Grassland Bird and Butterfly Responses to Sericea Lespedeza Control via Late-Season Grazing Pressure

Abstract

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a high-tannin, late-season invasive forb species that reduces biodiversity in tallgrass prairie ecosystems. The largest tallgrass prairie remnant exists in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma, where the most common grazing management practice involves prescribed fire in early spring followed by intensive stocking with yearling beef cattle from April to July. Sericea has continued to spread under this management regime. From 2013 to 2016, in Kansas Flint Hills tallgrass prairie, we tested the effects of using spring burning with early-season steer grazing, followed by late-season sheep grazing (Steer+Sheep) compared to spring burning followed by steer grazing only (Steer) on sericea vigor, grassland birds, and pollinators. Density and nest success of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) were not negatively affected by Steer+Sheep relative to Steer treatments, whereas there was evidence of a negative effect in these same metrics for Dickcissels (Spiza americana). Abundance of butterflies and their nectar sources were similar between treatments but abundance of grassland specialist butterfly species was low, overall. Comprehensively, Steer+Sheep effectively controls the spread of sericea but may not create habitat for all tallgrass prairie wildlife species.