The encroachment of woody plant species into grassland habitats is an important ecological and management issue in the Great Plains. Over the past 2 centuries, practices including fire suppression, overgrazing, and fragmentation have facilitated encroachment and converted many grasslands to forests. One of the most pervasive tree species associated with this process is eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). Redcedar is known to rapidly colonize grassland habitats and alter patterns of diversity and composition among native flora and fauna. A greater understanding of these effects is a necessary step in formulating strategies for redcedar management.
My study is designed to: 1) determine the effects of redcedar cover on grassland plants and wildlife along a gradient of encroachment and 2) assess the effectiveness of mechanical tree removal for promoting restoration of encroached grasslands. To accomplish these objectives, I will monitor annual small mammal, terrestrial invertebrate, and plant assemblages at 16 grassland sites along a gradient of redcedar encroachment. After one year, redcedars will be mechanically removed from 8 of these grassland sites and monitoring will continue for 2 years to determine the effects of tree removal. This study will increase knowledge about the ecological consequences of grassland redcedar encroachment and provide valuable insight into tree removal as a tool for managing increases in grassland woody plants.
