Print Report
M054 Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Liatris spicata Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This Great Plains tallgrass prairie macrogroup is dominated by a suite of tall and mid-height grasses and forbs, including the grasses Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Tripsacum dactyloides. It is found over a range of moisture conditions on glaciated and unglaciated soils from Texas to Manitoba. Because of the relatively moist climate, the type is dependent on fire for maintenance of species richness and suppression of woody plant encroachment.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Central Lowlands Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup encompasses tallgrass prairie grasslands occurring on glacial features and flat to rolling landscapes across North America from Texas to Manitoba where fire regularly occurs. It includes perennial grassland species and associated forb species across its range. Predominant grass species include Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Northern mesic sites may also include Sporobolus heterolepis and Muhlenbergia richardsonis. Drier, rocky sites contain Bouteloua curtipendula and Hesperostipa spartea. Southward, dominants may also include Tripsacum dactyloides and Paspalum plicatulum. A wide diversity of forbs are present and even dominant, including Achillea spp., Echinacea spp., Helianthus spp., Liatris spp., Lobelia spicata, Ratibida pinnata, Silphium spp., Solidago spp., and Symphyotrichum spp. Woody species are rare but rockier sites may contain scattered trees tolerant of droughty conditions and periodic fire, such as Quercus macrocarpa and Pinus banksiana. A wide variety of forbs can contribute to the vegetation cover. Species composition varies geographically. Grazing and fire influenced species composition and distribution of this macrogroup historically, but a substantial reduction in fire frequency has allowed woody plants or other grasses to become dominant in many examples. Poor grazing practices can lead to soil erosion and invasion by cool-season grasses such as Bromus inermis and Poa pratensis. Much of this macrogroup has been converted to agriculture and very few unaltered examples persist in the current, highly fragmented landscape.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tallgrass prairie typically dominated by the grasses Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans with <10% tree and <25% shrub cover. Northward, mid-height associates include Sporobolus heterolepis and Muhlenbergia richardsonis along with native C-3 graminoids, such as Carex spp., Dichanthelium spp., and Hesperostipa spartea. Southward, dominants may also include Tripsacum dactyloides and Paspalum plicatulum. A suite of diagnostic forbs needs to be developed, including Achillea spp., Echinacea spp., Helianthus spp., Liatris spp., Lobelia spicata, Ratibida pinnata, Silphium spp., Solidago spp., and Symphyotrichum spp.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This macrogroup (M054) includes sandy and rocky prairies in the northern and central Midwest but does not include the Sandhills or sand prairies in the western Great Plains, including states such as the Dakotas, Kansas or Nebraska. Those are covered by ~Great Plains Sand Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup (M052)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tallgrass prairie is characterized by perennial C-4 grasses with flowering culms that reach heights of 2 m (6 feet) or more when they mature in late summer. Tallgrass prairie has the greatest number of native plant species of any of the mid-continent North American prairies. The very tall grasses are accompanied by numerous shorter grasses and many perennial forbs. Some stands are dominated by forbs (Woodward 2008).
Floristics: Andropogon gerardii is the characteristic tall sod-forming grass, with Sorghastrum nutans. Schizachyrium scoparium and Sporobolus heterolepis are common mid- to tall-sized bunchgrass associates. Bouteloua curtipendula is an important short bunchgrass on sandy or gravelly soils, or in Texas hay meadows occurring on deep clays. On wetter sites Calamagrostis canadensis, Calamagrostis stricta, Panicum virgatum, and Spartina pectinata can be abundant. Southward, dominants may also include Tripsacum dactyloides and Paspalum plicatulum. Forbs are very common and a wide variety can be found across the range of this macrogroup. Among these are Achillea spp., Echinacea spp., Helianthus spp., Liatris spp., Lobelia spicata, Ratibida pinnata, Silphium spp., Solidago spp., and Symphyotrichum spp. (Woodward 2008). An example of the diversity of forbs found in tallgrass prairie in central Illinois include the following: A suite of diagnostic forbs, ranking among dominants in Illinois prairies, would include Comandra umbellata, Eryngium yuccifolium, Euphorbia corollata, Fragaria virginiana, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus pauciflorus (= Helianthus rigidus), Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris spicata, Oligoneuron rigidum, Parthenium integrifolium, Phlox pilosa, Ratibida pinnata, Silphium laciniatum, Silphium integrifolium, Silphium terebinthinaceum, and Symphyotrichum ericoides (J. Taft pers. comm. 2014). Scattered shrubs include Amorpha canescens, Ceanothus americanus, Corylus americana, and Rosa carolina. The actinorhizal shrub Ceanothus americanus has been shown to structure mesic tallgrass prairie (Taft and Dawson 2011).
Dynamics: Disturbance is necessary to maintain and rejuvenate stands of this macrogroup, because climatic conditions are suitable for the growth of trees and/or shrubs. Historically, fire, grazing, and periodic drought prevented woody species from displacing grassland vegetation and also provided a variety of conditions across the landscape fostering species richness (Anderson 1990b). The fire-return interval in the Central Tallgrass Prairie region has been estimated at 3-5 years (Wright and Bailey 1982b). This return interval, combined with the patchy nature of burned versus unburned areas affected by fires, are sufficient to suppress the expansion of woody species and promote a diverse assemblage of herbaceous species (Risser 1990). In Illinois, maximum species diversity is maintained by frequent fire (every 1-2 years) (Bowles and Jones 2013), but in other parts of the region, such frequent fires may lead to strong dominance by grasses. The dominant grasses also exhibit a compensatory growth response to clipping and/or burning, which could be in response to a nutrient flush (particularly in the form of potash) that follows a burn (Ehrenreich 1959). The removal of litter/mulch by fire also increases the exposed soil surface, allowing more light to reach the ground.
While shrub thickets locally are (were) part of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, the widespread expansion of shrubs largely is an artifact of an altered fire regime resulting in reduced fire frequency and is one of the greatest management concerns and threats to biodiversity in the region of the tallgrass prairie (e.g., Briggs et al. 2005, Taft and Kron 2014).
While shrub thickets locally are (were) part of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, the widespread expansion of shrubs largely is an artifact of an altered fire regime resulting in reduced fire frequency and is one of the greatest management concerns and threats to biodiversity in the region of the tallgrass prairie (e.g., Briggs et al. 2005, Taft and Kron 2014).
Environmental Description: The climate of the bulk of the range of this macrogroup is interior continental, characterized by cold winters and hot summers. Mean January minimum temperatures range from below 0°F near the Canadian border to approximately 45°F on the Texas coast. Mean July maximum temperatures range from approximately 80°F near the Canadian border to 95°F in eastern Texas. Annual precipitation ranges from under 50 cm (20 inches) in the north to approximately 127 cm (50 inches) on the Gulf coast (PRISM Climate Group 2014). Late-spring and early-summer months have the most rain and, in the north, snowmelt adds to available moisture. Tallgrass prairie often grows on unconsolidated parent materials derived from glacial deposits and loess of Pleistocene age. Soils range from deep Mollisol and sandy/gravelly soils to thin, rocky soils. Grasslands on blackland Vertisols and sandy clay loam Alfisols in Texas and Gulf coastal prairies are also included in this macrogroup. The most common single soil type is Mollisols, which have deep horizons containing much humus from decaying plant material that often produces a dark blackish brown coloration. The deep roots of the grass and capillary action bring calcium carbonate up into the subsoil (B-horizon) and raise the pH to neutral or slightly basic levels. Distinct carbonate nodules do not usually form. True chernozems have formed in this part of the biome. A major exception to the characteristically deep soils occurs in the Flint Hills in eastern Kansas and Osage Hills in western Oklahoma, where rocky soils cover limestone in places. Shallow-soil prairies over limestone also occur commonly in western Missouri (Nelson 2005) and locally in northern Illinois (including gravel substrates). Prairies on deep sand deposits are present at several locations in the northern half of Illinois (Gleason 1910, Ebinger et al. 2006).
Geographic Range: Tallgrass prairie occurs in a band from southern Manitoba, Canada, south to the Gulf coast of Texas and includes the Prairie Peninsula, where annual precipitation is considerably more than 50 cm (20 inches) a year. Tallgrass prairie may once have covered 150,000 square km (400,000 square miles). Most prairie has long since vanished under the plow. Large tracts are uncommon; many reserves are less than 0.08 square km (20 acres) in size. Important remnants occur in the Loess Hills of western Iowa, the Prairie Coteau in eastern South Dakota, the Flint Hills in Kansas, Osage Hills in Oklahoma, Osage Plains in Kansas, and the Fort Worth Prairie in Oklahoma and Texas (Woodward 2008).
Nations: CA,MX?,US
States/Provinces: AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MB, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, ON, SD, TX, WI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860688
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.a Little Bluestem - Prairie Bishop - Brownseed Crowngrass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G335 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.a |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie Group | G334 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G333 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G075 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Blackland Prairie (Andropogon-Stipa): 76 (Küchler 1964) [Küchler types 74, 76 and 77 are included in this macrogroup.]
> Bluestem Prairie (601) (Shiflet 1994) [Equivalent to M054 from North Dakota to Kansas and possibly into eastern Oklahoma.]
> Bluestem Prairie (710) (Shiflet 1994) [Equivalent to M054 in the Osage Hills of Oklahoma (southern Flint Hills).]
> Bluestem Prairie (Andropogon-Panicum-Sorghastrum): 74 (Küchler 1964) [Küchler types 74, 76 and 77 are included in this macrogroup.]
> Bluestem-Sacahuista Prairie (711) (Shiflet 1994)
> Bluestem-Sacahuista Prairie (Andropogon-Spartina): 77 (Küchler 1964) [Küchler types 74, 76 and 77 are included in this macrogroup.]
> Coastal Prairie (Barbour and Billings 2000) [Coastal Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie equal M054.]
> Dry-mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
> Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
> Little Bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas Wintergrass (717) (Shiflet 1994)
> Mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
= Prairie (Weaver and Fitzpatrick 1934) [Simply called "true prairie," the authors provide one of the first detailed tallgrass prairie descriptions across the central region.]
> Tallgrass Prairie (Barbour and Billings 2000) [Coastal Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie equal M054.]
= True and Upper Coastal Prairie grassland (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
> Wet-mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
> Bluestem Prairie (601) (Shiflet 1994) [Equivalent to M054 from North Dakota to Kansas and possibly into eastern Oklahoma.]
> Bluestem Prairie (710) (Shiflet 1994) [Equivalent to M054 in the Osage Hills of Oklahoma (southern Flint Hills).]
> Bluestem Prairie (Andropogon-Panicum-Sorghastrum): 74 (Küchler 1964) [Küchler types 74, 76 and 77 are included in this macrogroup.]
> Bluestem-Sacahuista Prairie (711) (Shiflet 1994)
> Bluestem-Sacahuista Prairie (Andropogon-Spartina): 77 (Küchler 1964) [Küchler types 74, 76 and 77 are included in this macrogroup.]
> Coastal Prairie (Barbour and Billings 2000) [Coastal Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie equal M054.]
> Dry-mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
> Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
> Little Bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas Wintergrass (717) (Shiflet 1994)
> Mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
= Prairie (Weaver and Fitzpatrick 1934) [Simply called "true prairie," the authors provide one of the first detailed tallgrass prairie descriptions across the central region.]
> Tallgrass Prairie (Barbour and Billings 2000) [Coastal Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie equal M054.]
= True and Upper Coastal Prairie grassland (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
> Wet-mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
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