Prairie Counties Research Articles

The resistance and resilience of Great Plains ecoregion boundaries to the 1930s drought as a lens to future dynamics

AbstractPotential natural vegetation (PNV) remains an important concept in ecology by providing the basis for comparing current or future conditions and trends in vegetation with historic conditions. However, nonstationary climate and land‐use‐driven deviations from baseline conditions challenge the validity of PNV at local scales or for locations that are especially sensitive to environmental changes, such as ecotonal boundaries between ecosystem types. Our goal was to identify the historic boundaries between major grassland types in the Central Great Plains (CGP) of North America (tallgrass prairie and northern and southern mixed‐grass prairies) by examining the environmental drivers of primary production prior to, during, and after the decades‐long drought in the 1930s. We sought to explore differences among grassland types in resistance and resilience to drought, and to evaluate legacy effects resulting from spatially explicit processes during drought. We used county‐level cropland production data from 1926 to 1948 as a proxy for native grass production data. We regressed production data against a suite of models containing variables associated with climate, soils, land use, and drought indices prior to, during, and after drought. We used a dimension reduction approach to identify the locations of grassland boundaries in multivariate space defined by each model. Our results show that climate and soil factors predicted grass production prior to the drought, yet additional land use and erosion factors were needed to explain production in both drought and post‐drought. Grassland responses were most variable along ecotonal boundaries. Tallgrass prairie exhibited stronger production responses to precipitation and temperature compared with northern and southern mixed‐grass prairies during all periods. Tallgrass prairie counties along the ecotone with mixed‐grass prairies were more negatively impacted by soil loss from abandoned cropland during the drought compared with other tallgrass prairie counties. As the intensity and frequency of drought are predicted to increase, landscape‐scale variables and spatially explicit processes that govern novel production responses will need to be accounted for in explaining heterogeneity in grassland responses.

“How Much Does Property Cost Up There?”: Exploring the Relationship between Women, Sustainable Farming, and Rural Gentrification in the US

Using in-depth interviews with women engaged in sustainable farming in the western United States, this project explores an unanticipated finding: migration from an urban area to rural “Prairie County” was necessary for these farmers to secure farm land and sustain their farming operations. This article interrogates the role of migration in women’s access to farmland as both an economic and cultural phenomenon. My findings highlight the necessity of migration for women’s participation in sustainable farming and suggest that women’s success in sustainable farming may align with the processes of rural gentrification, by which cultural and economic in-migrants amplify their social privilege and transform the values and economy of rural communities. This project, then, situates gender as a key structure to understanding both the classed dynamics of sustainable agriculture and rural gentrification.

First Record of the Silver Lamprey, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis (Petromyzontiformes: Petromyzontidae), from Arkansas

Abstract We report the Silver Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon unicupis) from Arkansas for the first time. Fifteen adult I. unicuspis attached to paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) were collected in Apr. 2005 from the White River near the confluence of the Black River, Independence and Jackson counties. Twelve (80%) of the I. unicuspis possessed 3 teeth (including the apex) in the anterior row, while the other 3 had 4 teeth in their anterior row; unicuspid teeth arrangement in the lateral row were 3 + 3 for 11 (73%) lampreys while 4 had 4 + 4 teeth in the lateral row. Two additional specimens collected in Apr. 1972 and May 1998 from the Buffalo and White rivers in Marion and Prairie counties, respectively, and originally identified as Chestnut Lampreys (Ichthyomyzon castaneus), were re-examined and identified as I. unicuspis. The addition of I unicuspis to the lamprey fauna of Arkansas brings to five the number of species currently occurring in the state.

Further Range Extension of Xylocopa micans Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

There are seven species in the genus Xylocopa Latreille that occur in North America north of Mexico, and only two of these are known to occur in the Eastern United States: Xylocopa virginica L. and X. micans Lepeletier. While the range of X. virginica extends through much of the Eastern United States, the distribution of X. micans is concentrated along the coastal areas to the far south and east. Until 2010, X. micans had only been recorded in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas (Hurd, 1955). In 2006 and 2007, four specimens of X. micans were collected in southwestern Arkansas, representing the first records of X. micans in Arkansas, about 250 km northwest of its historical range (Warriner, 2010). Additionally, we report here that two males of X. micans were netted on May 10, 2010 north of Biscoe in Prairie County, AR (34.845000uN, 91.415833uW). This location is approximately 50 km northeast of the first specimens found in Arkansas three years prior. The specimens were determined with the keys of Hurd (1955) and Mitchell (1962). The voucher specimens have been deposited at the University of Arkansas’ Arthropod Museum, Department of Entomology in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. This is a new locality record for X. micans in the state of Arkansas and supports Warriner’s (2010) suggestion that this represents an extension of its historically recorded range, rather than an incidental introduction. Xylocopa micans is a member of the Neotropical subgenus Schoenherria Lepeletier, and its range may be restricted to warmer climates. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Porter (1981) found that X. micans was only collected in the warmer months from spring through summer, while other Xylocopa species were collected year round. The presence of X. micans in Prairie County, Arkansas may reflect a climate-driven northward range expansion as predicted by climate change and already evidenced by the range shifts of species such as the nymphalid Euphydryas editha (Boisduval) (Parmesan, 1996). Conversely, the specimens found in Prairie County, Arkansas may be human-mediated introductions and not representative of a natural expansion. The site at which they were collected is located along Interstate 40, which connects to the southwestern locations via Interstate 30. It is possible that these individuals were transported from their native range to Arkansas and have spread by means of highway traffic. Xylocopa species, including X. micans, nest in dead wood, and may inadvertently be transported long distances in shipments of lumber or other wood products. This was shown to be the case for Xylocopa brasilianorum L. which arrived in San Francisco in a balsa wood shipment from Hawaii (Hurd, 1955). Further sampling of bees in Arkansas may help determine how X. micans arrived in and spread throughout Arkansas. Large bees, such as Bombus and Xylocopa species, have the ability to sonicate the anthers of flowers with poricidal dehiscence, such as Solanum species (King and Buchmann, 2003). Due to this somewhat unique capacity, large bees such as Xylocopa micans are of particular interest as pollinators of many plant species with poricidal anthers. Out of 153 bee visitors, X. micans and two species of Melissodes were shown to be the only effective pollinators of Chamaecrista keyensis Pennell (Fabaceae), the big pine partridge pea, which is listed as an endangered species in the state of Florida (Liu and Koptur, 2003). Clearly, the role of X. micans as generalist pollinator with special abilities can be an important factor in plant communities. If the distribution of X. micans is changing, either as the result of climate change or through anthropogenic introductions, there may be additional ecological repercussions.

The Prairie County Fair of 1859

The Prairie County Fair of 1859

Some Features of Early Woodland and Prairie Settlement in a Central Iowa County

HE general relations of woodland and prairie settlement in Illinois are fairly well known, thanks to such studies as those of Barrows, Pooley, Poggi, and Brown,' but scant attention has been given to the historical geography of the Iowa prairies,2 which, except in their western margins, did not present settlement conditions markedly different from those of Illinois. Generally speaking, the major types of land in the Iowa Prairies at the time of white settlement were: 1) woodland, 2) well-drained prairie, and 3) poorly drained prairie and marsh. The well-drained prairie was the most extensive type except in a portion of the region of late Wisconsin glaciation, located in the north-central portion of the state, where poorly drained prairie was more common.3 Woodland, commonly confined to stream valleys and sloping land adjacent to them, varied greatly in amount. Figure 1 represents the distribution of woodland in Iowa. The most wooded sections were in the northeast and southeast; the northwestern quarter, roughly, was the only large portion of the state in which woods were scarce. The least wellwooded county in the eastern one-half of the state, Grundy, is known to pioneers and their children as a prairie county. In contrast, neighboring Hardin County is known as a wooded county. A glance at the map will show that the decription of Grundy was merited; that of Hardin was an exaggeration, but an understandable one when it is noted that Hardin County woodlots are reported to have furnished wood to pioneers even in the central part of Grundy. The amount of natural woodland reported for the counties of Iowa in the Iowa Census of 1875 is in general agreement with the distribution shown in Figure 1, although considerable cutting and clearing must have taken place in the older portions of the state. Grundy County was the

Tracy's Ferns of Missouri

It is now fifty years since Tracy began collecting notes and material for his Catalogue of Plants of Missouri which was published in 1886. In this Catalogue Tracy gives an account of all the Ferns and Fern Allies known to occur in the State, comprising 23 genera and 50 species, reported by 13 collectors, of which I am the only survivor. Those collectors report 50 localities, incidentally exactly the same number as that of the species. A comparison of Tracy's list with thz latest account of Ferns and Fern Allies of Missouri may be interesting at this time. I shall make notes on the species in the order presented by Tracy, and shall use his names. There are apparently 7 species included by Tracy in his Catalogue, that have not yet been collected in Missouri. This reduces the number of known species to 43, still a respectable list for that time. Th! following is a list of Tracy's Ferns and Fern Allies: 1. Equisetum arvense L.-Tracy says this is common, but he must have had in mind only the Missouri and Mississippi River regions, since this species is almost unknown in southern Missouri and the prairie counties of the northern part of the state. 2. Equisetum sylvaticum L.-Reported from Greene County by Shepard, but evidently an error of determination, as this species has not yet been collected in Missouri. 3. Equisetum robustum Braun.-Probably identical with the present species of this name. 4. Equisetum robustum affine Engelm.-Probably correct, as it is common to all the Missouri River region. 5. Equisetum hyemale L.-Evidently our E. Iaevigatum, which was regarded as E. hyemale by most writers at the time Tracy published his Catalogue. Tracy did not recognize E. laevigatum, although it is abundant along all the big river bottoms in the state. 6. Ophioglossum vulgatum L.-The same as our present species, except that the report of Jackson County by Bush was based on 0. Engelmanni. Tracy evidently not knowing 0. Engelmanni, did not include it in his catalogue. 7. Botrychium ternatum Swz.-I have no idea what Broadhead found in Vernon County, but I am assuming it was what we now know as B. obliquum. 8. Botrychium ternatum lunarioides Milde.-Not the eastern species, which was never found so far west. I have no idea what Tracy had in mind when he listed this species which he says is common. 9. Botrychium virginianum Swz.-This species of Botrychium is common throughout the state. Tracy supposed that it was uncommon and records it for three counties. 10. Botrych:um matricarifolium Braun.-Not the species of the east, which has never been found so far west as Missouri. 11. Polypodium incanum Swz.-Evidently our P. polypodioides, and thought by Tracy to be more restricted in the state. (626)

Notes on the Winter Birds of Central Arkansas

PULASKI County is the centralmost county of Arkansas. The topography of the county is quite diversified. While a goodly portion of the area is given up to the city of Little Rock there are still many wooded sections in the northern part of the county and more or less bald cypress is to be found in the river bottoms of the southeastern portion. The Arkansas River enters the county at the northwestern corner and snakes its crooked way across the county finally making its exit at the southeastern corner. In the western part of the county lies an area of pine-clad hills where Pine Warblers and Kinglets were found in numbers while the eastern part of the county is mainly given up to cultivated fields where such species as the Prairie Horned Lark were found. The Arkansas River supplies many water bird records. In Prairie and Arkansas Counties, lying to the east of Pulaski County, is located the state's great rice growing territory and it is here that vast numbers of wild ducks congregate for the winter. Here is to be found one of the greatest duck hunting sections of the United States. The writer spent the winter of 1924-1925 in Little Rock and spent considerable time exploring the surrounding country. My field trips covered most of Pulaski County but as I also have numerous records for the surrounding counties it seems advisable to include these as I believe my list to be truly representative of the winter bird life of central Arkansas. Unless otherwise stated the localities given are in Pulaski County, and the dates, unless otherwise noted, refer to the winter of 19241925, that is the months of December, 1924 and January, February and March of 1925. Colymbus auritus. HORNED GREBE.-One observed at Willow Beach on January 29. Podilymbus podiceps. PIED-BILLED GREBE.-Single birds observed at different times in many localities. Anhinga anhinga. WATER TuRKEY.-One observed in the Arkansas River east of Little Rock on March 13.

Factors Influencing the Distribution of Tree Vegetation in Champaign County, Illinois

In a recent article, Woodard ('24), the author has attempted to show that the glaciated region of Illinois and neighboring states was first invaded by a tundra vegetation which was in turn invaded, at an early date, by prairie grasses. Later on, forest trees invaded the prairie along the streams, where erosion destroyed the prairie sod and made an uneven surface which checked the velocity of the wind and so reduced the evaporation rate. It was also shown that trees, advancing up the valleys of the interglacial streams, invaded the Late Wisconsin till sheet at an early date and spread much more rapidly over the uneven surface of this region than on the more nearly level interstream areas in the older glaciations farther south. As the work was of a general nature, it seemed advisable to make a more detailed study of the factors influencing the distribution of tree vegetation in a rather limited area. Champaign County, the area chosen, is favorable for such a study. Althought it is a typical prairie county, there are some forests along the larger streams, and a few small isolated patches of timber at some distance from other forests. Tree vegetation invaded Champaign County along five streams, three of which have their origin in the county. The Kaskaskia and Embarrass rivers rise near the city of Champaign and flow south to the county line. Salt Fork river has two branches. The West Branch rises south of Rantoul, flows south to Urbana, and then east to St. Joseph where it is joined by the East Branch, which has its source near Ludlow and flows southeasterly. From the junction of the two branches, the stream continues south to Sidney, then bends sharply to the east, and continues in that direction to the county line. The Middle Fork of the Vermillion river crosses the northeast corner of the county while the Sangamon river enters the northwest corner and leaves the county near the middle of the west side. Some -of the land along these streams is slightly dissected by erosion, and there are some gently rolling areas along the Champaign moraine and Gifford Ridge, a part of the Bloomington morainal system. Both of these moraines cross the county in a northwest-southeast direction, the former passing through the city of Champaign. The rest of the county has very little relief and much of it was originally swampy. Although a large part of the timbered area is now in cultivation, some of the original forests still remains, and the Champaign County Soil Map (Hop-