Photo of the Week – The Prairie Ecologist
Fire is nothing to mess with…and yet, it has a certain beauty to it. Read more: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/29/photo-of-the-week-april-29-2011/
Fire is nothing to mess with…and yet, it has a certain beauty to it. Read more: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/29/photo-of-the-week-april-29-2011/
Annual plants often get labeled and attacked as “weeds” but play a very important role in prairies and other natural communities. Learn more about these maligned underdogs here: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/26/in-celebration-of-annuals/
Learn how this cow is helping to fight invasive species and create better plant diversity and wildlife habitat. Click here:http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/21/photo-of-the-week-april-21-2011/
Everybody knows about aboveground buds like these on a wild plum. But most prairie plants grow from buds that are located below the ground. (This is one of the reasons grasses and wildflowers respond more quickly than trees and shrubs after a prairie fire.) Read more about the importance of these belowground buds (and see lots of photos) …
Ok, this photo wasn’t taken in Nebraska – but it wasn’t far from the border. You might be surprised at the location. Find out where this bison herd roams at: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/15/photo-of-the-week-april-15-2011/
Pussytoes is one of the first flowers to bloom in the prairie each spring. Because of that, it may be an important resource for many pollinators, despite lacking height and bright colors… See photos of some pollinators who were glad to see it blooming this last weekend: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/11/pussytoes-and-early-season-pollinators/
Prescribed fire is an essential tool for managing ecosystems, but it isn’t harmless. This grasshopper nymph survived the fire, but is no longer camouflaged against its background – which changed from dormant grasses to black ash. Other animals can be less fortunate. Read more about how to minimize some of …
See a report – with numerous photos – from last week’s woodland prescribed fire at The Nature Conservancy’s Rulo Bluffs Preserve here: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/04/savanna-and-woodland-burning-at-the-rulo-bluffs-preserve/ Burning in woodland habitats is getting increasing recognition for its value to both wildlife and plant communities. Prescribed fires in woodlands are generally of low intensity, and clean up leaf …
Why did this toad make a shallow depression to sit in? You can see my guess, and add your own, here: http://prairieecologist.com/2011/04/01/photo-of-the-week-april-1-2011/
After waiting almost the entire month of March, we finally got our first prescribed fire of the season done. Now it looks like it’ll be a while before the next one, and we have a long list… To pass the time – and to sustain my morale – I’m looking back at some …
