Browse by Park: WICA - Native mixed-grass prairie

Prescribed fire has been used at Wind Cave National Park in an attempt to reduce cover of non-native grasses and increase cover of native forbs, grasses, and sedges. There are 7 plots in the native mixed-grass prairie monitoring type at Wind Cave. These plots were burned as part of three different burn units over a 4 year period.

The figure below displays cover of native and non-native lifeforms. Pre-burn sampling occurred 1 growing season before the prescribed fire, with year 1, year 2, and year 5 the number of growing seasons following the burn. Five growing seasons following the prescribed fire, cover of native grasses and forbs decreased by 9% and 25% respectively while cover of non-native grasses decreased by 53%. Sedge cover did not change through time.

Below are mean cover measurements of the eight most common species found on the seven plots. Five seasons following the prescribed fire Kentucky bluegrass cover was 81% below pre-burn levels while western wheatgrass increased by 283% and grama grass by 180% respectively.

 
Updated: April 6, 2009 Disclaimer
Problems or questions about this site? Contact: dan_swanson@nps.gov Privacy Policy