Graduate Program

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

Scott Meiners

Thesis Committee Member

Eric Bollinger

Thesis Committee Member

Jeff Laursen

Abstract

Though tallgrass prairie once covered 250 million acres of the midwestem U.S, now less than one percent· of this original area is left. In recent years the restoration and reconstruction of tallgrass prairie has become more popular throughout the prairie region. There is evidence that local and distant populations may both be practical seed sources for ecological restoration projects. To address this basic issue in restoration, I tested the how performance of three grass species from different locations was affected by the distance from the restored area. Three species, Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans and Panicum virgatum, of perennial grasses common throughout the tall grass prairie region were chosen for this experiment and grown in two common gardens. Patterns have emerged in this study with two of the study species, Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans. When analyzing the data gathered from Panicum virgatum, not only did the data act stochastically, but there was not even a difference in biomass production between seed sources or garden locations. I suggest that when doing ecological restorations it is possible to use seed mixes with ecotypes that originate from a greater distance from the restoration site than typically done. It may even be beneficial to the long term success of the restoration if seed can be procured from locations with similar site conditions that may be further away than 320 kilometers.

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