Impacts of Initial Species Richness and Deer Browsing on the Quality of Restored Prairie in Central Illinois

Abstract

A 0.5-ha Illinois prairie was restored in 1988. By 2005 the site increased in traits indicative of high quality remnant prairies. Weighted Mean Fidelity and the proportion of native species increased over time. Exotic weeds (e.g. smooth brome [Bromus inermis], dandelion [Taraxacum officinale], black medic [Medicago lupulina], and Kentucky bluegrass [Poa pratensis]) became less frequent and high quality species (purple coneflower [Echinacea pallida], purple prairie clover [Dalea purpurea], stiff goldenrod [Solidago rigida], and rattlesnake master [Eryngium yuccifolium]) increased in frequency. After deer hunting began in 1994, stiff goldenrod and rosinweed had smaller proportions of their stems browsed by deer. Mean Coefficient of Conservatism was similar to a local high quality remnant prairie.