Prairie Propagation Concepts and Techniques. Conservation Through Natural Landscaping

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1 Prairie Propagation Concepts and Techniques Conservation Through Natural Landscaping

2 The Origin and Extent of North American Prairie

3 The Extent of Presettlement Grasslands in Wisconsin

4 Wisconsin s Presettlement Prairies and Savannas ~99.9% Lost < 0.1% Remaining

5 150 Years of Change

6 Landscape Fragmentation and the Loss of Diversity Ecological Determinants of Species Loss in Remnant Prairies Recensusing of 54 Wisconsin prairie remnants showed that 8 to 60 percent of the original plant species were lost from individual remnants over a 32- to 52-year period. The pattern of species loss was consistent with the proposed effects of fire suppression caused by landscape fragmentation. Mark K. Leach and Thomas J. Givnish Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

7 Fostering Ecological Citizenship A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the land, and the land includes the soil, water, flora and fauna as well as the people. Aldo Leopold

8 The challenge to Conservation Through Natural Landscaping The economics of developing and marketing local origin seed and transplants

9 Natural Landscaping & Conservation Acting Locally to: 1. Develop an economically viable approach to the long term conservation of biotic and genetic diversity 2. Increase demographic security of rare plant species and communities. 3. Increase habitat for grassland birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates 4. Stabilize and rebuild soil

10 Does origin really matter? The Impact of Gene Flow Distance on Offspring Fitness in the Common Annual Plant Impatiens capensis Meerb. Local Adaptation Heterosis F2 Breakdown Outbreeding Depression

11 Four Questions (Can bad things happen when we move populations around in a highly fragmented landscape?) 1. Are local populations best adapted to local conditions? 2. Does long-distance gene flow affect offspring fitness? 3. Can heterosis complicate efforts to conserve biodiversity? 4. At what gene flow distance does outbreeding depression become a threat?

12 Finding The Answers Experimental Design Requirements 1. Both parental types and two or more generations of their offspring must be tested simultaneously under real world conditions. 2. Multiple wild source populations are needed from a wide range of gene flow distances. 3. The species must be wide ranging and common. 4. Plants must be easy to cross and propagate. 5. A short, determinate life cycle is preferable.

13 Jewelweed To The Rescue (Impatiens capensis Meerb.) Native Common Annual Large range Easy to cross Easy to grow

14 Three Local Source Populations Swamp Coop Marsh

15 Ten Non-local Source Populations Two source populations From Each test distance.

16 The General Crossing System (A Two Population Example) P 1 F 1 P 1 F 2

17 Actual Number of Experimental Populations CL 3 WT 3 P1 13 P2 3 F1 33 F2 33 Total 88

18 6360 crosses

19 Preparing a late male stage flower to act as a pollen recipient.

20 Obtaining undisturbed pollen from an early male stage flower.

21 Pollinated... Tagged....

22 ...and bagged

23 The Shade Lattice Environment

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34 400km vs. 0km Parentals

35 Reproductive Success by Parental Distance 921 Shade Lattice Seeds / Plant km 50 km 100 km 200 km 400 km 800 km Parental Distance From UWM Field Station

36 Results From Parental Populations 1. Local populations are not the best adapted to their environment in a typical growing season. 2. Only the most distant populations produced fewer seeds/plant than those found locally. 3. Populations from intermediate distances produced more seed/plant in a typical growing season. 4. Any origin distance >50km will have stronger effects on seed production than local habitat differences. 5. Environmental extremes are more important than means in driving local adaptation.

37 Lifetime Seed Production of Parental Populations km 50 km 100 km 200 km 400 km 800 km Shade Lattice Mean Number of Seeds Produced / Plant 0 7/16 7/23 7/30 8/6 8/13 8/20 8/27 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 Date (2001)

38 Effects of gene flow distance on offspring fitness

39 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 800 km Shade Lattice 0A800A 0B800A 0C800A 0A800B 0B800B 0C800B 800 km MP F1 F2 Cohort

40 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 400 km Shade Lattice 0A400A 0B400A 0C400A 0A400B 0B400B 0C400B 400 km MP F1 F2 Cohort

41 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 200 km Shade Lattice 0A200A 0B200A 0C200A 0A200B 0B200B 0C200B 200 km MP F1 F2 Cohort

42 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 100 km 100 km Shade Lattice 0A100A 0B100A 0C100A 0A100B 0B100B 0C100B MP F1 F2 Cohort

43 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 50 km Shade Lattice 0A50A 0B50A 0C50A 0A50B 0B50B 0C50B 50 km MP F1 F2 Cohort

44 Mean Seeds/Plant Lifetime Seed Production of Six Cohorts Gene Flow Distance = 0 km Shade Lattice 0A0B 0B0C 0A0C 0 km MP F1 F2 Cohort

45 Results Significant heterosis is demonstrated at gene flow distances greater than 100 km Total lifetime seed production of interpopulation offspring increases with gene flow distance. Although F2 breakdown is common, the effect is not strong enough to result in outbreeding depression in 2 nd generation offspring.

46 Conclusions Extremes are more important than means in driving local adaptation. Heterosis should be expected when isolated populations of common species interbreed. To avoid the expression of heterosis, only one source population of a common species should be used in community restorations - native nurseries should be designed to prevent interpopulation outcrossing of common species. If declining fitness does not continue past the F2, then endangered, threatened and highly conservative species may benefit from outcrossing between populations separated by moderate distances.

47 The Worst Case Scenario 1. Long-distance gene flow produces heterosis in nursery populations of common species. 2. Floristic diversity of the restoration is reduced due to competitive exclusion. 3. F2 breakdown occurs and fitness declines continue into the F3, F4, F Weeds gain a competitive advantage. 5. Planting failure.

48 Pasque Flower

49 Dotted Mint

50 Grey-headed Coneflower

51 Balsam Ragwort

52 Gaura

53 Hairy Puccoon

54 Tuberous Indian Plantain

55 Shooting Star

56 Shooting Star

57 Queen Of The Prairie

58 Turk s Cap Lily

59 Culver s Root

60 Kitten Tail

61 Wood Betony

62 Spiderwort

63 Nodding Wild Onion

64 Leadplant

65 Creamy Baptisia

66 Wild Lupine

67 Common Milkweed

68 Butterfly Weed

69 Blunt-leaved Milkweed

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71 Whorled Milkweed with Mating Monarchs

72 New Jersey Tea

73 Great Spangled Fritillary

74 Swamp Metalmark

75 Swamp Thistle

76 Swamp Metalmark Butterfly (Calephelis muticum McAlpine)

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78 Blanding s Turtle

79 Six-lined Racerunner

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81 A fly

82 A bee

83 A bug

84 Plants are just the tip of the ICEBURG

85 Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

86 The prairie builds relationships

87 and hope for a regenerative future

88 Conservation Through Natural Landscaping - Objectives 1. Participate in a grass-roots effort to conserve biotic diversity 2. Improve the security of rare plant ecotypes 3. Provide habitat for grassland birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates 4. Stabilize and rebuild eroded soils and improve soil permeability

89 6 Prairie Establishment Steps 1. The Site Evaluation 2. Planning 3. Site Preparation 4. Getting The Seed 5. Planting 6. Management

90 Community Ordination for Natural Landscaping in S.E. Wisconsin Oak Barrens Dry Forest Dry- Mesic Forest Mesic Forest Wet- Mesic Forest Hardwood Swamp Conifer Swamp % SHADE Cedar Glade Oak Opening Shrub Thicket Aspen Thicket Shrub Carr Shrub Swamp Sand Barrens Dry Prairie Dry- Mesic Prairie Mesic Prairie Wet Prairie Fresh Wet Meadow Sedge Meadow 0 Excessively Drained Somewhat Excessively Drained Well Drained Moderately Well Drained Imperfectly Drained Poorly Drained Very Poorly Drained SOIL DRAINAGE CLASS

91 Density of Ten Prairie Grasses Along a Soil Moisture Gradient in Wisconsin Mean % Occurance (Quadrats/Stand) Little bluestem Side-oats grama grass Big bluestem Prairie dropseed Needlegrass Junegrass Indian grass Prairie cordgrass Sw itchgrass Canada w ild rye 0 Dry Dry-Mesic Mesic Wet-Mesic Soil Moisture

92 60 Density of Six Asters Along a Soil Moisture Gradient in Wisconsin New England Aster Heath Aster Azure Aster Smooth Blue Aster Silky Aster Arrow-leaved Aster Mean % Occurance (Quadrats/Stand) Dry Dry-Mesic Mesic Wet-Mesic Soil Moisture

93 Interseeding an Oak Savanna Establishment

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95 Long-Term Maintenance Objectives Reducing the dominance of cool season Eurasian grasses and weeds Controlling the establishment and spread of brush Increasing flower and seed production Maximize biotic diversity

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98 Natural Landscaping Opportunities for Education: Foster Ecological Citizenship Increase awareness of globally threatened species and communities Teach basic conservation skills Practice environmental stewardship Understand the threat of global climate change to our region s biotic resources

99 Science Based Learning to Foster Ecological Citizenship Maximize student involvement in community conservation Planning Site Preparation Planting Maintenance

100 Science Based Learning Explorations that Build Ecological Citizenship Students as Teachers Develop plant identification keys for younger students. Bilateral Radial Floral Symmetry Entire Toothe Lobed d Leaf Margins

101 Science Based Learning Explorations that Build Ecological Citizenship Observe & Measure Biodiversity Before and after planting Between the planting and adjacent environments Butterflies, Bees, Spiders, Bugs, Ants Methods Timed sensory observations Drawings or written descriptions Sweep net sampling Quadrat sampling

102 Science Based Learning Explorations that Build Ecological Citizenship Explore Ecological Questions How does it make a living? Where does its energy come from? Where does it get water and nutrients? How did it get here? How does it protect itself? How does it survive the winter?

103 Master Gardeners can make positive change through natural landscaping: Increase the amount of prairie and savanna we leave to the future. Propagate seed and transplants to support public natural landscape projects in your area. Identify, protect and steward wild places.

104 When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. Aldo Leopold