Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants
Results of variable grass seeding rates on community development in a sand prairie restoration experiment in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan
Department
Biology Department
College
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Date Range
2013-2014
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Abstract
Sand prairie was a primary component of Michigans historic oak-pine barrens ecosystem. However, sand prairie has been all but eliminated in the state. Our restoration experiment, established in 2009 in the Manistee National Forest, examines the influence of variable seeding rates of warm season grasses on plant community development. Initial results show that high grass seeding rates (10,000 seeds/m2) have had a positive impact on plant community development by increasing native species cover, richness, and diversity while also decreasing non-native species cover, richness, and diversity. Data from July 2013 will also be evaluated to determine if the positive impacts of this methodology are sustained. Results from this study can be used to elucidate ecologically successful and economically efficient seeding approaches in plant community restoration.
Conference Name
SER 2013 World Conference on Ecological Restoration
Conference Location
Madison, WI
ScholarWorks Citation
Aschenbach, Todd A. and Roos, Robb, "Results of variable grass seeding rates on community development in a sand prairie restoration experiment in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan" (2014). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 985.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/985
