Using Phenological Niche Separation to Improve Management in a Northern Glaciated Plains Grassland
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2019
Abstract
Many of the remaining patches of untilled (native) prairie in the Northern Glaciated Plains of North America are heavily invaded by the cool‐season grasses, Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis. However, the native vegetation in these patches contains many warm‐season species. This difference in phenology can be used to benefit restoration. We conducted an experiment to examine the efficacy of restoration treatments (mowing and prescribed fire) applied early in the growing season for consecutive years to decrease cool‐season invasive plant biomass without impacting the native warm‐season species. Our treatments were successful at significantly decreasing invasive cool‐season plant biomass and increasing native warm‐season plant biomass. No differences between treatments (mowing and prescribed fire) were found. Results suggest that incorporating differences in phenology between target and nontarget species into management may increase restoration success.
Publication Title
Restoration Ecology
DOI of Published Version
10.1111/rec.12932
Recommended Citation
Bennett, Joe; Smart, Alexander; and Perkins, Lora, "Using Phenological Niche Separation to Improve Management in a Northern Glaciated Plains Grassland" (2019). Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications. 276.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nrm_pubs/276