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Prairie Restoration Fails: Trees Gone, Grass Not Back
15 Oct
Summary
- Clearing trees did not restore prairie; invasive species increased.
- Rough fescue, the defining grass, was absent in cleared plots.
- Soil life and plants changed together, hindering natural recovery.
In a study at Riding Mountain National Park, researchers found that prairie land cleared of spruce plantations decades ago did not revert to its original state. Even 19 years after tree removal, none of the cleared plots resembled undisturbed prairie, with an increase in weedy and invasive species. The essential rough fescue grass was notably absent from all cleared areas.
Furthermore, below the surface, the soil's nematode communities had also shifted away from the native prairie composition. This suggests that plants and soil life changed in tandem, creating complex barriers to natural recovery. Researchers concluded that active management is necessary, as tree removal alone is insufficient to restore these rare fescue prairies, emphasizing that grasslands are intricate living systems.
