Prairie Reconstruction DRS CAROLYN GRYGIEL, JACK NORLAND and MARIO BIONDINI

Professor Emeritus and former Director of Natural Resources Management at North Dakota State University, Dr Carolyn Grygiel and her colleagues Drs Jack Norland and Mario Biondini are at the forefront of new methods for redressing the lost biodiversity of grasslands

Firstly, as Director of Natural Resources to be pushing vegetation changes at the Are herbicides Management (NRM), how did you support landscape level. This new perspective led me or rototilling the faculty and student body in their to the concept of ‘patch dynamics’, which traditional management endeavours? would eventually focus on the impacts of options? Can they be applied small-scale disturbances as a model for sustainably? CG: While I was Director my main focus prairie reconstruction. was working with the undergraduate Herbicide application/drill seeding and and graduate students, inspiring them Is it feasible to ‘rewild’ these environments? rototilling/broadcast seeding are conventional to take the ‘long-term decision’ and ask Why must they be managed as prairie land? methods that take an agronomic, ie. farming, the ‘next big question.’ As is customary approach to restoring a natural system. While with interdisciplinary programmes, NRM Prairie reconstruction is feasible. Our both of these methods may prove initially was primarily dependent upon other research has shown that the installation effective, they are not generally sustainable departmental cohorts to provide our of small-scale disturbances and proper in that the forb component diminishes within graduate students with research projects seed mixtures can sustainably enhance a few years. We contend that the success and stipends. While there was no NRM the vegetative diversity in a standing grass of the PPR approach hinges on the fact faculty per se, because interdisciplinary matrix. Precision Prairie Reconstruction that installing the small-scale disturbances programmes do not traditionally have (PPR) is effectively applying a simulation of allowed us to plant forb communities, faculty, those assigned to NRM were Nature’s own approach, which is small- resulting in self-sustaining patches of forbs always given the utmost encouragement scale disturbances and forb patches. as opposed to the widespread distribution and freedom to pursue their research Managing prairie is important simply of individual forb plants which occurs with and academic interests, all of which was because there is so little of it remaining and broadcast and drill seeding. returned to the NRM Program tenfold via what does remain has been referred to as their excellent independent efforts. I have ‘functionally extinct.’ How will you further this research? To what complete faith in the continuing success of extent do you work with policy makers to NRM under its new Director. Through your longitudinal studies, what manage this natural resource? have been the most surprising findings? What prompted your current line JN: Currently there are several efforts to utilise of research and inspired your career Installation of the seeded small-scale the PPR method to increase diversity in sites progression? disturbances provided an impetus for a that are dominated by native plants but lack landscape dynamic that overcame the impact diversity. Those species that are lacking tend to CG: My line of research was initiated at of the presence of invasive species and be scarce and expensive to collect, so by using the Niobrara Valley Preserve in Ainsworth, allowed the seeded native forb species to the PPR method and planting those species in Nebraska with a research grant funded by propagate outside into the surrounding grass patches rather than scattering them around The Nature Conservancy. It was here that matrix. The disturbances were self-sustaining the site, a manager can get the most out of my colleagues and I began studies on the as distinct communities resisting invasion by scarce and expensive seed. fire/bison grazing interaction, which would non-native grass species that comprised the later evolve into the ‘patch-burn grazing surrounding grass matrix. The combination Another line of future research will application’ that is being employed as a of self-sustaining patches and movement of investigate the effect the PPR method has on management practice today. However, I was seeded forbs into the undisturbed matrix over the spatial pattern of prairie reconstructions also intrigued by the pocket gopher-driven time meant that the PPR method effectively and how it can be used to match the pattern patch disturbance process that appeared increased native species richness and diversity. seen in native prairies. WWW.RESEARCHMEDIA.EU 25 DRS CAROLYN GRYGIEL, JACK NORLAND AND MARIO BIONDINI Restoring biodiversity using Nature’s method

Researchers in the Natural Resources Management Interdisciplinary Program at North Dakota State University are using Nature’s method for restoring species richness in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie

THE TALL, GENTLY waving grasses of prairie restoring native biodiversity in grasslands. becomes a hostile environment for most native landscapes are not necessarily the first image Dubbed Precision Prairie Reconstruction (PPR), species, preventing them from re-establishing. that comes to mind when one thinks of species it offers a method that establishes micro- The success of techniques such as prescribed loss or conservation efforts. But the vast communities of forbs in patterns resembling burning or herbicide applications in ridding the expanses of the Northern Great Plains are in their natural growth as plant communities. ground of persistent grasses depends heavily on fact biodiversity arenas in which native species the existing presence of native species. In order often struggle for survival. The word forb refers to a category of for such methods to be effective, indigenous herbaceous plants distinct from grasses. species should comprise at least 20 per cent of The remarkable efforts and success of Forbs are the prairie flowers, but many are the species mix. Attempts at prairie restoration production agriculture in providing sustenance considered weeds. These original inhabitants of using traditional seeding methods to plant for the human population have significantly the prairies are less aggressive than introduced native forbs and grasses have repeatedly shown impacted the biodiversity of many native grasses, but account for most of the diversity in that the forb populations dwindle significantly landscapes, including the once seemingly native prairie sites. over time, edged out by the grasses. limitless area of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie (NTP). An ecosystem that spread across This has been an issue for conservation lands GRASSLAND RESTORATION Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa, and North and aiming to restore areas planted to introduced South Dakota in an estimated 38 million acres Attempting to restore prairies after they have species. “Many conservation lands like those is now reduced to less than 300,000 acres of ceased to serve as agricultural fields or pastures is in the Conservation Reserve Programs (CRPs) prairie fragments. These landscape shards are not a new concept, and techniques traditionally comprise dense, few-culture acreages of mostly found in small patches, separated from used include mowing, inter-seeding, cultivating mainly grass species,” Grygiel, Norland and one another by agro-ecosystems that now and prescribed burning. The problem is that Biondini explain. “While this may be effective dominate the plains. species of perennial grasses such as smooth for reducing soil erosion and supporting some brome (Bromus inermis) and Kentucky bluegrass wildlife species, it does not provide the complex Non-native grass species, which were originally (Poa pratensis) are highly invasive and persistent. habitat necessary for supporting a variety of introduced to provide forage for livestock, A grass matrix which is dominated by a small ‘species interactions’.” And species interactions presently cover millions of acres that were number of introduced species such as these are vital. Plant species diversity is critical once native prairie landscapes. These non- native species can quickly invade existing prairie sites and crowd out native species. The harsh actuality is that the NTP has been declared ‘functionally extinct’ as a self- sustaining ecosystem and the patterns of its natural landscapes practically forgotten. “Nevertheless,” state Drs Carolyn Grygiel, Jack Norland, and Mario Biondini, “these scattered fragments of native landscape are strongholds of genetic diversity with yet untold benefits to humankind. The NTP is a unique ecosystem and, as such, provides crucial habitat for species found nowhere else”.

Grygiel, Norland and Biondini, of the Natural Average forb density (plants/m2) for the seeded Year five mean species richness (± 95% CI) of seeded Resources Management Interdisciplinary species in year five. Statistics were calculated for total native forbs. Treatments without a common letter are Program at North Dakota State University, seeded forb density. Treatments with different letters statistically different (p<0.01). have designed a low-impact technique for are different at p<0.05.

26 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION INTELLIGENCE ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES FOR RESTORING PRAIRIE LANDSCAPES PPR resulted in higher total species richness, native grass frequency, OBJECTIVES native forb richness, stability and density than the herbicide and • To determine if simulated small-scale drill-seeded method disturbances seeded with native plant species can be an effective means for increasing plant species richness and diversity on reconstructed because it represents the first step in the food stability and density than the herbicide and prairie sites that have become dominated by a chain and the variety of diet on offer has upward drill-seeded method. There were no statistical few non-native or naturalised species implications. The trio explain: “A restored NTP differences with the rototilled and broadcast habitat is attractive to wildlife. For example, method; however, PPR was substantially more • To develop an advisory for the cost-effective, flowers attract pollinating insects which in cost-effective than the conventional methods, practical application of these precision turn attract birds which build nests. The eggs entailed a lower level of disturbance to the prairie reconstruction methodologies to and young attract predatory small mammals land and required less maintenance. conservation lands experiencing declining which attract predatory large mammals, and vegetative species diversity so on. This represents a prairie dynamic vastly The creation of these patch communities KEY COLLABORATORS different from a culture grass matrix with just resulted in a stable meta-community of native a few species.” forbs, with a diversity of flowers comparable Brian Winter, Director of Science and to a prairie habitat. “PPR was designed to be Stewardship and his staff, Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, Glyndon, Minnesota, a one-time installation and self-sustaining GOPHERS: LANDSCAPE ENGINEERS USA process that would transform a ‘landscape Despite the importance of biodiversity, there trap’ into a dynamic natural prairie process,” Jim Johansen and his staff, Prairie Restoration, are certain fauna that get no sympathy: the researchers state. “The advantage of using Inc, Bluestem Farm, Hawley, Minnesota, USA gophers (Geomys bursarius). Their landscape PPR to increase diversity is that the standing FUNDING activities are important components of natural grass matrix does not need to be completely disturbances in grasslands, but as the team disturbed.” This is important because it The Nature Conservancy Ecosystem Research points out: “Gophers are generally considered means PPR can be used to boost biodiversity Program – contract no. HOL-CSD-031500ND vermin and are not an endangered species”. by enhancing the native forb component in CONTACT an existing stand of seeded native grasses or Grygiel, Norland and Biondini have authored degraded grassland, but without disturbing Dr Carolyn Grygiel several papers in the past couple of years them unduly. Principal investigator detailing their research into alternative Natural Resources Management methods for restoring prairies. Their PPR They also studied the effects of adding North Dakota State University research tested the effects of systematically amendments such as carbon and phosphorus 307A Morrill Hall, PO Box 6050 – Department simulating and positioning small-scale ‘gopher to the soil to see whether this would aid forb 7150 Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050, USA mound disturbances’ – patches of earth about 8 establishment and subsequent persistence. m2 – into old fields, now dominated by smooth This companion study concluded that E [email protected] brome and Kentucky bluegrass. The technique phosphorus supplements could potentially is to ‘install’ these patches at regular intervals be useful for enhancing these PPR-planted CAROLYN GRYGIEL PHD, MBA, CPRM, and then plant them with communities of forb communities. Carbon additions such MPM is Professor Emeritus and former native forb species. This was compared with as granulated sugar, however, found less Director of Natural Resources Management two conventional restoration techniques: favour with the researchers: “C additions, (NRM) at North Dakota State University. applying herbicide to existing grasses and while enhancing native grass biomass, do not Her most recent research interests focus on then drill seeding (using a machine which appear to be useful in reducing the biomass engaging the simulation of natural processes in simultaneously opens a slit in the soil and of non-native grasses and were found to be reconstructing tallgrass prairie. She is currently working on a book about prairie ecology for the plants seed), and rototilling which overturns detrimental to forb density”. general reader. the soil and uproots the existing grasses,

followed by broadcast seeding (scattering the The PPR concept suffers no such doubts. JACK NORLAND, PHD is Assistant Professor seeds in the newly tilled soil). Both methods Norland is currently advising on several of Natural Resources Management at North involve a well-spaced distribution of no more grassland reconstruction projects around Dakota State University. His research interests than a few seeds in any one place and herein the Midwest and Northern Plains, from are restoration ecology and grassland ecology. lies the problem for restoration. investigatory research to implementations, Current research efforts focus on reducing in which the proven results of PPR are used invasive species in restorations and investigating to better direct restoration efforts. With PPR IN PRACTICE factors that produce desired restoration biodiversity such a current and pressing issue outcomes used to develop decision analyses and PPR resulted in higher total species richness, for natural habitats worldwide, findings such as cost comparisons. native grass frequency, native forb richness, these are likely to be key determinants. MARIO BIONDINI, PHD, is Professor Emeritus at North Dakota State University. Areas of studies include C flows and N cycling in grasslands, grazing ecology, system analysis and ecosystem modelling, statistical ecology, spatial pattern analysis, scaling issues in ecology, landscape ecology and plant community ecology (www.ndsu.edu/ pubweb/~biondini/vita/mebvita.htm).