True prairie was the most nearly completely destroyed major unit of the grassland biome in North America. It was one of the easiest and first of the major grasslands in North America to be converted into farm fields. In contemporary times true prairie is the rarest, most restricted, and least known of the vegetational units that Clements (1920, ps.121-131) designated as associations of the grassland climax. In fact, true prairie was rare even when the first generation of vegetation scientists such as the great grassland ecologists like Frederic E. Clements and John E. Weaver (along with classmate Roscoe Pound) and their students like F. W. Albertson and G.W. Tomanek, the second generation of grasslanders, set out to describe North American vegetation.
Clements (1920, p. 121) described the true prairie, the Stipa-Koeleria association, in this way: "The true prairies occupy a distinct belt between the subclimax and mixed prairies, reaching from Manitoba to Oklahoma. This position as well as their relationship is shown by the presence of Andropogon scoparius derived from one and Stipa comata from the other". Stated more specifically, true prairie is a major grassland--a Clementsian association and, later, a cover type (or group of cover types)--between the bluestem-dominated tallgrass prairie, the subclimax prairie (Andropogon associes) in Clements' monoclimax model (Clements, 1920, p. 131), to the moister east and the needlegrass-dominated mixed prairie to the drier west.
Weaver and Clements (1938, ps. 519-520) described the true prairie as forming "a broad ecotone" between mixed prairie and the tallgrass prairie with invasion by tallgrass dominants, especially big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indiangrass (Sorgastrum nutans) into the original true prairie
Other than the general relative spatial position between tallgrass and mixed prairies little can be determined about true prairie when compared to the other major North American grasslands. "Cultivation has perhaps destroyed this association to a larger extent than other community of the grassland, and its limits are accordingly difficult to trace" (Clements, 1920, ps. 121-122). Gradual spatial changes in climate and affect of topographic (relief) variables along with "the all but complete removal of the original cover over large areas" resulted in the situation in which "the exact limits of the several prairies can never be set, and the boundary lines drawn on any map can be only general approximations" (Weaver and Clements, 1938, p. 519).
Less is known about species compostion, structure, resilence, successional patterns, soils, and so on for true prairie than for any major unit of the central grasslands. In fact, it is easier to locate and distinguish some minor climax grassland communities (eg. bamboo canebrakes) than the once widespread magnificant true prairie. One of the more interesting things about descriptions of true prairie were revisions made in as to dominant species. As was quoted above in Clements' original description of true prairie there was no mention of any Sporobolus species. Stipa spartea and S. comata from the mixed prairie and Andropogon scoparius from tallgrass prairie were defining dominants with Koeleria cristata and Agropyron glaucum (=A. smithii) forming the other consociations (Clements,1920, p. 121). Later in what was probably his most famous paper, Nature and Structure of the Climax, (Clements, 1936, p. 273) presented more of his famous (infamous to detractors) terms including eudominant(s), "one or more dominants peculiar to [the association]". Clements' example was eudominants of the true prairie association: Stipa spartea, Sprorbolus asper and S. heterolepis. This interpretation was subsequently included in the famous textbook, Plant Ecology, (Weaver and Clements, 1938, p. 518): "The major dominants are Stipa spartea, Sporobolus asper, S. heterolepis, Andropogon scoparius, Koeleria cristata, Agropyron smithii, and Bouteloua curtipendula, often with Andropogon furctus (=A. gerardii) and Sorgastrum nutans from the postclimax [tallgrass prairie] and Stipa comata from the mixed paraire. .. Stipa spartea, Sporobolus asper, and S. heterolepis are the three most characteristic dominants, since they do not occur as such in any other association". Along with porcupinegrass, tall and prairie dropseed were the defining dominants in the revised description of true prairie.
In the post-Clementsian period the distinction between true prairie and tallgrass prairie (Pound and Clements, 1900, ps. 348-350; Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps. 518-523) has been largely forgotten with the two major types or associations used synonymously or one for the other as, for instance, by Rissser et al., (1981). A more prominent example was that shown by Kuchler (1964, 1968) who did not describe or map true prairie or a unit dominated by needlegrasses, ,dropseeds, and little bluestem (a Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon unit). Strangely enough, however, noneother than John Weaver contributed to this confusion and apparently used true and tallgrass prairie more or less synonymously when he associated true prairie much more with big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) than with prairie dropseed (Weaver, 1943; Weaver and Bruner, 1954), but then he recognized little bluestem, needlegrass, and prairie dropseed as the dominant species of upland prairie or true prairie (Weaver, 1965, ps. 68-76)
In the treatment of true prairie below the current author followed Clements and Weaver (1938, p. 518) and Weaver, 1965, ps. 68, 74) and used dominance by needlegrasses, little bluestem, and especially prairie dropseed as the criterion is determining examples of true prairie. This was also more-or-less consistent with the subsequent treatment by Dodd (In: Gould, 1968, ps.325-328) as explained in the first photo-caption immediately below.
Historical note regarding mapping of natural vegetation and recognition of rangeland cover types: For whatever reasons, both Kuchler (1964, 1966) in mapping of the potential natural vegetation of North American and the Society for Range Management in naming and describing rangeland cover (dominance) types (Shiflet, 1994) failed to include true prairie! These were unexplained glaring omissions. In fact, these were remarkable oversights given the documentation, detailed descriptions (including distinctions among true prairie and tallgrass and mixed prairies), historic coverage, and general textbook recognition of this major unit (whether interpreted as type, association, or general community) of native vegetation.
Omission by the Society for Range Management from Rangeland Cover Types of the United States (Shiflet, 1994) was likely the result of having no one to write up a description of this dominance type. It was remarked in the Range Cover Types section of the Introduction herein that in Shiflet (1994) some regions and areas therein were treated with considerable detail (cover types had been identified, named, and described by vegetation "splitters") whereas other regions had gotten the proverbial "short shrift" for what appeared to be a simple explanation that either nobody was asked to submit a contribution or there was not anybody qualified or willing to do so. The "conspicuous by its absence" of true prairie (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria) from the nearly comprehensive works of Kuchler (1964, 1966), who was a professor in, of all places (and note the irony of this), Kansas defined explanation- or even belief that such an erroneous omission could have been made. Absence of true prairie from Shiflet (1994), omission of a needlegrass-dropseed-bluestem-Junegrass rangeland cover type, was probably due in part to the fact that authors of Northern Great Plains Cover Types in Shiflet (1994, ps. 69-84) relied on the units of natural range vegetation recognized by Kuchler (1964, 1966), including the common (English) name titles, for their cover (= dominance) types. They simply repeated Kuchler's erroneous omission.
This chapter devoted to True Prairie, even if brief, was included to recognize this major and distinctive North American grassland even though it had been mostly destroyed by the time it was first recognized and described by Clements (1920, p. 121). And, no (in anticipation of the obvious question) that is not the reason why Kuchler (1964, 1966) omitted a unit entitled True Prairie, Needlegrass-Dropseed-Bluestem-Junegrass (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria). He recognized the "extinct" California Steppe (Stipa) and that unit of potential natural vegetation was displaced permanently (in human time scale) by the naturalized unit, California annual grassland. Currently there are far more acres of Stipa-dominated true prairie than of Stipa-dominated California or Pacific bunchgrass prairie. No, Kuchler (1964, 1966) just missed it, plain and simple; and nobody else appears to have caught the error (or had the moxey to point out the mistake). The paultry effort herein was a step toward rectifying a major and "replicated" oversight. (Maybe this recognition will somewhat settle the ghosts of Drs. Weaver and Clements.)
1.
Frederic E. Clements, arguably the greatest range ecologist of all time, and John
E. Weaver, the man who know more about the North American prairie and the grasslands
of the Great Plains than anyone who ever trod sod, were adamant that true prairie
was the dominant climax form of prairie per se and not bluestem-Indiangrass
tallgrass prairie, which was a separate form, another vegetation type in current
parlance. True prairie in their view (Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps. 518-519)
"occupies a fairy distinct belt between the tall-grass and mixed prairies"
extending from southern Manitoba through central Kansas and into southern Oklahoma.
However, "cultivation has almost clompetely removed the true prairie over
most of its area" with natural boundaries having to be hypothetically reconstructed
from small, scattered remnants. (Weaver and Clements, 1938, p. 518) listed major
dominants of true prairie (in order): Stipa spartea, Sporobolus asper,
S. heterolepis, Andropogon scoparius, Koleria cristata, Agropryon
smithii, and Bouteloua curtipendula "often with Andropogon
furcatus [= gerardii] and Sorgastrum nutans from the postclimax".
Weaver and Clements in both editions [1929 and 1938] of Plant Ecology held
to this interpretation as did their colleague Shelford (1963, p. 334) .As to tallgrass
species, Weaver and Clements explained how removal of buffalo and decrease of
fires led to replacement of even short grasses like buffalograss (Buchloe
dactyloides) by the bluestems (Andropogon spp.) and other tallgrass
genera. They noted " the belief of the pioneers that the bluestems (Andropogon)
followed in the wake of the settlers and drove out the buffalo grass ". "
The advance of the tall Andropogons over much of the true prairie is attested
by scientific accounts of its composition" (Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps.
458-460, 516, 518-521).
Dodd (In: Gould, 1968, ps.325-328) provided a
detailed description of true prairie, but he erred by omitting tallgrass prairie
and, instead, including it in true prairie thereby eliminating a description of
the tallgrass grassland, the Kuchler-66 (Bluestem Prairie), and therby overextending
the range of true prairie eastward. Nonetheless, Dodd did recognize the Stipa-Sporobolus
dominated climax grassland communities (ie. true prairie) as a major and geographically
large, even immense, (regional scale) unit of potential natural vegetation. Dodd
was unique among more recent (post-Clementsian era) workers in this interpretation,
and he was correct. In describing rangeland cover types, the Society for Range
Manageament (Shiflet, 1994) was remiss in leaving out the Stipa-Sporobolus
(with associates like A. scoparius, K. cristata, and B.
curtipendula) range type. Ditto for omission of the Clementsian true prairie
in standard contemporary descriptions/discussions of North American grasslands.
For example, Simms and Risser (in Barbour and Billings, 2000, ps. 333-345) excluded
true paririe after previously listing (in Barbour and Billings, 2000, p. 331)
the climax grasslands of Weaver and Clements (1929, 1938), including the Stipa-Sporobolus
true prairie association. Obviously true prairie is no longer a major existing
unit of North American grassland which is apparently the reason for its later
exclusion by Sims and Risser, but it does exist and is a major range type to livestock
operators, nature preservtionists, biologists, and other conservationists dependant
on and concerned about its wise use and proper management. Furthermore, as a unit
of potential natural vegetation-- a transition (" abroad ecogtone"[Weaver
and Clements, 1938, p. 519]) between tallgrass and msxed prairies-- it should
be recognized. Even kuchler (1964, 1966) missed the Stipa-Sprorbolus climax
grassland as potential natural vegetation.
Weaver and Clements (1938, p. 518) interpreted S. spartea, S. asper, and S. heterolepis as the "most characteristic dominants" because these species did not exist as dominants in any of the other climax grasslands (associations). To these pioneer plant ecologists who knew the grasslands at the time when they were being plowed under it was this feature of restricted dominance rather than extent or area of land dominated that was key and therefore indicative of true prairie, the ecotone between tallgrass and mixed prairie associations. Theirs' was a continent-wide perspective as the great grasslands were being highly altered-- in many cases destroyed-- by industrial man. It was a synoptic view that none thereafter could see. For this reason, current and future ecologists have no choice but to accept the eye-witness accounts of these pioneers of Grassland Ecology.
Here is a sample of true prairie, and one of the John Weaver's favorites. Scene of Nine-Mile Prairie (9 miles form his beloved University of Nebraska). The three characteristic dominants of true prairie were porcupinegrass (Stipa spartea), prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) and tall dropseed . Besides these species this view includes little bluestem, Junegrass (Kolera cristata) and the introduced smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis). August and, most appropriately, a drought. Lancaster County, Nebraska. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). No Kuchler or SRM designation (remarkable given the body of evidence that supports distinction between true and tallgrass prairies).
3. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)- This is a consociation (a community having a single dominant species, sometimes having a single species period as a natural single species stand; synecological term coined by F.E. Clements) of Canada or nodding wildrye on a floodplain on the Texas Grand Prairie (a tallgrass prairie). The wildryes (Elymus spp.) are one of the more important and widely distributed genera of cool-season grasses in the bluestem-dominated tallgrass prairies and oak-hickory-tallgrass savannas. They are not dominants of true other than at local scale, but they certainly do occur on and characterize the type on more mesic habitts. Erath County, Texas. June. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem), one form or subunit of K-669 Bluestem Prairie).
10. On the old Chisholm Trail, and a rare relict- Remnant climax range vegetation of true prairie co-dominated by little bluestem and prairie dropseed with big bluestem and Indiangrass as important tallgrasses, Canada wildrye as the major cool-season grass, and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) as the most common shortgrass species. Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) was an important warm-season grass .There was some Japanese chess or brome (Bromus japonicus), a naturalized Eurasian annual. The major forbs were pitcher or blue sage (Salvia azurea) and leadplant. There were scattered plants of skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata= R. aromatica), occasional thickets of Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia), and a few well-dispersed American or white and slippery or red elm (few individuals of Ulmus americana and U. rubra, both of which grow throughout this area). Presence of elm as woody invaders likely was evidence of inadequate prairie fires (ie. an unnatural fire regime). This appeared to be self-evident given small size of these saplings. There were also some small groves with very large shoots of smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) growing on steep banks along outer margins of what had once been part of the Chisholm Trail, one of the most historically pivotical transportation routes of this part of the Cattle Kingdom.
This climax range plant community had developed on the south part of Wellington and McPherson Lowlands (formerly treated as part of the Great Bend Lowland, Great Bend Prairie, or Arkansas River Lowlands (Fenneman, 1931, ps. 27-28; Fenneman, 1938, ps. 616, 621; Frye and Swineford, 1949, ps. 71, 78-79; Schoewe, 1949, ps. 276, 292,-300 passim, respectively) portion of the Osage Plains (= Section) of Central Lowlands physiographic province or, as an alternative interpretation, in the Plains Border physiographic section (Frye and Swineford, 1949, ps. 71, 78-79). By any of these various perspectives this rangeland area was to the west of the Flint Hills. This relict tract of true prairie in this part of the subhumid zone was a "blend" of the more mesic tallgrass prairie to the humid east and the less mesic mixed prairie to the semiarid west. This was higher elevation rangeland just west of and adjacent to the Arkansas River Lowlands province by currently accepted physiographic maps
. Little bluestem was the dominant tallgrass species. The rest of the tallgrass element appeared to be represented more by the long-shoot Indiangrass (largest, tallest bunchgrasses in center midground of second photograph) than the short-shoot big bluestem. Prairie dropseed was the other dominant. Co-dominance by prairie dropseed and little bluestem a key diagnostic feature that defined this as true and not tallgrass prairie. Scarcity (quite limited cover and biomass) of both mid- and shortgrass species distiinguished this from mixed prairie.
This range vegetation was on a section of the historic Chisholm Trail that has been preserved just outside of Caldwell, Kansas, the so-called "Border Queen" that was just inside the Jawhawker State and beyond Indian territory which was one of several cow towns that served at one time or another as the terminus of this most famous of all the Texas cattle trails (Gard, 1954, ps. vii, 117, 153, 190, 197, 212, 236, 251, 259; Worchester, 1980, ps. xviii-xix, 130). Over a span of less than 20 years millions of head of Texas cattle were trailed over this fabled overland trade route. The romance, traditions, and virtues established on the Chisholm and the other fabled stock trails (including some for sheep and even hogs) are with us still, and by God's grace they will remain. One could not stand on this sod, gaze across the rangeland, and be unmoved. Our patriarchs toiled--even died--here and sanctified our profession and way of life. Holy ground to "hired men on horseback".
Sumner County, Kansas. June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Wellington-McPherson Lowland Ecosytem, 27d (Chapman et al., 2001).
11. Sward of true prairie, and sacred ground- Relict tract of true prairie co-dominated by little bluestem and prairie dropseed on a preserved section of the Chisholm Trail. Indiangrass and big bluestem were the other tallgrass (and local associate) species.Canada wildrye was the main cool-season decreaser grass. There was some sideoats grama representing the warm-season midgrass component, but it was not common. Buffalograss was the principal shortgrass. The Eurasian cool-season annual grass, Japanese brome or chess, was locally abundant (on microsites). Most common forbs were blue or pitcher sage and leadplant. Barely visible in background of this "photo-quadrant" were scattered saplings of American and slippery elm, thickets (colonies) of Chickasaw plum, and some skunkbush sumac.
This was a closer-in view of the true prairie range presented in the immediately preceding two photographs. It was obviously Excellent range condition class. Current season grazing had been limited to wildlife and insects. (The photogrpher did glimse ghosts of longhorns and trail drivers, but reverently refrained from putting them on Kodachrome.) A trailing procession, including buffalo and the redmen of the Plains Tribes, had long blessed this sacred earth. View with adoration.
Sumner County, Kansas. June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Wellington-McPherson Lowland Ecosytem, 27d (Chapman et al., 2001).
12. So-so specimen of true prairie- A range of true prairie in high Fair to low Good condition class in the subhumid zone. This grassland was obviously an ecotone, a transition zone, between tallgrass prairie to the east (in the Flint Hills) and mixed prairie to the west (the Redlands, Rolling Redlands, Rolling Red Hills, or Rolling Red Plains portion of the Great Plains). This range was in the Great Bend Lowland or Great Bend Prairie portion of the Plains Border physiographic section, itself a transition zone in the physiographic and geologic sense. Dominants of this cover (dominance) type unambiguously delineated this as part of the once extensive and now nearly obliterated true prairie described by Weaver and Clements (1938, ps. 519-520). Little bluestem and prairie dropseed "swpped places" as dominants of this grassland. There were a few plants of Indiangrass and Canada wildrye was well-represented, but purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea), sideoats grama (Bouteloua grama), hairy grama (B. hirsuta), and silver bluestem (Andropogon saccharoides) were far more abundant and comprised greater proportions (more cover and biomass) of the plant community on this range than on the relict tract on the Chisholm Trail just described and on the pristine range described below.
Grant County, Oklahoma. Late June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Prairie Tableland Ecosystem, 27d (Woods et all., 2005).
13. True prairie on the Great Bend Prairie- True prairie (little bluestem and prairie dropseed-dominateed subhumid prairie) in the physiographic unit designated variously as Great Bend Lowland, Arkansas River Lowlands (including Great Bend Lowland, Wellington Lowland, and McPherson Lowland), and Great Bend Prairie (Fenneman, 1931, ps. 27-28 and Fenneman, 1938, ps. 616, 621; Frye and Swineford, 1949, ps. 71, 78-79; Schoewe, 1949, ps. 276, 292,-300 passim, respectively) Osage Plains (= Section) of Central Lowlands.
Two photographs presented two different views (vantage points) of the same range that was introduced in the preceding photograph. This range was in high Fair to perhaps low Good range condition class. These two slides showed the much greater botanical/floristic diversity (differences in species composition, physiogonomy, community structure, etc.) in the range vegetation on this degraded pasture (deteriorated range) as compared to the much less sprecies-rich and more consistent physiogonomy of the climax vegetation on a nearby (half mile distant) range that was in pristine condition (presented and described immediately below). The range vegetation shown here also departed substantially from that of the relict climax true prairie on the Chisholm Trail section described immediately above. The range plant community(ies) on this degraded range varied from dominance by species that were invaders and increasers (eg. purple threeawn, silver bluestem, and sideoats grama) to decreasers (including the overall dominants, little bluestem and prairie dropseed, relatively widespread Canada or nodding wildrye, and occasionally present Indiangrass). There were only a few forbs. Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata) was the most common of these. No woody plants were present.
Ecology lesson (basic concept in Vegetation Science): Viewers should note the drastic differences in species composition and plant community structure at local spatial scale between greater cover, density, etc. of the dominant climax grasses (prairie drpseed and little bluestem) in the first photograph versus the relative amount (cover) of bare soil and dominance of the local plant community by purple threeawn, silver bluestem, and sideoats grama in the second photograph. A mound of bare red soil (cattle played on it) was in the upper right corner for perspective and proof of the dramatic differences in species composition, plant cover, etc. at local (microsite) scale. Such differences (diversity, if that term is preferred) in range vegetation were not present at such short distances on either the relict tract of true prairie presented immediately above or the "mint condition" true prairie only a half mile away described in the immediately following photographs. These three examples had different combinations of range sites, but at the scale of range types they were comparable enough to show that certain measures of diversity such as number of species and plant life forms are not necessarily ecologically (successionally) desirable features of range ecosystems and landscapes. Climax vegetation is often less diverse (perhaps more boring to those wishing to botanize) than seral vegetation (ie. range in Excellent condition class may be less species-rich than range in states of retrogression). That was generally the case for true prairie in the area represented here.
Management lesson (application to range analysis and grazing practice): This was a degraded range not a depleted or exhausted range. The range vegetation on this pasture was unquestionably in a stage of retrogression that had departed from climax. The range plant communities (or overall community) on this true prairie sere corresponded to a higher rather than a lower seral stage. It was still dominated by the two climax (potential natural) dominant species (little bluestem and prairie dropseed), but on many microsites the dominant (often the exclusive) species were invaders or at best increasers. There were also some (infrequent) local habitats dominated by Indiangrass, a long-shoot, tallgrass species. Range condition class (high Fair to low Good) reflected this departure from climax (potential natural) vegetation, terminus of the sere, yet at a more successionally advanced seral stage. By judicious grazing management (adjustment of stocking rate, modification of season and/or duration of grazing use, manipulation of frequency and intensity of grazing) this range could be improved (ie. brought back to climax or at least to a higher seral stage--a successional status,--than it is now). This range (vegetation on this sere) could be improved to the successional stage that corresponded to obviously being in Good (perhaps even Excellent) range condition class. Such range improvement would ultimately correspond to greater grazing (carrying) capacity and higher--not lower--stocking rates. To achieve this range improvement might well require an initial reduction in stocking rate, deferment (nonuse= no livestock grazing) during the warm-growing season of little bluestem and prairie dropseed, the climax dominant range plants, shorter though more frequent grazing periods, and simply more careful attention to cattle (the kind of livestock using this range) grazing of the range herbage.
Grant County, Oklahoma. Late June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Prairie Tableland Ecosystem, 27d (Woods et all., 2005).
14. A rare find of true prairie- Classic example of true pairie with range plant communities alternating in dominance by either little bluestem or prairie dropseed or co-dominance by both of these climax decreaser species. The upland ecotypic form of switchgrass and big bluestem were the associate species. There was some presence of midgrasses including sideoats grama and silver bluestem, but these verged on trace amounts with the overwhelming composition based on estimated cover and biomsas being little bluestem and prairie dropseed (and "backed-up" by switchgrass and big bluestem). There were no forb species worthy of note. No trees or shrubs were present. There were some traces of Japanese chess ( a Eurasian, cool-season, annual grass) at edges of cow paths.
In both of these photographs prairie dropseed-dominated climax vegetation (Sporobolus hetrolepis consociation) was in the foreground and little bluestem-dominated range plant communities (Andropogon scoparius consociation) was in the background. Switchgrass, one of two associate species, was conspicuous in foregrounds of both "photo-plots". An example of vegetation on this range where the climax plant community was co-dominated by little bluestem and prairie dropseed (rather than a patchwork of the two consociations as shown here) was presented immediately below.
This jewel of climax true prairie was in virgin status. This range plant community was in "mint condition" even under cattle grazing. All-in all a superb specimen of relict natural vegetation being wisely used.
Grant County, Oklahoma. Late June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Prairie Tableland Ecosystem, 27d (Woods et all., 2005).
15. Textbook true prairie- A true prairie range in pristine state that developed on the Wellington and McPherson Lowlands physiographic province (as designated in current maps such as those by Kansas Department of Transportation) immediately to the west of the Flint Hills province. Another view of the true prairie rnge introduced in the preceding two photographs. This climax range vegetation was co-dominated by little bluestem and prairie dropseed, a combination that a "dead-ringer" for true prairie (versus tallgrass prairie). Big bluestem and the upland form os switchgrass were the associate species. There were trace proportions of sideoats grama, silver bluestem, and purple threeawn but essentially there was almost no midgrass or shortgrass component to this climax grassland community. Also, there were almost no forbs; nor were any woody plants present. (It would have been a "monotous" floristic mixture had it not been such a premier, and just downright beautiful, example of one of the rarest grassland cover types.)
It was obvious that--as first described by Weaver and Clements (1938, ps. 519-520)--this climax vegetation was an ecotone between tallgrass prairie and mixed prairie range types. It was also in the Plains Border physiographic section (Frye and Swineford, 1949) and the Wellington and McPherson Lowlands or, also, Great Bend Lowland (Fenneman, 1931, ps. 27-28; Fenneman, 1938, ps. 616, 621), Great Bend Prairie (Frye and Swineford, 1949, ps. 71, 78-79), or Arkansas River Lowlands (Schoewe, 1949, ps. 276, 291-300) at a blending or merger of the Central Lowlands and Great Plains physiographic provinces so as to represent and encompass even more of a transition zone (floristically, physiogonomically, physiographically, geologically).
Grant County, Oklahoma. Late June; late vernal aspect. FRES No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem). Not described by Kuchler, SRM, or Brown et al, 1998). Central Great Plains- Prairie Tableland Ecosystem, 27d (Woods et all., 2005).
True prairie was first recognized by Clements (1920, ps. 121-131) and later established as textbook knowledge in the classic Plant Ecology (see esp. the second edition: Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps.518-520) as a transition grassland, "a broad ecotone" that constitutes "a fairly distinct belt between the tall-grass and mixed prairies..." (Weaver and Clements (1938, p. 519). This transition grassland was defined by Clements (1920, p. 122) as the Stipa-Koeleria Association that is composed of ranker-growing grass species from Andorpogon-dominated tallgrass prairie to the more mesic east and midgrasses from the Stipa-dominated mixed prairie to the less mesic west.
The range plant community featured in this short section did not have any Sporobolus species (at least not as dominants, associates, or even indicators) in which respect this range vegetation did not include the complete compliment of genera as specified in later refined descriptions of this association (Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps. 518-520). However, little bluestem, needle-and-thread, and Junegrass as the dominant, associate, and next major species, respectively, along with very limited cover of blue grama, the major shortgrass species, and almost no big bluestem and prairie sandreed, the two tallgrass species that are defining dominants of the Nebraska Sandhills, unequivocally placed this as transition grassland that was a "true" composite of an adjoining major range type (form of prairie) on either adjoining longitatudinal boundary. Substantial representation of three of the five consociations (Andropogon scoparius, Stipa comata, and Koeeleria cristata) in the true prairie, the Clementsian association, (Clements 1920, ps. 121-122) as the major three species in this range vegetation clearly defined this as an "island" of true prairie in a "sea" of the postclimax tallgrass (bluestem-prairie sandreed) prairie that comprises almost all of the Nebraska Sandhills other than the most westward, and less mesic portions. Also, presence of Junegrass as the least important of the three major species was consistent with the description by Clements (1920, p.122) that Junegrass was generally the least abundant (though the most widespread) of the dominants of true prairie.
From the perspective of potential natural vegetation units of Kuchler (1964, 1966) and Society for Range Management (SRM) rangeland cover types (Shiflet, 1994), which were based on Kuchler units, the true prairie range shown here was also ecotonal vegetation being a transition between Kuchler unit 67 (Nebraska Sandhills Prairie), which was SRM 602 (Bluestem-Prairie Sandreed), and Kuchler unit 60 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass), which was SRM 606 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass). Both Kuchler (1964, 1966) and the Society for Range management (Shiflet, 1994) failed to map and describe, respectively, true prairie. Omission of true prairie--one of the most clearly defined, verified, and historical (traditional) units of climax grassland in North America--by Kuchler (1964, 1966) has been a decades'-old mystery to the author of Range Types. It was completely understandable that authors of rangeland cover types for the Northern Great Plains section in Shiflet (1994, ps. 69-84) omitted true prairie (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria) because they consistently followed Kuchler (1964, 1966)--even used his common name (English) titles--for all natural vegetation in that region. How Kuchler missed such a major unit of climax (potential natural) vegetation continued to baffle the current author.
In the present web publication this chapter, True Prairie, was included to recognize this major and distinctive North American grassland even though it had been mostly destroyed even by the time it was first recognized and described by Clements (1920, p. 121). And, no (in anticipation of the obvious question) that is not the reason why Kuchler (1964, 1966) omitted a unit entitled True Prairie, Needlegrass-Dropseed-Bluestem-Junegrass (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria). He recognized the "extinct" California Steppe (Stipa) and that unit of potential natural vegetation was displaced permanently (in human time scale) by the naturalized unit, California annual grassland. Currently there are far more acres of Stipa-dominated true prairie than of Stipa-dominated California or Pacific bunchgrass prairie. No, Kuchler (1964, 1966) just missed it, plain and simple; and nobody else appears to have caught the error (or had the moxey to point out the mistake).
The example of true prairie treated in this short section showed the continuum-like arrangement and nature of grasslands in central North America, specifically that within the Nebraska Sandhills there is a transition (an ecotone) between postclimax tallgrass and mixed prairie. The rather limited mixed prairie in the western Nebraska Sandhills lacks a meaningful tallgrass component with these species occurring only as isolated individuals. For that reason, Sandhills mixed prairie was shown only in the Mixed Prairie chapter with no examples included under Tallgrass Prairie.
This was an isolated example of true prairie from the Nebraska Sandhills. It was clearly range vegetation open to interpretation..As was explained above that true prairie was first recognized by Clements (1920, ps. 121-131) and later included in the classic Plant Ecology (Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps.518-520) as a transition grassland, "a broad ecotone" that constitutes "a fairly distinct belt between the tall-grass and mixed prairies..." (Weaver and Clements (1938, p. 519). This transition grassland was defined by Clements (1920, p. 122) as the Stipa-Koeleria Association that is composed of ranker-growing grass species from Andorpogon-dominated tallgrass prairie to the more mesic east and midgrasses from the Stipa-dominated mixed prairie to the less mesic west.
This example of that climax ecotonal grassland from the Nebraska Sandhills was shown in the next two photographs. The range plant community featured in those up-coming slides did not have any Sporobolus species (at least not as dominants, associates, or even indicators) in which respect this range vegetation did not include the complete compliment of genera as specified in later refined descriptions of this association (Weaver and Clements, 1938, ps. 518-520). However, little bluestem, needle-and-thread, and Junegrass as the dominant, associate, and next major species, respectively, along with very limited cover of blue grama, the major shortgrass species, and almost no big bluestem and prairie sandreed, the two tallgrass species that are defining dominants of the Nebraska Sandhills, unequivocally placed this as transition grassland that was a "true" composite of an adjoining major range type (form of prairie) on either adjoining longitatudinal boundary. Substantial representation of three of the five consociations (Andropogon scoparius, Stipa comata, and Koeeleria cristata) in the true prairie, the Clementsian association, (Clements 1920, ps. 121-122) as the major three species in this range vegetation clearly defined this as an "island" of true prairie in a "sea" of the postclimax tallgrass (bluestem-prairie sandreed) prairie that comprises almost all of the Nebraska Sandhills other than the most westward, and less mesic portions. Also, presence of Junegrass as the least important of the three major species was consistent with the description by Clements (1920, p.122) that Junegrass was generally the least abundant (though the most widespread) of the dominants of true prairie.
From the perspective of potential natural vegetation units of Kuchler (1964, 1966) and Society for Range Management (SRM) rangeland cover types (Shiflet, 1994), which were based on Kuchler units, the true prairie range shown here was also ecotonal vegetation being a transition between Kuchler unit 67 (Nebraska Sandhills Prairie), which was SRM 602 (Bluestem-Prairie Sandreed), and Kuchler unit 60 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass), which was SRM 606 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass). Both Kuchler (1964, 1966) and the Society for Range management (Shiflet, 1994) failed to map and describe, respectively, true prairie. Omission of true prairie--one of the most clearly defined, verified, and historical (traditional) units of climax grassland in North America--by Kuchler (1964, 1966) has been a decades'-old mystery to the author of Range Types. It was completely understandable that authors of rangeland cover types for the Northern Great Plains section in Shiflet (1994, ps. 69-84) omitted true prairie (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria) because they consistently followed Kuchler (1964, 1966)--even used his common name (English) titles--for all natural vegetation in that region. How Kuchler missed such a major unit of climax (potential natural) vegetation continued to baffle the current author.
In the present web publication a separate chapter, True Prairie, (under the Grassland biome) was included to recognize this major and distinctive North American grassland even though it had been mostly destroyed even by the time it was first recognized and described by Clements (1920, p. 121). And, no (in anticipation of the obvious question) that is not the reason why Kuchler (1964, 1966) omitted a unit entitled True Prairie, Needlegrass-Dropseed-Bluestem-Junegrass (Stipa-Sporobolus-Andropogon-Koeleria). He recognized the "extinct" California Steppe (Stipa) and that unit of potential natural vegetation was displaced permanently (in human time scale) by the naturalized unit, California annual grassland. Currently there are far more acres of Stipa-dominated true prairie than of Stipa-dominated California or Pacific bunchgrass prairie. No, Kuchler (1964, 1966) just missed it, plain and simple; and nobody else appears to have caught the error (or had the moxey to point out the mistake).
This example of true prairie showed the continuum-like arrangement and nature of grasslands in central North America, specifically that within the Nebraska Sandhills there is a transition (an ecotone) between postclimax tallgrass and mixed prairie. The rather limited mixed prairie in the western Nebraska Sandhills lacks a meaningful tallgrass component with these species occurring only as isolated individuals. For that reason, Sandhills mixed prairie was shown only in the Mixed Prairie chapter with no examples included under True Prairie.
The range plant community of this climax (Excellent range condition class) ectonal grassland was simple in species composition, including only four major native perennial grasses, yet relative diverse in architecture consisting of at least four layers of vegetation (counting the ground, soil surface, layer).
The introduction immediately before these two photographs described the historical interpretation of true prairie and explained why the currrent author included this short treatment Nebraska Sandhills true prairie in this Tallgrass Prairie (Interior) chapter. The combination of tallgrass and midgrass species and predominately cespitose growth form with substantial cover of sod-forming grass (mostly blue grama and some rhizomatous little bluestem) with a predominant bunchgrass prairie physiogonomy also was consistent with an interpretation and description of true prairie. In current (contemporary) view whereby true prairie is ignored or omitted this climax grassland could be described as the least mesic (most xeric) form or expression of bluestem-dominated tallgrass prairie. Again, it was explained above why the current author opted for the true prairie interpretation while at the same time having seen benefit to including this range vegetation here as an "vegetational bridge" between tallgrass and mixed prairies.
This range was upheld as the ultimate in wise use conservation of range resources. It was used as a perfect example of proper grazing management of rangeland, of stewardship beyond criticism. This photographer has seen his share of pristine vegetation, and none anywhere was any better than the "picture-perfect" model presented here. Furthermore, these two photographs were taken in early summer long before little bluestem would be at peak standing crop, and at end of a five- to six-year drought. Portrayal of this range at this aspect did show needle-and-thread at peak herbage crop to illustrate both the warm-season dominant (little bluestem) and the cool-season associate (needle-and-thread), along with the defining cool-seson Junegrass to good advantage.
Note standing dead herbage (residue or mulch) from the previous growing season. This is a sure sign of conservative stocking with cows and calves. It is essential for survival during severe (and worse) drough ts to stock on the light side because it is not known when the drought will break. Standing herbage, even if dead and weathered, is a savings account on the range. It amounts to that much hay and other fodder that this ranchman will not havee to purchase at times when such feed will, inevitably, be high-priced.
A well-deserved tip of the hat to this privte landowner and/or the range manager.
Cherry County, Nebraska. Late June; early estival aspect. FRES No. 38 (Plains Grassland Ecosystem) or No. 39 (Prairie Ecosystem), or a transition or combination of these. No Kuchler units or SRM rangeland cover type. This range type was in the general region of K-67 (Nebraska Sandhills Prairie) and SRM 602 (Bluestem-Prairie Sandreed), but it is transitional to K-60 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass) and SRM 606 (Wheatgrass-Bluestem-Needlegrass). No unit in Brown (1998) either. Nebraska Sand Hills- Sand Hills Ecoregion, 44a (Chapman et al., 2001).