Offered Papers Theme B: Grassland and the Environment
Description
Southeastern grasslands were not pristine when the first Europeans arrived in the 15th century. American Indians had modified the landscape through centuries of fire use, cultivation, and other activities (Denevan, 1992). However, native southeastern grasslands did not evolve with disturbance from intensive grazing. Livestock and intense grazing pressure arrived with the Europeans. Modifications to southeastern grasslands by the early 1900s included exclusion of fire, intensive grazing, and introduction of cultivated, sodforming grasses, which resulted in an increase in hardwood trees and shrubs, changes in herbaceous species composition, and the near extirpation of native warm-season species such as switch grass (Panicum virgatum), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and eastern gamma grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) (Rasnake, 1992). A mosaic of cultivated pastureland, cropland, pine (Pinus spp.) plantations, and mixed pine-hardwood forests has replaced the grassland and grassland savanna habitats that were present in the southeast. Most pastures now are planted in introduced cool and warm-season grass species, such as fescue (Festuca arundinacea), bermuda (Cynodon dactylon), and bahia grass (Paspalum notatum). Several songbird species are associated closely with the structure of the native bunchgrass-forb community. Species including the Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), and Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) have experienced precipitous declines, likely due to landscape-level changes in habitat. This project aimed to identify the most effective method of creating and maintaining grassland habitat for declining grassland birds in the southeastern United States within an open agricultural landscape and forest openings.
Citation
McMellen, A. B. and Schweitzer, S. H., "A Comparison of Restored Native Grasslands and Exotic Grass Pastures as Wintering Habitat for Declining Grassland Bird Species in the Southeastern United States" (2023). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 165.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeB/165
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
A Comparison of Restored Native Grasslands and Exotic Grass Pastures as Wintering Habitat for Declining Grassland Bird Species in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern grasslands were not pristine when the first Europeans arrived in the 15th century. American Indians had modified the landscape through centuries of fire use, cultivation, and other activities (Denevan, 1992). However, native southeastern grasslands did not evolve with disturbance from intensive grazing. Livestock and intense grazing pressure arrived with the Europeans. Modifications to southeastern grasslands by the early 1900s included exclusion of fire, intensive grazing, and introduction of cultivated, sodforming grasses, which resulted in an increase in hardwood trees and shrubs, changes in herbaceous species composition, and the near extirpation of native warm-season species such as switch grass (Panicum virgatum), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and eastern gamma grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) (Rasnake, 1992). A mosaic of cultivated pastureland, cropland, pine (Pinus spp.) plantations, and mixed pine-hardwood forests has replaced the grassland and grassland savanna habitats that were present in the southeast. Most pastures now are planted in introduced cool and warm-season grass species, such as fescue (Festuca arundinacea), bermuda (Cynodon dactylon), and bahia grass (Paspalum notatum). Several songbird species are associated closely with the structure of the native bunchgrass-forb community. Species including the Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), Bachman's sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), and Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) have experienced precipitous declines, likely due to landscape-level changes in habitat. This project aimed to identify the most effective method of creating and maintaining grassland habitat for declining grassland birds in the southeastern United States within an open agricultural landscape and forest openings.
