© MARK WILSON · The word “prairie” has become synonymous with grassland and meadow. Native...
Transcript of © MARK WILSON · The word “prairie” has become synonymous with grassland and meadow. Native...
Native prairies are a severely endangered habitat inwestern Oregon. They cover less than 1% of theirformer area because of conversion to agriculturaluse, fire suppression, urbanization, and invasion bynon-native plants. Many tall, non-native grasses haveescaped from agricultural use and some ornamentalplants, such as oxeye daisy (shownhere), have escaped from gardens. Non-native plants shade out shorter, nativeplants and compete for limited resources.
Some species, such as the Western meadowlarkand sharp-tailed snake shown above, can survivein a variety of open habitats but have been nearlyeliminated from prairies in western Oregon becausethe sites that remain are small and fragmented. Otherspecies, such as the Fender’s blue butterflyand Kincaid’s lupine shown below, have declinedto the point that protection under the federalEndangered Species Act was necessary to savethe species from extinction.
Many people are conducting research and activelymanaging wet and dry prairies. This research andmanagement focuses on ways to eliminate non-nativeplants such as handpulling, selective herbicideapplications, prescribed fires, mowing, and even theuse of insects that destroy pest plants. Research isalso being conducted on propagation of native prairieplants to help bolster wild populations that haveseverely declined. Through these activities and withthe help of dedicated researchers, managers, privatelandowners, and volunteers alike, western Oregonprairies will survive into the future.
The groups listed below often form volunteer workparties to remove invasive plants and plan otheractivities which benefit prairies of western Oregon.
The Nature Conservancy (503) 230-1221Corvallis Environmental Center (541) 753 -9211Eugene Stream Team (541) 682-4850
For restoration assistance on your property, contactthe US Fish and Wildlife Service, Willamette ValleyRefuge Complex at (541) 757-7236.
All photographs used with permission. Front cover Prairie, harvest brodiaea,and Anise swallowtail by Melissa York; gopher snake by John Sullivan.Brochure prepared by Melissa York and Daniel Rosenberg, Department ofFisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University. Cooperators include:
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The word “prairie” has becomesynonymous with grassland andmeadow. Native prairies inwestern Oregon are dominatedby bunch-grasses and otherflowering plants and can be wetor dry. Dry or upland prairiesnormally occur on slopes withwell-drained soils. Wet (orwetland) prairies occur mostly in low-lying areasof the Willamette Valley. Wet prairies usuallycontain water throughout the winter and into latespring and gradually dry out during the summer.
Most prairies require fire or disturbances thatmimic the effects of fire to persist. Disturbancessuch as fire keep shrubs and trees frominvading, providing open areas for many low-growing grasses and flowering plants. Theselow-growing plants, in turn, provide habitatfor many animals; some spend their entirelives in prairies while others rely on prairiesfor breeding activities, such as finding matesand nesting.
Dragonfly (Odonata spp.)adults lay their eggs in or nearwater where the juveniles hatchand develop.
Common camas(Camassia quamash)was one of the mostimportant food plants forNative Americans. Thebulbs were steamed for atleast 24 hours to makethem digestible and sweet.
The northern harrier(Circus cyaneus) is oneof the most commonbirds of prey in wetprairies and can often beseen flying low in searchof prey items such assmall rodents or frogs.
Red-legged frogs(Rana aurora) requirewater in which to laytheir eggs. Adults feedon invertebrates, smallmammals, andother amphibians.
The savannah sparrow (Passerculussandwichensis) requires open habitats such asprairies in which to construct an open-cup neston the ground.
Meadow death-camas(Zigadenus venenosus)often grows in similarhabitat as the ediblecommon camas.However, bulbs of thisspecies are highly toxicand can be fatal if eaten.
Oregon iris(Iris tenax) hasbeautiful showyflowers and verytough leaves;the word “tenax”means tenaciousin Latin.
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