Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2004
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Plant Science
First Advisor
Gary Larson
Abstract
A Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) and a complete floristic inventory were conducted on the 155,000 ac (62,726 ha) Grand River National Grasslands (GRNG) in northwestern South Dakota. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the vascular flora of the GRNG, (2) document locations and population sizes of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species in the GRNG, and (3) assess the floristic quality of sample GRNG management units using FQA. FQA is designed to assess the natural quality of a site based on floristic composition and was done according to the methods described by Swink and Wilhelm (1994) using coefficients of conservatism (C-values) assigned to vascular plant species by The Northern Great Plains Floristic Quality Assessment Panel (2001). Reconnaissance and plant collection throughout the GRNG began during the 2002 growing season (May through September) and continued during the 2003 growing season. Seven sites representing different habitat types were repeatedly surveyed during both growing seasons to obtain complete species inventories for purposes of FQA comparison between these representative sites and the GRNG as a whole. Mean coefficient of conservatism values (C) and Floristic Quality Index (FQI) values were calculated for these sites. Four hundred sixty-two plant species were identified, including three species identified as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service and one new vascular plant species for South Dakota. The C for the entire GRNG was 4.6. For the sample sites, C values ranged from 4.0 to 5.7 and FQI values ranged from 29.4 to 60.1.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Vegetation surveys -- South Dakota -- Grand River National Grassland.
Plant communities -- South Dakota -- Grand River National Grassland.
Plant conservation -- South Dakota -- Grand River National Grassland.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Kopp, Christopher W., "Floristic and Vegetational Analysis of the Grand River National Grassland of Northwestern South Dakota" (2004). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1093.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1093
Rights Statement
