Science
An eclectic group of essays tied together by the common theme of tall grass prairie.
- Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better: Climate Change And Grasslands
- By Rachel VanCaeseele
- Sphinx Moth Pollinators For The Endangered Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Platanthera Praeclara in Manitoba, Canada
- By A. Richard Westwood and Christie L. Borkowsky
- Beaudry Tallgrass Prairie Restoration: Assessment and Management Recommendations
- By A.L. Knispel and S.M. Mclachlan, Ph.D
- Role of Seedbanks in the Restoration of Tallgrass Prairie (Manitoba);
- By Julie Sveinson and Stéphane McLachlan
- Biology Of The Northern Prairie Skink, Eumerces septentrionalis
- By Errol J. Bredin
Move your mouse over the essay titles to view a short description.
Information on climate change and its effect on grasslands.
The western prairie fringed orchid, Platanthera praeclara (Sheviak & Bowles), is an endangered species in North America. In Manitoba orchids produce lower numbers of seed capsules than more southern populations. Exploration of the pollination biology for P. praeclara is critical to preserve this endangered species. This study identified the pollinators of P. preclara using cone and malaise traps and tested the effectiveness of marking pollinators with traces of Day-Glow® orange marker powder. Although Lepidoptera were numerous in orchid plots during daily observation periods, including day flaying Sphingidae, none were pollinators for P. praeclara. Among the 5856 insects from 49 families captured over 45 trapping days, six sphinx moths, two specimens of Hyles gallii (Rottenburg) and four specimens of Sphinx drupiferpraeclara. S. drupiferarum is uncommon in southern Manitoba and H. gallii appears to be a less efficient pollinator than S. drupiferarum. Proboscis length, eye width and flight period may influence the efficiency of biotic of the orchid.
Tallgrass prairie restoration is a much needed skill in Manitoba because of the extensive habitat loss and degradation. What is needed most is a program of monitoring because “Without effective monitoring and formal data collection, it is difficult to gauge or communicate the success of restoration, or to adapt management practices to maximize project success, issues that continue to plague this new discipline (McLachlan & Bazely 2003). Simply put, there is a remarkably little publicity available information that attests to the outcomes of this important activity.”
“Most restored tallgrass prairies in Manitoba are constructed habitats. Although restoration of existing but degraded natural habitat has great potential for success (McDonald 2002), little information about restoring degraded tallgrass prairie exists for our region. Since 1999, we have investigated the effects of various treatments - including fertilization, disturbance, and seeding – on a 4-acre (1.6 ha), post agricultural site (Sveinson 2003) within the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in southeastern Manitoba. In this note, we highlight one part of our study in which we examined the potential use of glyphosate herbicide as a tool for releasing the native seed bank of degraded sites.”
Information about Manitoba’s only lizard.