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

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

- Plants, small mammals, soil microbial diversity, insects (bees and butterflies)

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

I.Seed Germination: How old is too old?

II. Chemical Carryover: “The Report” Environmental Site Analysis

- required before golf course property can be transferred from Alumni Foundationto MSUM

- 21 total sample sites

Samples Exceeding Limits

0.018

II. Chemical Carryover: Soil Contaminant Locations

(refer to map)

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.

II. Chemical Carryover: Soil Collection

II. Chemical Carryover: Experimental Design

II. Chemical Carryover: Study SpeciesBrassica rapa Lolium multiflorum Ratibia columnifera

Andropogon gerardii(fast plants) (ryegrass) (long-headed coneflower)

(big bluestem)

Brassica rapa (fast plants)

II. Chemical Carryover: Brassica rapa results

Log-transformed (+10) means and s.e.F5,29 = 20.4 , p < 0.0001Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05

Lolium multiflorum (ryegrass)

II. Chemical Carryover: Lolium multiflorum results Means and standard errorF5,34 = 11.7, p < 0.0001Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05

Ratibida columnifera

II. Chemical Carryover: Ratibida columnifera resultsLog-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 < 0.0001Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05

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

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

- What IS this red growth??

III. Fertilizer “Spike”: Experimental Design

Ratibida columnifera

Brassica rapa

Lolium multiflorum

III. Fertilizer “Spike”: Preliminary Results - ryegrass

Means and Standard error barsF5,34 = 11.7, p < 0.00001Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05

III. Fertilizer “Spike”: Preliminary Results - fast plants

Means and Standard error barsF5,34 = 6.1, p < 0.001Tukey's post hoc, p < 0.05

IV. Soil Leachate - Experimental Design

IV. Soil Leachate

IV. Soil Leachate

IV. Soil Leachate

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

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)?

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