Prairie this Monday netted two vascular plants not previously reported (at least not by Gleason or Robertson et al). The prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana) is easy enough to spot. It is a large lettuce with prickly leaves, as in the weedy garden lettuce.

Volunteer Revegetation Saturday

After all the stabbing at heavy soil in the rain,
and all the hands, backs, eyes, knees, working the plants in
and after passing pots, picks, spades, cups, bottles, chuckles, shovels,
and so many how-to’s and how-come’s and
all too simple explanations, ...

I've added three new galleries today: 'Hanley, August 2008', 'Lost Prairie, August 2008', and 'NAPC, 2008.' The latter features images from the North American Prairie Conference, including shots of Garvin Heights Savanna and Prairie Moon Nursery. By the way, this was probably the best NAPC yet. Great venue, great presentations, and great field trips.

Twenty years ago, America awoke to frantic headlines that our first national park, Yellowstone, was being destroyed by fire. Now, after 20 years, the facts on the ground say otherwise.

Even a quiet stroll in the park can dramatically change natural ecosystems, according to a new study by conservation biologists. These findings could have important implications for land management policies.

Berkeley researcher, Sarah Reed, found more than five times as much coyote and bobcat scat in preserves with no public access than she did in areas open to the public.

New research from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that native herbivores prefer to consume exotic over native plants. Their results imply that restoring native herbivore communities may be a viable option to help control exotic plant invasions.”  

Peter Lesica's work to reintroduce an endangered prairie plant may or may not prove successful, but he’s attempting to reverse the decline of an inconspicuous Palouse Prairie flower – Spalding’s catchfly (Silene spaldingii). Five years of preparation led up to the planting.

The Northwest Illinois Prairie Enthusiasts has made some leadership changes. The NIPE Board has elected a new President, Ed Strenski of Galena, and a new Vice President, John Day of Stockton.

The Board has also appointed two new directors, Barbara Siekowski of Hanover and Paul Rode of Elizabeth. Jim Rachuy, the interim Board President, has returned to the position of NIPE Executive Director.

Thanks to all of you for your hard work on behalf of Nature and The Prairie Enthusiasts. 

A classic in the annals of prairie ecology is this report by Ken Robertson, et al, on the changes in a collection of Illinois hill prairies over a 50 year period. The original, earlier perspective on these sites is that of Dr. Robert Evans of the Illinois Natural History Survey.

Nearly everyone enjoys the occasional sighting of a deer near home. Increasingly, though, deer herds are growing so large that the animals over-browse their habitats, decimate gardens, create hazards on the highways, and even pose threats to human health.

The Ecosystem Management Program is a good source of information on deer control.

Conservation biology is the science of analyzing and preserving existing biological diversity. Restoration ecology is the science of recovering degraded, damaged or destroyed ecosystems through active human intervention. The main philosophical difference can be framed simply as “conserving what is left” by establishing protected areas versus “restoring what once was” by creating natural areas.

Given the complementary nature of restoration and conservation, an ecosystem approach offers us the most effective toolbox for combating the loss of biodiversity and the ecological services that are so vital to human well-being.

Oak woodlands, savannas, and associated prairie communities historically covered a sizeable portion of the Pacific Northwest, especially in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. In recent years, interest has increased in restoring these white oak (Quercus garryana) and prairie communities.

According to a recent study by the Forest Sciences Laboratory (USFS), the time to act is now. "We evaluated the effect of alternative management scenarios [and] the results indicate that the window of opportunity for restoring oak and prairie landscapes in the Puget Sound lowlands is small, and aggressive management is needed within the next several decades."

The Prairie 

 by Carl Sandburg

I WAS born on the prairie and the milk of its wheat, the red of its clover, the eyes of its women, gave me a song and a slogan.
 
Here the water went down, the icebergs slid with gravel, the gaps and the valleys hissed, and the black loam came, and the yellow sandy loam. Here between the sheds of the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians, here now a morning star fixes a fire sign over the timber claims and cow pastures, the corn belt, the cotton belt, the cattle ranches. Here the gray geese go five hundred miles and back with a wind under their wings honking the cry for a new home.