Hill Prairie Research Articles

Classification of Barrens and Other Natural Xeric Forest Openings in Southern Illinois

HEIKENS, A. L. AND P. A. ROBERTSON (Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6509). Classification of barrens and other natural xeric forest openings in southern Illinois. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 122:203-214. 1995-Twenty-two natural xeric forest openings in southern Illinois on a variety of substrates were sampled using a modified Daubenmire canopy coverage method in order to classify, describe and define these plant community types. Barrens, xeric forest, sandstone glade, loess hill prairie and limestone glade plant community types were identified from an agglomerative hierarchical clustering of sites using Percent Similarity as the resemblance function and an Unweighted Pair Group method of classification. Some vegetation types were strongly related to substrate (i.e., limestone glades, sandstone glades) while others reflect successional status (i.e., xeric forests and barrens). Discriminant Analysis identified soil pH, soil depth, soil texture, amount of exposed rock, slope angle, cation exchange capacity and soil nutrients as significant discriminators among the community types. Four of the twenty-two sites are barrens, an endangered plant community in the Midwest (Heikens and Robertson 1994). Barrens are characterized by open-grown trees, primarily Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica, and a mixture of prairie and dry woodland herbaceous species, including Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, Helianthus spp. and Chasmanthium latifolium, with 1-5% exposed rock, and soil depth of 8-15 cm on sandstone, shale and chert substrates. In this region, barrens appear to be timetransgressive communities that are remnants of a once more widespread community type and, unless maintained by fire or other disturbance processes, will succeed to forest.

The Mcintosh Fauna: Late Prehistoric Exploitation of Lake and Prairie Habitats in the Nebraska Sand Hills

A Central Plains tradition settlement (ca. AD 1300-1450) near Enders Lake in the Nebraska Sand Hills presents an opportunity to address questions about diet composition and seasonal faunal procure ment. The documented exploitation of Sand Hills lake and prairie habitats also defines a previously unexplored element of Central Plains tradition subsistence economies. The latter portion of the Central Plains tradition coincided with the cool and arid Pacific climatic episode (AD 1200-1550). The Sand Hills region is noted historically as resilient to variability in temperature and precipitation; late prehistoric groups may have occupied the Sand Hills as a response to climatic fluctuation and food resource scarcity in other areas of the Central Plains.

Ecological interaction of little bluestem and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The percentage of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) colonization of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) (Michx.) Nash.) and VAM spore populations in the rhizosphere of little bluestem from four prairie areas in Illinois were studied. At Goose Lake Prairie, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.77, p < 0.01) was found between soil moisture and density of VAM spores, but soil moisture and percent VAM colonization were not significantly correlated at any of its sites. Percentage of VAM colonization tended to be higher at study areas where little bluestem was a dominant species. However, spore numbers and abundance of little bluestem tended to be inversely related. Colonization decreased from May to July at all areas and this trend frequently continued into September. Month of sample collection had no significant effect on spore numbers except at Reavis Hill Prairie. The endophyte isolated at all areas was Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe. Other species, such as Gigaspora heterogama (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe and Acaulospora laevis Gerd. & Trappe, were more restricted in their distribution.

Content and Adsorption of Phosphorus in Black Hills Prairie and Forest Soils

AbstractPrairie areas within forested areas of the western United States have been attributed to the phosphorus content being higher or lower than the adjacent forested soils. Black Hills forest and prairie soils in South Dakota have about the same quantity of total and available P. Langmuir adsorption and desorption isotherms for PO4‐P are not distinctly different for the prairie and forest soils, which suggests the chemical systems are the same in both soils. Thus, prairie areas in the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa, Laws) forest of the Black Hills are not caused by differences in the phosphorus chemistry of the soils.

Hill Prairies of Illinois

Hill prairies are grasslands on pronounced slopes. Of the many hill prairies in Illinois, 61, with a combined area of more than 200 acres, were visited by the writer inthe course of this study. In Illinois, hill prairies occur on the exposed upper or brow slopes of the generally southwest- and west-facing bluffs east of the Mississippi River for most of the length of the state and on similar slopes along the Illinois River from Putnam County southward into Jersey County, where the valley of the Illinois enters the Mississippi valley. Hill prairies are present also along the Sangamon and Rock rivers. The observed flora of Illinois hill prairie was 394 species and varieties. Of these, 390 were vascular plants distributed in 209 genera and 70 families. The largest family was Compositae, with 26 genera and 71 species and varieties. Aster was the largest genus, with 12 species. Thirty species were of foreign origin.

A Revised List of Amphibia and Reptiles of Chase and Lyon Counties, Kansas

Since the publication of the 1936 listi of amphibia and reptiles of Chase and Lyon counties, much revision has become necessary, because of taxonomic changes and added collection in the area. The terrain of these two counties varies considerably, ranging from Flint Hills prairie through flood plains to wooded hills. The Flint Hills occupy most of Chase county and extend into the southwest and northeast part of Lyon and are for the most part in the Osage watershed. In central Lyon county and northern Chase county lie the flood plains of the Neosho and Cottonwood rivers, which join in east central Lyon. A small section to the extreme south of the area belongs to the Verdigris watershed. The Flint Hills are devoted almost exclusively to grazing. The flood plains are farmed intensively. Northern Lyon county has general farms and many large pastures. Except in the flood plains there are many springs, from which small streams make their way through rocky gullies. It is among these that some of the most successful collecting has been done. Fifty-three species of 37 genera have been taken. Unless otherwise specified, each form has been found in both counties. The technical names of the species are, with one exception, in accord with Smith's 1950 publication on the Amphibia and reptiles of Kansas2, in which all are described in detail. This book should be consulted by anyone interested in the identification, life history or distribution of Kansas amphibia and reptiles.

A List of Amphibia and Reptiles of Chase and Lyon Counties, Kansas

The terrain considered of these two counties varies considerably, ranging from Flint Hills prairie through flood plains to wooded hills. The Flint Hills occupy most of Chase county and extend into the southwest and northwest corners of Lyon county. The wooded hills are in the northeast part of Lyon and are for the most part in the Osage watershed. In central Lyon county and northern Chase county lie the flood plains of the Neosho and Cottonwood rivers, which join in east central Lyon. A small section to the extreme south of the area belongs to the Verdigris watershed. The Flint Hills are devoted almost exclusively to grazing. The flood plains are farmed intensively. Northern Lyon county has general farms and many large pastures. Except in the flood plains there are many springs, from which small streams make their way through rocky gullies. It is among these that the most successful collecting has been done. Forty-four species and subspecies have been taken. Unless otherwise specified, each form has been found in both counties.