Savannas are ecosystems with extensive grass areas and scattered trees and shrubs. Oak savannas (aka bur oak

Transcription

1 Oak Savannas Savannas are ecosystems with extensive grass areas and scattered trees and shrubs. Oak savannas (aka bur oak openings ) that once covered 5,500, acres of Wisconsin, are extremely rare today. Loss of this plant community was due to farming, fire suppression, logging, heavy grazing, and invasive exotic species. Many of Wisconsin s native species are dependent upon intact oak savannas. Thus, degraded and over-grown savanna areas need to be restored to return their important ecological functions. Fires are needed to prevent overgrowth and enhance native plant habitat. As the savanna vegetation recovers, so too will populations of native mosses, lichens, mushrooms, insects, birds, mammals, and more! Red Headed Woodpecker Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

2 Oak Savanna Vegetation You can support savanna restoration by planting and encouraging the following plant species: Trees Bur Oak White Oak Bur Oak White Oak Gray Dogwood Shrubs & Vines American Hazelnut New Jersey Tea Gray Dogwood Red Raspberry Hog Peanut Riverbank Grape Lead-plant Wild Rose Flowers Bird s-foot Violet Flowering Spurge False Toadflax False Solomon s Seal Hoary Puccoon Wild Geranium Spreading Dogbane Prairie Coreopsis Wild Strawberry Purple Prairie Clover Big Bluestem Grasses Big Bluestem Little Bluestem Wild Strawberry Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

3 Wet Prairie Wet prairies may be found in prairie regions where the water table is high and especially in floodplain depressions and old oxbows. These tall grass prairie communities share characteristics with sedge meadows, calcareous fens, and emergent marshes. Historically wet prairies were used as grazing pasture due to proximity to water for livestock. However, the native grasses and sedges could not tolerate the pressures from grazing g combined with increasing silt from eroding uplands. Consequently, wet prairie communities diminished as bluegrass, redtop, and reed canary grass quickly replaced the native grasses. Wet prairies help filter runoff, control o flooding, and are home to many native Wisconsin species. As more wet prairies are restored, listen for singing insects from June to September. These insects also become a favorite food for the trout and other fish in the Rountree Branch. Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

4 Wet Prairie Vegetation Wet prairies may support hundreds of different plant species. Here are some of the most common: Grasses & Sedges Bluejoint Grass Prairie Cord Grass Marsh Wild Timothy Lake Sedge Water Sedge Wooly Sedge Water Sedge Flowers or Forbes Black-eyed Susan Common Mountain Mint Cowbane Culver s Root Field Horsetail Golden Alexanders Late Goldenrod Narrow-leaved Loosestrife New England Aster Purple Meadow-rue Sawtooth Sunflower Wild Strawberry Black-eyed Susan Mountain Mint Wild Strawberry Shrubs Prairie Willow Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

5 Wet-Mesic Prairie Wet mesic prairies formed in floodplains between lowland forests and upland mesic prairies. In midsummer, cool air collects and promotes water retention and higher humidity. Historically, during years that were too wet for the plow, these areas were often a source of marsh hay or used for pasture. Today wet-mesic prairies are valued as protection from surface runoff and habitat for wildlife. Golden Plover Black-eyed Susan & Prairie Dock Grasses Big Bluestem Bluejoint Grass Canada Wild Rye Prairie Panic Grass Switch Grass Common Flowers or Forbes American Vetch Meadow Anemone Black-eyed Susan Common Mountain Mint Showy Tick-trefoil Culver s Root Smooth Blue Aster False Toadflax Northern Bedstraw Prairie Dock Wild Rose Prairie Phlox New England Aster Purple Meadow-rue Sawtooth Sunflower Wild Strawberry Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

6 Mesic Prairie Ironically, mesic or moist prairies are functionally extinct in Wisconsin because of their rich soil. Early European settlers quickly tapped this resource and converted the tallgrass mesic prairie to row-crop fields. Consequently, the unique combination of mesic prairie and oak savanna which existed for thousands of years, now occurs only in scattered remnants along railroad tracks and abandoned corners of cemeteries. The rich soils of tallgrass mesic prairies support a great variety of grasses, flowers, and forbes. This site is being managed in an attempt to restore this rare mesic prairie community. Prairies need disturbances such as fire, grazing, and digging by soil movers. Our hope is to provide these disturbances at this site. As an example of the abundant wildlife in mesic prairies, there are over 23 species of butterflies and moths that frequent such areas. Look for them! Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

7 Mesic Prairie Vegetation Mesic prairies support many different plant species. Here are some of the most common: Grasses Big Bluestem Porcupine Grass Prairie Dropseed Prairie Panic Grass Big Bluestem Prairie Dropseed Flowers or Forbes Common Milkweed Compass Plant Cream Wild Indigo Illinois Tick-trefoil Lead-plant Missouri Goldenrod New Jersey Tea Pasture Thistle Prairie Sunflower Prairie Coreopsis Purple Prairie Clover Rattlesnake Master Rough Blazingstar Showy Goldenrod Smooth Blue Aster Stiff Goldenrod Wild Bergamot Yellow Coneflower Common Milkweed Compass Plant Prairie Sunflower Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

8 Threats to Our Natural World GARLIC MUSTARD (Alliaria petiolata) BASIC IDENTIFICATION: This cool-season, biennial herb grows tall. Leave has triangular- shaped leaves with toothed edges. When crushed these leaves smell of garlic. It has clusters of small white flowers with 4 petals. First year plants are low rosettes with round leaves. HISTORY: An evasive European species, it prefers forested areas but can spread to adjacent open areas and meadows. It is a serious invasive that can compete with native plants in southern and eastern Wisconsin. HAPPY MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES : Hand pull before flowering or pull and bag when flowering Apply herbicides in early spring or late fall, if necessary Protect t undisturbed d native plant communities Plant native species to compete in disturbed areas Yearly inspect known problem areas to prevent spread Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

9 Threats to Our Natural World REED CANARY GRASS (Phalaris arundinacea) BASIC IDENTIFICATION: This leafy, deep-rooted, clump forming, perennial grass is 2 to 4 tall. It spreads extensively by strong scaly roots and can form dense stands. The inflorescence is slender, often lobed panicle 2-7 inches long greenish white early, purplish in flower, and straw-colored in fruit. Flowering in June-July. HISTORY: A native to Eurasia and North America, vigorous varieties were introduced to wetlands and streams to stabilize erosion. It is abundant throughout Wisconsin in disturbed wet or moist soils. It has also established along roadsides, railroads, fields, and upland woods. It can be very invasive and crowd out native plants everywhere. HAPPY MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES : Herbicide plant and dig out root masses and soil Apply prescribed burning management practices Protect & preserve undisturbed native plant communities Plant native species to compete in disturbed areas Yearly inspect known problem areas to prevent spread Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund

10 Threats to Our Natural World SPOTTED KNAPWEED (Centaurea maculosa; C. biebersteinii) BASIC IDENTIFICATION: This biennial or short-lived perennial s is from 1 to 4 tall. A small thistle-like pink, purple, or whitish flower occurs at the tip of each stem. Leaves are divided into narrow segments. HISTORY: An evasive Eurasian species, it was accidentally introduced with seed stock. It evades roadsides, railroad grades, and fields on dry shallow soil sites. It an be very invasive in dry prairies, barrens, and dunes and produces a chemical that can kill native plants. HAPPY MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES : Hand pull exotic before flowering using gloves as it produces a toxin and dig up the entire root system when possible Apply prescribed burning management practices Protect & preserve undisturbed native plant communities Plant native species to compete in disturbed areas Yearly inspect known problem areas to prevent spread Provided with financial support from WI DNR & Platteville Community Fund