Prairies evolved within a regime of frequent fire. Prescribed burning has been part of Woodoworth Management since 1972.
Cypripedium candidum, White Ladies Slipper, surrounded by Comandra umbellata, Fragaria virginica and Oxalis violacea in a recently burned section in May 2008. Photo by Dr. Albert Rouffa.
What is a PRAIRIE?
A prairie is a close-to-treeless grassland with native plants found in North America. Treeless areas that had once been plowed are more appropriately called old fields. Grasslands with native vegetation on other continents go by other names (steppe, pampas, veldt). The 'sea of grass' and endless horizon associated with prairie by pioneers is no longer found in Illinois. Some large prairies still exist in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Goose Lake prairie is the largest prairie remaining in Illinois. Prairies are rare in the 'Prairie State'. Most Illinois prairies were destroyed by the plow. Among those that that were not plowed, the suppression of fire has resulted in many becoming filled with woody plants and/or non-native species.
Mesic black soil tallgrass prairie is only one of many natural communities that existed in the Chicago region. Our rich natural area heritage includes forest, woodlands, savannas, prairies, marshes, bogs and fens on both coarse (sand) and fine (black) soil major soil classes and various levels of wetness.
Our mission is to maintain populations of native prairie plants and invertebrate animals with abundances as close as possible to those prior to agriculture, so researchers and interested citizens have a place to study and enjoy what pre-settlement prairie was like.
Research has been done or is planned on 1) the role of animals in building soil, 2) reverse fertilization to reduce the impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition, 3) the reason remnant prairies are so much shorter than restorations, 4) identifcation of plants without collecting specimens, and 5) population dynamics of insect species.
Management activities focus on 1) processes (fire and water), 2) the elimination of non-native species, 3) enhancing abundance of autocthonous species with small population sizes, and 4) controlling overabundant native species.
Woodworth also plays a role in educating citizens about Illinois prairie.
May 2008
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