1. Plant Ecology Investigations in Preparation for a
Large Scale Ecological Restoration
Emily Bushaw, Tiffany Grieger, Trevor Harder, Hayley Hilfer,
Michael Holtan, Taylor Jensen, Kelley Larson, Alex Waldhauser
Advisor: Alison Wallace
2. Restoration Project at the Regional Science Center
- Legislative-Cizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
- Recommends Environmental and Natural Resource Projects to the State Legislature
- Funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (Established in 1988)
- Provided $500 million to 1,000 projects across the state since 1991
- MSUM was awarded $527,000 to partner with the DNR to restore 160 acres
- Regional Science Center - 100 acres from old field to dry prairie
- Ponderosa Golf Course - 60 acres from fairways to prairie and riparian forest
- Funds go towards restoration costs and long-term monitoring
- Three reference sites on the The Nature Conservancy’s Bluestem Prairie
3. Plant ecology investigations - Sp 15, Fa 15, Sp 16
I. Seed Germination - Emily Bushaw, Trevor Harder
II. Chemical Carryover - Emily Bushaw, Tiffany Grieger,
Trevor Harder, Michael Holtan,Taylor Jensen
III.Fertilizer Spike - Tiffany Grieger, Kelley Larson
IV.Soil Leachate - Emily Bushaw, Hayley Hilfer
5. II. Chemical Carryover: “The Report”
Environmental Site Analysis
- required before golf course property can
be transferred from Alumni Foundation
to MSUM
- 21 total sample sites
8. Potential Effects on Plant Growth
● Effects may depend on species, length of exposure and concentration of
contaminant.
● Overall decrease in shoot and root length, as well as fresh weight and
germination percentage.
● Toxins tend to accumulate in plant tissue, with greater amounts accumulating
in roots indicating that roots serve as a barrier.
● GRO/DRO reduces carbon content in the soil. Reduction in microflora and
soil fertility.
○ Toxic at low concentrations
● Mercury - “Leaf Chlorosis” or visible reduction in chlorophyll production.
17. II. Chemical Carryover: Ratibida columnifera results
Log-transformed means and s.e.
F5,34 = 15.3, p < 0.0001; Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05
Log-transformed (+10) means and s.e.
F5,34 = 15.3 , p < 0.0001
Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05
18. II. Chemical Carryover: Andropogon gerardii results `
Limited by low (and very slow)
germination rates
Final shoot counts after several
months:
N/Cr =
13
Cr/Herb = 11
GC Control = 13
Hg/DRO = 9
19. II. Chemical Carryover: Discussion of results
- High N produced larger plants in all
three species; prairie control was
usually smallest (least fertile soil?)
- Cr perhaps does not seem to have a
negative effect?
- Water holding capacities varied among
the soils; possible confounding factor
27. IV. Soil Leachate: Andropogon gerardii
N/Cr Cr/Herb GC Con Hg/DRO GRO Pr Con
# seedlings 17 16 13 7 21 11
total seeds 40 40 39 34 37 37
prop. germ. 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.3
28. Next Steps?
- Finish Soil Leachate experiment - find out what happens with Big Bluestem!
- Field Measurements - measure big bluestem (and forb?) density and growth
in golf course at the soil sample locations after DNR seeds this summer!
- Read up on effects of Chromium on plant growth. Might possibly stimulate
growth at low levels? In some species?
- Find out what is happening in the N/Cr soil leachate (what is causing the
serious decomposition/sulfur smell)?
29. Acknowledgements
● Tony Bormann
- Naturalist and SIte Manager for the Regional Science Center; Outreach
Coordinator for the College of Science, Health, and the Environment
● Steven Westra, Ben LeMay, Gary George
- Additional Soil Collectors
● Rinita Dalan
- Online ArcGIS map help
