RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Plant, Avian, and Butterfly Response to a Native-Grassland Restoration in Southern Texas
JF Ecological Restoration
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 44
OP 52
DO 10.3368/er.40.1.44
VO 40
IS 1
A1 Geron Gowdy
A1 Fidel Hernández
A1 Timothy Fulbright
A1 Eric Grahmann
A1 David Wester
A1 Ellart Vreugdenhil
A1 Anthony Henehan
A1 Forrest Smith
A1 Michael Hehman
YR 2022
UL http://er.uwpress.org/content/40/1/44.abstract
AB Non-native, invasive grasses can pose a threat to biodiversity in the southern U.S. Pennisetum ciliare (buffelgrass) is an example of an introduced invasive grass that has established in southwestern rangelands and negatively influenced biodiversity. Since its introduction, millions of hectares in the southwestern U.S. have been planted with, or invaded by, buffelgrass. Buffelgrass can form monocultures that not only reduce biodiversity but can also change ecosystem processes. Native-grassland restorations may be able to mitigate such negative impacts of non-native grasses. We conducted a study to document the response of herbaceous plants (grasses and forbs) and wildlife (grassland breeding birds, grassland wintering birds, and butterflies) to a 118-ha grassland restoration (involving prescribed fire, multiple discing and herbicide applications, and native-plant seeding) in La Salle County, Texas during 2013–2019. In general, we documented a numerical increase for all three taxa (native plants, birds, and butterflies) in species richness and relative abundance on the restoration site compared to a control. Our results suggest that native-grassland restoration is possible in a landscape dominated by buffelgrass. These restoration efforts can increase plant and wildlife diversity, although the time and expense required to achieve such responses are great.