Abstract

Tallgrass prairie is disappearing because farming and development have replaced it. This ecosystem is home to a unique group of plants, animals, and microbial life. The processes of fire, grazing by animals, and drought are important to the tallgrass prairie. They can influence each other and prairie life. For example, pyric-herbivory is the interaction of fire and grazing on the landscape. Burned areas attract herbivores (plant eaters) like a magnet. After fires, plant growth is nutritious and easy to find. Herbivores prefer grazing recently burned areas, creating patches of different habitats that support many other wildlife species, too. You can see pyric-herbivory in action at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where fire, cattle, and bison are a part of the preserve’s management team! Healthy tallgrass prairie needs both fire and grazing.

Highlights

  • Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service, Republic, MO, United States Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Community Vitality, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States Great Plains Fire Science Exchange, Manhattan, KS, United States

  • Tallgrass prairie is disappearing because farming and development have replaced it

  • The processes of fire, grazing by animals, and drought are important to the tallgrass prairie

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Summary

SKETCHY SCHOOL

Tallgrass prairie is disappearing because farming and development have replaced it. This ecosystem is home to a unique group of plants, animals, and microbial life. The processes of fire, grazing by animals, and drought are important to the tallgrass prairie. They can influence each other and prairie life. Burned areas attract herbivores (plant eaters) like a magnet. Herbivores prefer grazing recently burned areas, creating patches of di erent habitats that support many other wildlife species, too. You can see pyric-herbivory in action at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where fire, cattle, and bison are a part of the preserve’s management team! You can see pyric-herbivory in action at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, where fire, cattle, and bison are a part of the preserve’s management team! Healthy tallgrass prairie needs both fire and grazing

WHAT IS PRAIRIE?
FIRE AND GRAZING ARE PRAIRIE PARTNERS
Photos from the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in
PRESCRIBED BURN
MORE TO LEARN
YOUNG REVIEWERS

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