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planning parameters -Reply

Theresa,

It looks like many people have already given you some excellent advice
on plants, burning, and avoiding dispersal corridors for non-native
plant species, so I'll address your question about reserve shape, at
least from the wildlife point of view.

The controversy of "single large or several small" reserves (SLOSS)
has been raging on for many years, and each camp has its proponents. 
If given only the problem of edge effect, yes, one large, round area
is best.  Preserving a large round area would do little good, however,
if the habitat for the target animal species is not right--hence, some
preserves are better designed to fit distribution of the habitat which
is important.  Much of the debate centers around large mammal species
with huge home ranges, such as the cougars in Florida or the grizzlies
of Yellowstone.  I suspect the area you'll be working in is on the
order of a football field, which means the animals you'll be mostly
concerned with will be songbirds and small mammals.  If this is the
case, I think I would want to keep the prairie restoration as compact
and edge-free as possible.

Here's some interesting literature you might want to look up:

Diffendorfer, James E.  1998.  Testing models of source-sink dynamics
and balanced dispersal.  Oikos 81:417-433.

Diffendorfer, J.E., Michael S. Gaines, and Robert D. Holt.  1995. 
Habitat fragmentation and movements of three small mammals (Sigmodon,
Microtus, and Peromyscus).  Ecology 76(3):  827-839.

Meserve, Peter L. and Brian J. Klatt.  1985.  Evidence for noncycling
populations and the importance of immigration in voles inhabiting an
illinois tallgrass prairie.  The American Midland Naturalist
113(2):255-270.

Getz, Lowell. L. and C.Sue Carter.  The Year Got Cut Off. 
Prairie-vole partnerships.  American Scientist vol. 84.

Hope this helps.  Good luck with the thesis!
--Chris Kodani
Northern Illinois University

>>> Theresa Mau <theresa.mau@wmich.edu> 01/19/99 03:19pm >>>
Hello All,
I am working on my master's thesis at Western Mich. U. and my project
is
to help the local nature center here determine where on their property
would be the best place to restore a portion of tallgrass prairie. 
I've
been searching the literature a great deal, and thought I'd turn to
those working in the field for supplemental info.

The parameters I am considering for choosing my site include the
current
landcover, the soil type, and the slope, primarily.  Other
considerations include the distance of each plot from teh nearest
trail
or road (for access and maintenance), adjacent vegetation type,
aspect,
and the size.

Please let me know if you think I am missing something.  Also, has
anyone personally estabilished a minimum size for a viable prairie?  I
keep reading that "bigger is better" and that even a tiny plot can be
started, so maybe min. size is not something to fuss over.

Lastly, what about shape?  I've read a lot about round, compact
reserves
being best to minimize edge effects, but newer preserve articles are
reccomending lobed patches.  This research has mainly been in the area
of forest, though, as far as I can tell.

I really appreciate your input and advice, thanks!
Theresa Mau

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