Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R116BY027MO
Wet Footslope Prairie
Last updated: 10/07/2020
Accessed: 04/19/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 116B–Springfield Plain
The Springfield Plain is in the western part of the Ozark Uplift. It is primarily a smooth plateau with some dissection along streams. Elevation is about 1,000 feet in the north to over 1,700 feet in the east along the Burlington Escarpment adjacent to the Ozark Highlands. The underlying bedrock is mainly Mississippian-aged limestone, with areas of shale on lower slopes and structural benches, and intermittent Pennsylvanian-aged sandstone deposits on the plateau surface.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Wet-Mesic Bottomland Prairie.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Helianthus grosseserratus Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002024).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily within the following Land Type Associations:
Lamar Smooth Prairie Plain
Lockwood Smooth Prairie Plain
Springfield Karst Prairie Plain
Little Sac River Oak Savanna/Woodland Low Hills
Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Wet Footslope Prairies occur on footslopes throughout the Springfield Plain. Particularly in the western counties, and adjacent areas in the Cherokee Prairie. Soils are very deep, with clayey subsoils and seasonal high water tables. The reference plant community is prairie dominated by a dense cover of wetland species, including prairie cordgrass, sedge, and wet-tolerant forbs.
Associated sites
| R116BY020MO |
Claypan Summit Prairie Claypan Summit Prairies are upslope in broad prairie landscapes with low relief. |
|---|---|
| R116BY021MO |
Chert Upland Prairie Chert Upland Prairies are upslope, on gently sloping backslopes. |
| R116BY022MO |
Loamy Upland Prairie Loamy Upland Prairies are upslope, on broad convex upland prairie landscapes. |
Similar sites
| R116BY027MO |
Wet Footslope Prairie There are no similar sites to Wet Footslope Prairies in this MLRA. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Salix humilis |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Panicum virgatum |
Physiographic features
This site is on footslopes, stream terraces, and/or terrace flats with slopes of 0 to 3 percent. The site receives runoff from adjacent upland sites. A few areas are subject to rare flooding.
The following figure (adapted from Peer, 2004) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “2” on the figure, shown here on footslopes. The area shown in the figure is near the Cherokee Prairies (MLRA 112), where Claypan Summit Prairie sites, labeled “1”, are often directly upslope from Wet Footslope sites. The dashed lines within the Claypan Summit Prairie area indicate the various soils included in that ecological site.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Stream terrace
(2) Paleoterrace |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Brief (2 to 7 days) |
| Flooding frequency | None to rare |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Slope | 3% |
| Water table depth | 6 – 30 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The Springfield Plain has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.
The Springfield Plain experiences few regional differences in climates. The average annual precipitation in this area is 41 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 55 to 58 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only one or two degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along a west to east gradient. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer.
During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, for example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.
Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 149-167 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 185-191 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 46-48 in |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 143-169 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 182-192 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 46-48 in |
| Frost-free period (average) | 158 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 188 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 47 in |
Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) NEOSHO [USC00235976], Neosho, MO
-
(2) LOCKWOOD [USC00235027], Lockwood, MO
-
(3) SPRINGFIELD [USW00013995], Springfield, MO
Influencing water features
This ecological site is influenced by a seasonal high water table from high groundwater levels, as well as slow hydraulic conductivity, which impedes throughflow from precipitation and flood events. The water table is typically near the surface in late fall through spring, receding in the summer.
This ecological site is on footslopes, and on stream terraces of perennial streams. They are not adjacent to the current stream channel. Areas on stream terraces are subject to flooding, typically of short duration and low intensity. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the flooding dynamics in many places.
Footslopes, and stream terraces not subject to flooding, are in the MINERAL SOIL FLAT wetlands of the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification system class (Brinson, 1993). Sites on stream terraces subject to flooding are in the RIVERINE wetlands class. Both footslope and stream terrace sites are Emergent Palustrine wetlands (Cowardin et al., 1979).
Soil features
Some of these soils have an abrupt textural change rooting restriction. The soils were formed under prairie vegetation, and have dark, organic-rich surface horizons. Parent material is alluvium on stream terraces, paleoterraces, and colluviums on footslopes. Some soils are underlain by shale residuum, and some soils have a loess surface layer. They have silt loam or silty clay loam surface horizons, and clayey subsoils. They are affected by a seasonal high water table during the spring months. Soil series associated with this site include Carytown, Cherokee, Parsons, Sacville, Summit, and Woodson.
The accompanying picture of the Cherokee series shows a dark silt loam surface horizon over a thin, light-colored leached layer called an albic horizon, at about one foot. Below this is the claypan, a clay horizon that impedes water movement and root penetration. Indicators of seasonal wetness (redoximorphic features) are visible in the picture at about three feet. Picture from Peer (2004).
Figure 9. Cherokee series
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
(2) Colluvium |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Silt loam (2) Silty clay loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained |
| Permeability class | Very slow |
| Soil depth | 72 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 4% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | Not specified |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
5 – 6 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
Not specified |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
15 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
4.5 – 7.8 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Ecological dynamics
Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.
Wet Footslope Prairie ecological sites exist because of their association with wet, poorly drained conditions. These conditions along with periodic fire had a strong influence on excluding trees. Wet Footslope Prairies are dominated by a dense cover of wet tolerant grasses and forbs. On slightly higher areas within or at the edge of the prairie matrix scattered bur oak, pin oak, shellbark hickory and willow occurred amid the grass-dominated landscape. These seasonally wet sites are on relatively stable terraces, former floodplain positions that rarely flood, probably once every 25 or so years. In addition to site wetness, periodic fire also played a role in keeping woody species at bay, likely occurring at least once every 3 years. Fire during dry periods removed the dense mat of leaf litter creating opportunities for plants less aggressive than the grasses and sedges.
Wet Footslope Prairies were also subjected to grazing by native large herbivores, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer. Grazing by native herbivores would have effectively kept understory conditions open, creating conditions more favorable to ground flora species and minimizing woody trees and shrubs.
Today most of these ecological sites have been drained and farmed. Only a few quality remnants exist. However, during wet years, they do act as ephemeral farmed wetlands in the agricultural landscape. While their flood regime usually has been altered, their position and soil properties still make them good candidates for wet prairie and savanna development management.
A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.
State and transition model
Figure 10. STM for this ecological site
More interactive model formats are also available.
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More interactive model formats are also available.
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
States 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference
This state is a native prairie dominated by switchgrass, big bluestem and forbs along with numerous shrubs and occasional, widely scattered trees such as pin oak and bur oak. Two phases can occur that will transition back and forth depending on fire frequencies. Longer fire free intervals will allow woody species to increase such as pin oak and bur oak. When fire intervals shorten these woody species will decrease. This undisturbed state is uncommon but some excellent examples still exist. Most sites, however, have been converted to cool season grasslands, cropland, or degraded by domestic grazing.
Community 1.1
Prairie Willow/Switchgrass – Big Bluestem
Forest understory. The Forest Understory species list is based on reconnaissance-level plots, as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010). Species identified from plot data include cover percentages. Species not found in plots, but listed in Nelson, do not include cover percentages. Names and symbols are from the USDA PLANTS database.
Community 1.2
Prairie Willow – False Indigo Bush – Oak Sprouts/Switchgrass – Big Bluestem
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Fire-free interval 5-10 years
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Fire interval 1-3 years
State 2
Degraded Native Grassland
Reference states that have experienced fire suppression for 20 or more years and heavy domestic grazing will transition to this state. With fire suppression, woody species such as pin oak and bur oak will begin to increase transitioning this state from a prairie to a degraded woody invaded state. Native ground cover will also decrease and invasive species such as tall fescue, broomsedge and sericea lespedeza may begin to dominate. Transition to cool season grasslands (State 3) or cropland (State 4) is very common. Transition back to a reference state may be difficult if fire suppression and other disturbances have been long term. It may be easier to move to a re-established native warm season grassland and then over time move back to a reference state.
Dominant resource concerns
-
Plant productivity and health
-
Plant structure and composition
-
Plant pest pressure
-
Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 2.1
Oak Saplings/ Broomsedge - Sericea Lespedeza – Sedge
State 3
Cool Season Grassland
Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as tall fescue and white clover has been common in this area. Occasionally, these pastures will have a few scattered oaks. Long term uncontrolled grazing can cause significant soil erosion and compaction. A return to the reference state may require a very long series of management options.
Dominant resource concerns
-
Plant productivity and health
-
Plant structure and composition
-
Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 3.1
Tall Fescue – White Clover
State 4
Cropland
This is a common state that currently exists in the region with soybeans, milo, wheat, and hay land production occurring. Some conversion to cool season grassland occurs for a limited period of time before transitioning back to cropland. Limited acres are sometimes converted to native warm season grassland.
Dominant resource concerns
-
Sheet and rill erosion
-
Ephemeral gully erosion
-
Organic matter depletion
-
Plant structure and composition
-
Plant pest pressure
-
Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
-
Energy efficiency of farming/ranching practices and field operations
Community 4.1
Milo, Soybeans, Wheat
State 5
Native Warm Season Grassland
Conversion from Cool Season Grassland (State 3) or the Cropland (State 4) to this State is increasing due to renewed interest in warm season grasses as a supplement to cool season grazing systems or as a native restoration activity. This state, once established, can be transformed back to a Reference State. Substantial restoration time and management inputs will still be needed.
Dominant resource concerns
-
Plant structure and composition
-
Terrestrial habitat for wildlife and invertebrates
Community 5.1
Switch Grass – Big Bluestem – Eastern Gamagrass
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Fire suppression > 10 years; woody invasion; domestic grazing
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Tillage; vegetative seeding; grassland management
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4
Tillage; conservation cropping system
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5
Prescribed grazing; prescribed fire
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Woody removal; prescribed fire 1-3 years; limited grazing
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4
Woody removal; tillage; conservation cropping system
Transition T2C
State 2 to 5
Woody removal; grassland management; prescribed fire
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
Tillage; conservation cropping system
Transition T3B
State 3 to 5
Vegetative seeding; prescribed fire; grassland management
Restoration pathway T4A
State 4 to 3
Vegetative seeding ; grassland management
Restoration pathway R5A
State 5 to 1
Vegetative seeding; prescribed fire 1-3 years
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition
| Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Nativity | Height (ft) | Canopy cover (%) | Diameter (in) | Basal area (square ft/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tree
|
|||||||
| shellbark hickory | CALA21 | Carya laciniosa | Native | – | 0–5 | – | – |
| pin oak | QUPA2 | Quercus palustris | Native | – | 0–5 | – | – |
| bur oak | QUMA2 | Quercus macrocarpa | Native | – | 0–5 | – | – |
Table 6. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
| Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Nativity | Height (ft) | Canopy cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
|
||||||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | Native | – | – | |
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | Native | – | – | |
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | Native | – | – | |
| prairie dropseed | SPHE | Sporobolus heterolepis | Native | – | – | |
| Indiangrass | SONU2 | Sorghastrum nutans | Native | – | – | |
| prairie cordgrass | SPPE | Spartina pectinata | Native | – | – | |
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | Native | – | – | |
| bluejoint | CACA4 | Calamagrostis canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| eastern gamagrass | TRDA3 | Tripsacum dactyloides | Native | – | – | |
| ravenfoot sedge | CACR8 | Carex crus-corvi | Native | – | – | |
| awlfruit sedge | CAST5 | Carex stipata | Native | – | – | |
| Oklahoma sedge | CAOK | Carex oklahomensis | Native | – | – | |
|
Forb/Herb
|
||||||
| ashy sunflower | HEMO2 | Helianthus mollis | Native | – | – | |
| prairie milkweed | ASSU3 | Asclepias sullivantii | Native | – | – | |
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | Native | – | – | |
| slender lespedeza | LEVI7 | Lespedeza virginica | Native | – | – | |
| Texas goldentop | EUGY | Euthamia gymnospermoides | Native | – | – | |
| Illinois bundleflower | DEIL | Desmanthus illinoensis | Native | – | – | |
| blackeyed Susan | RUHI2 | Rudbeckia hirta | Native | – | – | |
| fringeleaf wild petunia | RUHU | Ruellia humilis | Native | – | – | |
| Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | Native | – | – | |
| skyblue aster | SYOO | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | Native | – | – | |
| Arkansas ironweed | VEAR3 | Vernonia arkansana | Native | – | – | |
| white wild indigo | BAAL | Baptisia alba | Native | – | – | |
| white prairie clover | DACA7 | Dalea candida | Native | – | – | |
| grooved flax | LISU4 | Linum sulcatum | Native | – | – | |
| narrowleaf mountainmint | PYTE | Pycnanthemum tenuifolium | Native | – | – | |
| roundhead lespedeza | LECA8 | Lespedeza capitata | Native | – | – | |
| common sneezeweed | HEAU | Helenium autumnale | Native | – | – | |
| prairie blazing star | LIPY | Liatris pycnostachya | Native | – | – | |
| bluejacket | TROH | Tradescantia ohiensis | Native | – | – | |
| sessileleaf ticktrefoil | DESE | Desmodium sessilifolium | Native | – | – | |
| groovestem Indian plantain | ARPL4 | Arnoglossum plantagineum | Native | – | – | |
| Virginia bunchflower | VEVI5 | Veratrum virginicum | Native | – | – | |
| lanceleaf loosestrife | LYLA | Lysimachia lanceolata | Native | – | – | |
| foxglove beardtongue | PEDI | Penstemon digitalis | Native | – | – | |
| button eryngo | ERYU | Eryngium yuccifolium | Native | – | – | |
| Culver's root | VEVI4 | Veronicastrum virginicum | Native | – | – | |
| slender sunflower | HEGR3 | Helianthus gracilentus | Native | – | – | |
| purple meadow-rue | THDA | Thalictrum dasycarpum | Native | – | – | |
| stiff cowbane | OXRI | Oxypolis rigidior | Native | – | – | |
| common boneset | EUPE3 | Eupatorium perfoliatum | Native | – | – | |
| obedient plant | PHVI8 | Physostegia virginiana | Native | – | – | |
| Canada germander | TECA3 | Teucrium canadense | Native | – | – | |
| Allegheny monkeyflower | MIRI | Mimulus ringens | Native | – | – | |
| golden zizia | ZIAU | Zizia aurea | Native | – | – | |
| fourflower yellow loosestrife | LYQU | Lysimachia quadriflora | Native | – | – | |
| sweet coneflower | RUSU | Rudbeckia subtomentosa | Native | – | – | |
| spotted water hemlock | CIMA2 | Cicuta maculata | Native | – | – | |
| seedbox | LUAL2 | Ludwigia alternifolia | Native | – | – | |
| compassplant | SILA3 | Silphium laciniatum | Native | – | – | |
| velvetbells | BAAL4 | Bartsia alpina | Native | – | – | |
| Canadian lousewort | PECA | Pedicularis canadensis | Native | – | – | |
| winged lythrum | LYAL4 | Lythrum alatum | Native | – | – | |
|
Shrub/Subshrub
|
||||||
| Carolina rose | ROCA4 | Rosa carolina | Native | – | – | |
| prairie willow | SAHU2 | Salix humilis | Native | – | – | |
| false indigo bush | AMFR | Amorpha fruticosa | Native | – | – | |
Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife
Game species that utilize this ecological site include:
White-tailed Deer will utilize this ecological site for browse (plant leaves in the growing season, seeds and soft mast in the fall/winter). This site type also can provide escape cover.
Migratory Waterbirds: Sora, Common Snipe
Furbearers: Muskrat, Beaver, and Mink.
Bird species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition:
Breeding birds: Red-Winged Blackbird, Least Bittern, and Common Yellowthroat.
Migratory birds: Sora, Sedge Wren, Least Bittern, Yellow Rail and Common Snipe.
Amphibian and reptile species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata triseriata), Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala), Midland Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi wrightourm), and prairies with crawfish burrows may have Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa).
Small mammals associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), and Mink (Mustela vison).
Many native insect species are likely associated with this ecological site, especially native bees, ants, beetles, butterflies and moths, and crickets, grasshoppers and katydids. However information on these groups is often lacking enough resolution to assign them to individual ecological sites.
Insect species known to be associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), Cordgrass Planthopper (Prokelisia crocea), Dion Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dion), Duke’s Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dukesi), native bees (Lasioglossum hartii, Hesperapis carinata, Svastra atripes and Cemolobus ipomoeae), Bullate Meadow katydid (Orchelimum bullatum) and Sedge Grasshopper (Stethophyma celatum).
Other invertebrates: Grassland Crayfish (Procambarus gracilis)
(This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013. References for this section: Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000b; Heitzman and Heitzman 1996; Jacobs 2001; Johnson 2000; Pitts and McGuire 2000; Schwartz and others 2001)
Other information
Forestry
Management: This ecological site is not recommended for traditional timber management activity. Historically this site was dominated by a ground cover of native prairie grasses and forbs. Some scattered open grown trees may have also been present. Altered sites may be suitable for non-traditional forestry uses such as windbreaks, environmental plantings, alley cropping (a method of planting, in which rows of trees or shrubs are interspersed with rows of crops) or woody bio-fuels.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Wet Footslope Prairie
Plot COMENC03 - Parsons soil
Cook Meadow (Nature Conservancy), Barton County, MO
Latitude: 37.41753
Longitude: -94.130978
Plot COMENC05 – Sacville soil
Cook Meadow (Nature Conservancy), Barton County, MO
Latitude: 37.418087
Longitude: -94.130776
Plot COMENC06 - Summit soil
Cook Meadow (Nature Conservancy), Barton County, MO
Latitude: 37.415683
Longitude: -94.129003
Plot GOPRPF02 - Summit soil
Golden Prairie (Missouri Prairie Foundation), Barton County, MO
Latitude: 37.3542222
Longitude: - 94.151639
Other references
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.
Brinson, M.M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands. Technical Report WRP-DE-4, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, & E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington DC.
Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000a. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Ozark/Ouachitas. American Bird Conservancy.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Heitzman, J.R. and J.E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies and moths of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Ladd, D. 1991. Reexamination of the role of fire in Missouri oak woodlands. Pp. 67-80 in G.V. Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
Missouri Department of Conservation. 2010. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
NatureServe. 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Nigh, Timothy A., and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Peer, Alan C. 2004. Soil Survey of Jasper County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Pitts, D.E. and W.D. McGuire. 2000. Wildlife management for Missouri landowners. 3rd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.
Schwartz, C.W., E.R. Schwartz and J.J. Conley. 2001. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia and Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. 682 pgs.
Contributors
Doug Wallace
Fred Young
Approval
Nels Barrett, 10/07/2020
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site.
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
| Author(s)/participant(s) | |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | 10/06/2020 |
| Approved by | Nels Barrett |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.