Quantification of Prairie Restoration for Phytostability at a Remediated Defense Plant

Abstract

In June 2008 and 2009, cover, density, and species diversity were measured on two areas of the prairie at the U. S. Department of Energy Weldon Spring Site to begin quantification of the prairie establishment and the effects of a prairie burn. Sampling began by testing for the most appropriate transect length (cover) and quadrat size (density) for quantification of vegetation. Total cover increased in the first growing season after burning. Conversely, total cover decreased in the unburned area in one year. The trend in litter cover is the opposite with litter decreasing after burning, but increasing in one year in the unburned area. Bare ground decreased in one year in the unburned area, but was unchanged after burning. Species diversity tripled after fire, but was unchanged in one year in the unburned area. The results show that litter and fire both affect plant cover. If land reclamation activities are to be an integral part of hazardous waste remediation at contaminated sites, then the success of reclamation efforts needs to be quantified along with success criteria for waste remediation of the sites. The results show that plant cover can be easily quantified, but that density measures are more biased which makes it more difficult to achieve adequate sample size for plant density.

Native and exotic plant species respond differently to wildfire and prescribed fire as revealed by meta‐analysis

“…While the response of natives to prescribed fire in grasslands was not statistically significant (Fig. a), there were several positive responses associated with tallgrass prairie sites dominated by native, fire‐responsive C 4 grasses (Tix & Charvat ; Franson & Scholes ; Howe ; Hall et al. ).…”

“…Differences in the positive vs neutral responses were attributable to the timing of the post‐fire survey (i.e. shortly post‐fire or after some time had elapsed; Franson & Scholes ), the functional group captured by the measurement (native graminoids vs native forbs or woody species; Hall et al. ) or the season of prescribed fire (summer or spring; Howe ).…”

“…While the response of natives to prescribed fire in grasslands was not statistically significant (Fig. 3a), there were several positive responses associated with tallgrass prairie sites dominated by native, fire-responsive C 4 grasses (Tix & Charvat 2005;Franson & Scholes 2011;Howe 2011;Hall et al 2012). This suggests consistent success using prescribed fire in this historically fire-maintained plant community (Howe 2011), although both neutral and positive outcomes were often observed at the same study locations.…”