Article
Ecology
Andrew D. Kaul, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: Cover crops have long-term effects on plant community composition and diversity, with different cover crop species having varying effectiveness in reducing weed abundances. The perennial grass E. canadensis is particularly effective at reducing weeds and has specific effects on assembling tallgrass prairie communities.
Article
Ecology
Ryan C. Blackburn, Nicholas A. Barber, Anna K. Farrell, Robert Buscaglia, Holly P. Jones
Summary: Site-specific conditions, climate, and management decisions influence the establishment and composition of plant communities within grassland restorations, requiring monitoring across spatial and temporal scales. Using UAV-based remote sensing may provide a tool for monitoring restored plant communities, but further research is needed to explore its full potential.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nicholas A. McMillan, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Craig A. Davis, Robert G. Hamilton, Landon. K. Neumann, Samantha M. Cady
Summary: Invasive species may have scale-dependent effects on biodiversity, being positively related to biodiversity at large spatial scales. This study found that the invasive legume, Lespedeza cuneata, had negative effects on grassland plant diversity at small spatial scales, but neutral or positive effects at large spatial scales. Control and eradication strategies for invasive species may not be warranted or effective if the negative relationship between abundance of the invasive species and biodiversity is not clearly supported by data and if invasion is spatially limited across large landscapes.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Andrew D. Kaul, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: The study conducted plant community and soil sampling in restored prairies in Iowa, USA and tested multiple hypotheses using multiple regressions and structural equation models. Results showed that exotic plant species invasion is the most important factor influencing species richness and diversity in restored prairies.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Louis W. Jochems, Jennifer A. Lau, Lars A. Brudvig, Emily Grman
Summary: The study found that future climate warming may reduce plant diversity in tallgrass prairies and impact the composition of restored prairies. It remains unclear whether locally adapted or warm-adapted seeds have an advantage in future warmer environments, and there is little evidence to support the superior performance of seeds from the southern region under warming conditions.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rebecca S. Barak, Zhao Ma, Lars A. Brudvig, Kayri Havens
Summary: Research shows that managers consider biodiversity as the most important restoration objective, and factors influencing seed mix design include seed availability. The survey found that managers most frequently used their own experience and consultation with other practitioners to guide seed mix design, and commonly used tools developed within their organization.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rachel M. Keen, Jesse B. Nippert, Pamela L. Sullivan, Zak Ratajczak, Brynn Ritchey, Kimberly O'Keefe, Walter K. Dodds
Summary: Woody encroachment has impacted grassland ecohydrology worldwide. In a tallgrass prairie in Kansas, USA, stream discharge has declined despite an increase in precipitation. Riparian vegetation, particularly woody species, primarily use deep soil water, leading to observed declines in stream flow.
Article
Ecology
Ethan J. Royal, Chelsea S. Kross, John D. Willson
Summary: This study assessed the state of prairie-associated herpetofauna communities in intact prairie, as well in degraded and developed historic prairie throughout Western Arkansas. The results suggest that long-term land use filters, rather than present site-level conditions, are the driving forces dictating current distributions of prairie-associate herpetofauna in Western Arkansas.
Article
Ecology
Bethany Roberton, Darren Rebar
Summary: Prescribed burns are important for maintaining prairies, as they affect the diversity of flowering forb plants but not the nectar investment of milkweed plants.
Article
Environmental Studies
Cameron Duquette, Devan Allen McGranahan, Megan Wanchuk, Torre Hovick, Ryan Limb, Kevin Sedivec
Summary: Non-native plants can have negative impacts on grassland biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and rural livelihoods. In addition to eradicating invasive species, restoring diversity and heterogeneous plant structure can be an effective approach for management. This study found that variably stocked rotational grazing increased beta diversity and spatial heterogeneity in invaded grasslands, supporting the restoration of ecological services and processes.
Article
Ecology
Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar, Sean R. Griffin, Zachary M. Portman, Jason Gibbs
Summary: This study investigated the impact of fire and bison grazing on different bee nesting groups, finding that the response of nesting groups varied depending on the substrate and management strategies. The results suggest that spatiotemporal variation in prescribed fire and grazing is crucial for the conservation of multiple bee nesting groups.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jacquelyn M. Gehrt, Derek A. Moon, Shawn C. Stratton, David A. Haukos
Summary: Due to habitat degradation and loss, the population of Greater Prairie-chickens has declined in the past decade. However, the population within the Fort Riley Military Reservation has remained relatively stable, possibly due to containment of woody encroachment.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alexandria N. Hoffpauir, Aaron W. Reed, W. Dean Kettle, Steven M. Roels, Helen M. Alexander
Summary: The study found that the establishment and survival probability of endangered long-lived plant seeds in restoration sites is 5.7%, with possible reasons for incomplete observation including vegetative dormancy, herbivory, and observer error. Despite no clear relationship with initial disturbance treatments or precipitation, the growth rate and reproductive success of plants in later years were correlated with the size of plants in previous years.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nicholas A. Barber, Desirae M. Klimek, Jennifer K. Bell, Wesley D. Swingley
Summary: The reintroduction of bison in restored prairies drives changes in soil microbial communities along a new successional trajectory. Restoration age and grazing by bison influence soil C:N ratio, pH, bacterial richness, and diversity. Older restorations with bison resemble bison-free sites in terms of composition, but become more distinct over time, while younger restorations with bison maintain unique compositions throughout the study.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Daniel T. Deever, Nathan M. Soley, Katy Fullin, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: Our experiment results suggest that early- and late-flowering species are more recruitment limited than seed limited, and diversity is lower when these species are missing in restorations. We recommend transplanting a rich mix of early- and late-flowering forbs to increase their biomass and ensure that flowering occurs throughout the growing season.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brian Wilsey, Xia Xu, H. Wayne Polley, Kirsten Hofmockel, Steven J. Hall
Review
Ecology
Brian Wilsey
Summary: Grasslands, as extensive and biodiverse ecosystems highly altered by humans, provide an excellent model system for restoration ecology. The emerging issue of global change requires a focus on designing seed mixes with high diversity to cope with novel conditions. More research on persistence and the importance of stochastic processes in restoration are needed to improve restoration success, as grasslands provide valuable ecosystem services and cultural significance.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Racheal N. Upton, Aleksandra Checinska Sielaff, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Xia Xu, H. Wayne Polley, Brian J. Wilsey
Article
Ecology
John F. Gaskin, Erin Espeland, Casey D. Johnson, Diane L. Larson, Jane M. Mangold, Rachel A. McGee, Chuck Milner, Shishir Paudel, Dean E. Pearson, Lora B. Perkins, Chadley W. Prosser, Justin B. Runyon, Sharlene E. Sing, Zachary A. Sylvain, Amy J. Symstad, Daniel R. Tekiela
Summary: The Great Plains of North America are facing continuous threats from established and newly arrived invasive plant species, requiring updated knowledge for effective management. The mixture of privately and publicly owned lands leads to varying management goals and strategies for controlling invasive plants.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Hannah M. Carroll, Alan D. Wanamaker, Lynn G. Clark, Brian J. Wilsey
Article
Ecology
H. Wayne Polley, Chenghai Yang, Brian J. Wilsey, Philip A. Fay
Article
Ecology
Diane L. Larson, Daniel L. Hernandez, Jennifer L. Larson, Julia B. Leone, Nora Pennarola
Article
Ecology
Andrew D. Kaul, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: The study conducted plant community and soil sampling in restored prairies in Iowa, USA and tested multiple hypotheses using multiple regressions and structural equation models. Results showed that exotic plant species invasion is the most important factor influencing species richness and diversity in restored prairies.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Diane L. Larson, Jennifer L. Larson, Amy J. Symstad, Deborah A. Buhl, Zachary M. Portman
Summary: This study found that neither of the invasive species poses a threat to the pollination of the endemic plant Eriogonum visheri through heterospecific pollen deposition, and that its congeneric species provides alternative pollen resources to its pollinators.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Diane L. Larson, Zachary M. Portman, Jennifer L. Larson, Deborah A. Buhl
Summary: This study investigated the utilization of floral resources by female and male bees. Contrary to expectations, there were few differences in the number of floral resources visited by females and males. When differences did occur, males visited fewer floral species than females. There were no significant differences in floral resource use by females and males among generalist and specialist bee species.
ARTHROPOD-PLANT INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Andrew D. Kaul, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: Cover crops have long-term effects on plant community composition and diversity, with different cover crop species having varying effectiveness in reducing weed abundances. The perennial grass E. canadensis is particularly effective at reducing weeds and has specific effects on assembling tallgrass prairie communities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Andrew Kaul, Brian J. Wilsey
Summary: This study examined the relationship between community-weighted plant functional traits in seed mixes, restored prairies, and reference prairies. The results showed that there were differences in functional traits between seed mixes and restored prairies, and the differences between restored prairies and reference prairies were mainly due to the presence of exotic species.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Julia B. B. Leone, Nora P. P. Pennarola, Jennifer L. L. Larson, Karen Oberhauser, Diane L. L. Larson
Summary: Butterflies and bees play important roles in grassland biodiversity, and their conservation and management are essential. This study explores the impacts of fire and grazing management on butterfly and bee communities in tallgrass prairies, highlighting the challenges of designing management plans for different pollinators. The findings emphasize the importance of considering a mosaic of management practices across the prairie landscape.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
James R. Meldrum, Diane L. Larson, Timothy B. Hoelzle, Jo Ellen Hinck
Summary: The concept of ecosystem services helps us understand the impacts of environmental changes on people, such as when contaminants are introduced or when contaminated lands are remediated. Pollination is an important ecosystem service, and considering pollinators' services can lead to better restoration outcomes. However, evaluation requires synthesis from multiple disciplines and there are gaps in understanding, including non-honeybee pollinators and ecosystem services beyond agriculture. Research on these areas holds promise for considering pollinators' services in land remediation. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:1-15. & COPY; 2023 SETAC
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brian Wilsey, Leanne Martin, Xia Xu, Forest Isbell, H. Wayne Polley
Summary: This study found that relationships between species richness and productivity may be altered by invasive (exotic) species, resulting in the "paradox of invasive species" where invasive species reduce richness but increase productivity. The results indicate that the relationship between NPP and richness depends on whether native or exotic species are dominant.