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Managing Tallgrass Prairie with Pyric Herbivory��A Case Study

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Overview

  • Lesson Focus:
    • Evaluate ecological outcomes of pyric herbivory as a prairie management tool by analyzing field and remote sensing data
    • Interpret how these outcomes influence plant structure and production and (maybe) bird habitat suitability

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Learning Objectives

  • Interpret trends in plant production using the Rangeland Analysis Platform – Production Explorer
  • Analyze field data to assess structural heterogeneity in patch-burn vs. burn-only prairie units
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of pyric herbivory as a management tool for promoting plant heterogeneity and habitat quality in tallgrass prairie
  • Apply knowledge of bird nesting habitat requirements to compare expected species richness between management treatments

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Case Study

  • Groups will analyze data from Rangeland Analysis Platform – Production Explorer to evaluate differences in plant production and estimated stocking rates between units from years 2011 – 2014 and 2015 – 2018

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  • Analyze data previously collected at Glacial Ridge Wildlife Refuge as part of a PBG study
    • Visual Obstruction Readings, litter depth, and ground cover (litter, vegetation, bare ground, water, gravel)

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Case Study

  • You will analyze data and compare results between PBG and Control units to determine how these management approaches influenced plant structural heterogeneity

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  • Determine which unit would likely support nesting habitat characteristics of tallgrass prairie bird species
    • Which unit would likely support which species, and which unit would likely support higher bird species richness

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Burn Schedule

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Data Analysis – RAP Production Explorer

PBG

Control

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Data Analysis – RAP Stocking Rate

PBG

Control

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Data Analysis – VOR

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Data Analysis – Litter Depth

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Data Analysis – Ground Cover

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Plant Height (cm)

VOR (cm)

Litter Depth (cm)

PBG

Control

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Grassland Bird Nesting Habitat Requirements

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Assessments

  • Data analysis:
    • Interpret RAP production and stocking data over time
    • Calculate/graph VOR, ground cover, and litter depth for each unit
    • Summarize findings on heterogeneity
  • Short written report to:
    • Present comparison of the two units
    • Recommend a management approach based on desired bird nesting habitat outcomes

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Timeline

  • Day 1:
    • Introduce Case Study
    • Provide overview of RAP
  • Day 2:
    • Check in on understanding of RAP
    • Explain data analysis
    • Groups begin working on analyses in class
  • Complete report outside of class

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