Tall Grass Prairie

Welcome to my ecosystem blog.:

I will share the information and experiences I had in my ecosystem this summer and spring.

Location

The small patch located to the south west of the Kesling pond. It is surrounded by Thomas woods, Kesling pond and more prairie on the south side. The location has contributed to a unique prarie.

Prairie InfoThe prairie was planted in June 2001. It has since been burned every 3 years in the spring.

The prairie was planted for the following reasons

- to keep the site in early successional herbaceous cover
- to eliminate the need for periodic tractor mowing (every 4 years) that keeps it herbaceous (and not succeed to woody species). Instead, maintain it by burning every 3 yrs.
- to establish native plants on the landscape that connect with the wetland habitat, to the north, and the existing prairie habitat, to the south.

Prairie General information

Tall Grass Characteristics
*dominated by grasses above 4 ft. (60-80%)
*forbs and other vegetation make up other ground cover
*tree cover is limited (5-11%)
*Main disturbance is fire
*Rain fall is limited and irregular
*Thick organic layer underground, due to the vast and extensive root systems
*Complex ecosystem with plants and animals, providing homes and food sources

Grasses

Grasses make up a large part of the tall grass prairie. These grasses are warm season grasses, they are C4 grasses and are more effiecient at photosynthsis, then cool season grasses.

Some of the main grasses are: Big blue stem, little blue stem, indian grass and switch grass.

Flowers

Prairie flowers are most impressive, especially in the middle of hot hot summers. When other things may be drying out they are in full bloom. This provides habitat and a good source to many animals and insects. From the gold finch who uses the thistle seed for nests and food to thebees and butterflies.

Prairie flowers also are at the same hight as many of the grasses. Making an unfeed prairie tall.

Insects an other wildlife

When I have visited the prairie during the summer, it is always amazing how many insects and other wildlife I have seen.

When I started my research class I walked around my prairie and spotted a woodchuck running into the tail grass, not having seen one I was indeed frightened and continued walking while clapping. Other animals that I have been have been rabbits running into the grass and once they entire there is no evidence of them. The grass is not moving on top and there are no sounds or hints to where the rabbit went. Birds have also had a presences in the prairie. The gold finches, landing on grasses and bent over flower stems making them seem weightless.

Some animals I have no idea what they are but there is clear evidence of beds, holes and pathes that often lead to the marsh on the other side of the path. Honestly I am ok with the mystery of what these animals are, but hopefully winter will help me expand with some that are still out and about.

Insects:

Butterflies (monarchs, pearly cresents, cabbage whites, sulphers, buckeyes and many more) I have spotted without too much looking.)

Dragon flies, mosquitos, flies, bees, are some other insects that I have spotted in the prairie, these are wonderful creatures and they provide the prairie with life in the summer.

Soil

The typical soil type is a think layer of organic matter because of the vast root systems and their decomposition. (which makes for great farm land). For my prairie this is not true... yet. The soil yes is filled with a vast root system, making it difficult to take samples, but it is also fairly sandy. Over the years when the prairie ages the thick organic layer will increase and become a more prominant feature of the soil.