Learning From Prairie Cemeteries

LIFE AND DEATH ON THE PRAIRIE
STEPHEN LONGMIRE*, P.O. BOX 15, UPPER JAY, NY 12987

THE EASTERN IOWA ROCHESTER CEMETERY SAVANNA: A REQUIEM
DIANA G. HORTON, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, 143 BB, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, IOWA CITY, IA 52242

LESSONS LEARNED FROM A DECADE OF PROTECTING AND MANAGING PIONEER CEMETERY NATURAL AREAS IN ILLINOIS
ANGELLA MOOREHOUSE*, ILLINOIS NATURE PRESERVES COMMISSION, 2005 E. HIGHWAY 136 SUITE B, CARTHAGE, IL 62321

Sustainability of Natural Resources in Small National Parks of the Great Plains

Gary Willson; Moderator

Much of the biodiversity of the National Park System resides in small, widely scattered parks. Although small, these parks often provide critical habitat for endemic species and rest stops for migrating species. However, conservation biologists question whether such small preserves can be effective in securing biodiversity considering human activity is isolating and impacting these areas and internal management is often missing or ineffective. In the Great Plains, recent studies in small parks document the loss of species and ecosystem processes and raise doubts about the long-term persistence of natural resources in these units. The results of six of these studies are included in this session.

SUSTAINABILITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN SMALL NATIONAL PARKS OF THE GREAT PLAINS
GARY D. WILLSON*, GREAT PLAINS COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT, SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, 3310 HOLDREGE ST., LINCOLN, NE 68583

VEGETATION CHANGE SINCE 1980 AT FORT LARNED NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
JAMES STUBBENDIECK*, DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, P.O. BOX 830915, LINCOLN, NE 68583
BARBARA KAGIMA, DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, P.O. BOX 830915, LINCOLN, NE 68583
GARY D. WILLSON, GREAT PLAINS COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT, SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN, NE 68583

USING STABLE ISOTOPES TO ASSESS VARIABILITY IN FIDELITY OF GRASSLAND BIRDS ON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNITS IN THE GREAT PLAINS
LARKIN A. POWELL*, SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, 3310 HOLDREGE STREET, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, LINCOLN, NE 68583-0974
SARAH E. REHME, SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, 3310 HOLDREGE STREET, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, LINCOLN, NE 68583-0961
CRAIG R. ALLEN, NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT, 3310 HOLDREGE STREET, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, LINCOLN, NE 68583-0984
KEITH A. HOBSON, ENVIRONMENT CANADA, 11 INNOVATION BLVD. SASKATOON, SK, CANADA, S7N 3H5

SUSTAINABILITY OF BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS AT SMALL CULTURE PARKS OF THE WESTERN GREAT PLAINS
JACK CULLY*, U.S.G.S., KANSAS COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT AND DIVISION OF BIOLOGY, 204 LEASURE HALL, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MANHATTAN, KS 66506
RACHEL PIGG, DIVISION OF BIOLOGY, 212 LEASURE HALL, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MANHATTAN, KS 66506
AMANDA GOLDBERG, DIVISION OF BIOLOGY, 212 LEASURE HALL, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MANHATTAN, KS 66506

RECONSTRUCTING THE FIRE HISTORIES OF NATIONAL PARKS IN THE GREAT PLAINS
MICHAEL STAMBAUGH*, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, 203 ABNR BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA, COLUMBIA, MO 65211
RICHARD GUYETTE, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, 203 ABNR BUILDING, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA, COLUMBIA, MO 65211
GARY WILLSON, GREAT PLAINS COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT, SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, 3310 HOLDREGE ST., LINCOLN, NE 68583

Writing the Prairie: Connecting Science and Literature

Monday, August 2, 1–3 pm

While scientists excel at collecting facts, they cannot always communicate them to nonscientists in a way that will generate widespread acceptance. How can today’s prairie pioneers—the ecologists, preservationists, and botanists who are working to restore and reconstruct prairie habitats—write about prairie in a way that will capture the attention of the general public, and why is this increasingly important? How can literary writers inspire scientists to broaden the range of their writings? This panel of scientists, writers, and scientist/writers will discuss ways to present scientific information to a wide variety of readers in order to achieve mutual understanding and cooperation.

Holly Carver, University of Iowa Press, moderator
Abigail Foerstner, Northwestern University
Connie Mutel, University of Iowa
John Price, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Daryl Smith, Tallgrass Prairie Center
Dave Williams, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Symposium 3

The Biology and Bureaucracy of Prairie in Roadsides: Native Vegetation at Work

Wednesday, August 4, 10:20 A.M. – Noon

The history of Midwestern states using native vegetation to stabilize road right-of-way goes way back, at least as far as the 1960s. Tallgrass prairie species have served us well. The challenges involved in establishing and maintaining native vegetation in roadsides make life interesting. The challenges involved in establishing and maintaining a program can give you hives. Representatives of four Upper Midwestern DOTs discuss their states’ native planting efforts.

Steve Holland,
Living Roadway Trust Fund, Iowa Department of Transportation, moderator
Ken Graeve,
Plant Ecologist, Office of Environmental Services, Minnesota Department of Transportation
Carol Wienhold,
Highway Environmental Biologist, Roadside Stabilization Unit, Nebraska Department of Roads
Stacy Armstrong,
Roadside Management Supervisor, Maintenance Division, Missouri Department of Transportation
Mark Masteller,
Chief Landscape Architect, Office of Design, Iowa Department of Transportation

NEBRASKA’S ROADSIDE SEEDING PROGRAM
CAROL E. WIENHOLD*, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ROADS, 1500 HIGHWAY 2, P.O. BOX 94759, LINCOLN, NE 68509-4759

Symposium 4

Symposium 5

Daryl Smith | 319.273.2238 | Director, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Phone: 319.273.3836 | Fax: 319.268.0668