Dry Sand Prairie CommunityDry Sand Abstract Prairie, Page 1 Community Range Prevalent or likely prevalent Infrequent or likely infrequent Photo by Michael A. Kost Absent or likely absent Overview: Dry sand prairie is a native grassland Rank Justification: In northern Lower Michigan, community dominated by little bluestem (Andropogon grassland acreage, most of which was dry sand prairie, scoparius), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) totaled more than 12,400 acres (5,000 ha) in the mid and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) that 1800s (Comer et al. 1995). Historically, the largest areas occurs on loamy sands primarily on well drained to of dry sand prairie occurred in Crawford and Newaygo excessively well drained, sandy glacial outwash plains counties, with each supporting approximately 5,000 and lakebeds. Vegetation is typically short and patchy. acres (2,000 ha) of dry grassland. Today, in northern Historically, dry sand prairie occurred in association Lower Michigan the community is known from 16 with oak barrens, oak-pine barrens, and pine barrens. element occurrences that range in size from 6 to 77 Areas dominated by native grasses with less than one acres (2.5 to 30 ha) and total 540 acres (220 ha). Thus, mature tree per acre (0.4 ha) are considered prairie approximately 4% of the dry sand prairie originally (Curtis 1959). thought to occur in northern Lower Michigan remains today. Global and State Rank: G3/S2 In the early to mid 1800s, dry sand prairie occupied very limited acreage in southern Lower Michigan, as Range: Dry sand prairie occurs in IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, most excessively drained, sandy landscapes supported WI, and southern Ontario, Canada. Missouri also once oak barrens or oak-pine barrens. One of the largest supported dry sand prairie but the community has since patches of dry sand prairie in southern Michigan may been extirpated. In Michigan, the community occurs have been Coguaiack Prairie at Fort Custer Recreation primarily north of the tension zone in northern Lower Area in Kalamazoo County, which Chapman (1984) Michigan. Based on interpretations from the General discusses in his study of prairies in Lower Michigan Land Office surveyor notes, dry sand prairie occurred (see map by Holder et al. 1981). At present, southern in following Michigan counties: Crawford, Iosco, Lower Michigan supports no element occurrences for Kalamazoo, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, dry sand prairie. Newaygo, and Otsego (Comer et al. 1995). Note that in the counties south of the tension zone the acreage of dry It is likely that all remnants of dry sand prairie have sand prairie in the 1800s was very limited. Today, small experienced some form of degradation (Hauser 1953). patches of dry sand prairie occur in Crawford, Lake, Like other types of prairie in Lower Michigan, the Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Oscoda counties. treeless character of dry sand prairies made them Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Dry Sand Prairie, Page 2 Ecoregional map of Michigan (Albert 1995) depicting distribution of dry sand prairie (Albert et al. 2008) Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Dry Sand Prairie, Page 3 preferred sites for farming and homesteads. However, Fire frequency depended on a variety of factors their droughty, low productivity soils made farming including type and volume of fuel, topography, natural impracticable and most were abandoned by the late irebreaks, and density of Native Americans (Chapman 1800s (Hauser 1953). Dry sand prairie remnants have 1984). In general, the probability for a wide-ranging also been converted to pine plantations throughout the fire increases in level topography like large outwash mid and late 1900s (Hauser 1953). plains, which historically supported dry sand prairie and barrens ecosystems in parts of northern Lower Landscape and Abiotic Context: Dry sand prairie Michigan (Chapman 1984). While occasional lightning occurs predominantly on sandy glacial outwash plains strikes resulted in fires that spread across the landscape, and lakebeds but may also occur on hilly, sandy Native Americans were the main sources of ignition. deposits in ice contact outwash and coarse-textured end and ground moraines (Chapman 1984). Soils are There are many early accounts of Native Americans loamy sand with pH ranging from 4.6 to 5.7. (ave. intentionally setting fires to accomplish specific pH 5.1) and water retaining capacity 28 to 48% (ave. objectives (see Day 1953, Curtis 1959, Thompson and 38%) (Chapman 1984). In a study of dry sand prairie Smith 1970, Chapman 1984, Denevan 1992, Kay 1995). in Newaygo County, Hauser (1953) found that the Native Americans intentionally set fires in the fall to community historically occurred on soils labeled Sparta clear briars and brush and make the land more easily Sandy Loam. These soils are loose, well drained, acid, passable. Frequent fires kept the land open, increasing unconsolidated and have very little organic matter both short- and long-range visibility, which facilitated content, which makes them a poor choice for agriculture large game hunting and provided a measure of safety (Hauser 1953). from surprise attacks by neighboring tribes. Fire was used to increase productivity of berry crops and Dry sand prairie historically occurred in association agricultural fields. As a habitat management tool, fires with oak barrens, oak-pine barrens, and pine barrens, were used to maintain high quality forage for deer, elk, with flatter and better drained sites tending toward open woodland caribou, bison and other game species. It was prairie rather than savanna (e.g., barrens) (Chapman also used as a hunting tool to both drive and encircle 1984, Comer et al. 1995). game. During warfare, fire was strategically employed to drive away advancing enemies, create cover for Natural Processes: Historically, dry sand prairies escape, and for waging attacks. were maintained in an open condition as a result of frequent fires, droughty soils, and in north central In addition to maintaining open conditions, fire also Lower Michigan, by frequent growing season frosts. plays a critical role in maintaining species diversity. The excessively drained, sandy soils of dry sand A recensus of 54 prairie remnants in Wisconsin found prairie act to perpetuate open conditions by limiting that 8 to 60% of the original plant species recorded tree establishment, especially during periodic at the sites had been lost over time (32 to 52 years) droughts. Growing season frosts, which also limit tree even though the sites appeared relatively undisturbed establishment, especially hardwoods, are particularly (Leach and Givnish 1996). The authors suggest that common in the High Plains Subsection of northern taller vegetation outcompeted species with small Lower Michigan. In this region, dry sand prairie statures, small seeds (e.g., orchids), and nitrogen-fixing frequently occurs along with pine barrens in lower symbioses such as members of the legume family elevation, flat outwash plains known as frost pockets (Fabaceae) like lupine (Lupinus perennis), goat’s (Albert 1995). rue (Tephrosia virginiana), bush clover (Lespedeza spp.), and tick-trefoil (Desmodium spp.). Because fire Fire has played a critical role in maintaining open maintains open conditions and burns off standing and conditions in Michigan prairie and savanna ecosystems accumulated litter, small species and those with small (e.g., oak barrens, oak-pine barrens, pine barrens). In seeds that require open microsites are able to garner the absence of frequent fires, which retarded woody enough space and light to remain viable. In the absence growth prior to Euro-American settlement, Michigan’s of frequent fires, small species are outcompeted by prairies and savannas were colonized by trees and taller and denser types of vegetation. As fire volatilizes shrubs and gradually converted to forest.d prairie much of the nitrogen stored in combustible vegetation, Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 Dry Sand Prairie, Page 4 frequent burning also favors species that form nitrogen- creating microsites for seed germination and seedling fixing symbioses (e.g., legumes and rhizobium bacteria) establishment and reducing the dominance of robust and thus provides these plants with a competitive edge perennials (Steuter 1997). not found in unburned sites (Leach and Givnish 1996). This effect is particularly pronounced on nutrient poor Vegetation Description: Unfortunately, no detailed soils like those found in dry sand prairie. ecological study of dry sand prairie was completed in Michigan before the community experienced Fire also helps maintain species diversity by facilitating significant alterations due to farming, fire suppression, expression of the soil seed bank and promoting and conversion to pine plantations. However, several seed germination and establishment. By consuming important studies of the community were completed accumulated and standing leaf litter, fire increases light in the mid and late 1900s. Chapman (1984) completed availability to the soil surface and increases diurnal a study of 66 prairie and savanna remnants in Lower temperature fluctuations, both of which trigger seed Michigan, six of which he classified as dry sand prairie. germination. In addition, the removal of litter by fire Hauser (1953) conducted a study of prairie remnants in creates critical microsites