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• 1. [Article] Native plant revegetation at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), habitat for the endangered Fender's blue butterfly

  Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Native plant revegetation at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), habitat for the endangered Fender's blue butterfly Author: Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). This site is one of three most important remaining habitats for the Fender's blue butterfly and Kincaid's lupine, federally listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. Most of Butterfly Meadows is owned by Starker Forests (Corvallis) with a small portion owned by Oregon State University. A partnership was formed in 2002 of people and organizations interested in protecting and restoring Butterfly Meadows: Fred Pfund (Starker Forests) Matt Blakeley-Smith (Institute for Applied Ecology) Deborah Clark (Oregon State University, Biology Program) Paul Hammond (Entomologist, Private consultant) Debbie Johnson (Oregon State University, College Forests) Tom Kaye (Institute for Applied Ecology) Bruce Kelpsas (Helena Chemical Company) In fall 2002, the partnership submitted a proposal (Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and Restoration of Rare Native Upland Prairie Habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County) and received funding from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The project goal was and is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Since receiving funding in 2002, the partnership has developed and implemented herbicide treatments, beginning with small scale experiments, which control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation or the Fender's blue butterfly. We used the results of these small-scale experiments to develop strategies for restoration of larger areas of the Butterfly Meadows, which Starker Forests has implemented at its own expense. These strategies have been relatively successful in controlling false brome, but we are now at a time where we need to revegetate these areas where false brome has been controlled. These areas are too large to quickly revegetate with existing native herbaceous species, so we need to augment the site with additional seed. Transplanting greenhouse grown plants is also an option but is much more costly. We hope to apply for additional funding elsewhere for these transplants. Title: Native plant revegetation at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), habitat for the endangered Fender's blue butterfly Author: Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon's ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). This site is one of three most important remaining habitats for the Fender's blue butterfly and Kincaid's lupine, federally listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. Most of Butterfly Meadows is owned by Starker Forests (Corvallis) with a small portion owned by Oregon State University. A partnership was formed in 2002 of people and organizations interested in protecting and restoring Butterfly Meadows: Fred Pfund (Starker Forests) Matt Blakeley-Smith (Institute for Applied Ecology) Deborah Clark (Oregon State University, Biology Program) Paul Hammond (Entomologist, Private consultant) Debbie Johnson (Oregon State University, College Forests) Tom Kaye (Institute for Applied Ecology) Bruce Kelpsas (Helena Chemical Company) In fall 2002, the partnership submitted a proposal (Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and Restoration of Rare Native Upland Prairie Habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County) and received funding from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The project goal was and is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Since receiving funding in 2002, the partnership has developed and implemented herbicide treatments, beginning with small scale experiments, which control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation or the Fender's blue butterfly. We used the results of these small-scale experiments to develop strategies for restoration of larger areas of the Butterfly Meadows, which Starker Forests has implemented at its own expense. These strategies have been relatively successful in controlling false brome, but we are now at a time where we need to revegetate these areas where false brome has been controlled. These areas are too large to quickly revegetate with existing native herbaceous species, so we need to augment the site with additional seed. Transplanting greenhouse grown plants is also an option but is much more costly. We hope to apply for additional funding elsewhere for these transplants. Close

• 2. [Article] Final report, year two: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1514 GR

  Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Final report, year two: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1514 GR Author: Johnson, Deborah, Pfund, Fred, Hammond, Paul, Blakeley-Smith, Matt, Vomocil, Marc, Kaye, Tom, Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950-, Kelpsas, Bruce, Wilson, Mark V. Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum. This site is one of the three most important remaining habitats for the Fender’s blue butterfly and Kincaid’s lupine, listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. We propose to develop and implement herbicide treatments that control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation. We will also develop and implement measures to reestablish native species from seed after removal of Brachypodium sylvaticum. Conifers and mature shrubs that have encroached on the meadow, both on the edge and in the complex, will be removed by mechanical means or girdling with herbicides. We propose to construct a buffer zone between the boundary of Butterfly Meadows and the neighboring intact forest and recently clear-cut areas, which are continuing sources of seed of Brachypodium sylvaticum invading Butterfly Meadows. This buffer zone will extend into both Starker Forest owned portions and OSU owned portions. To determine the success of control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and woody species and restoration of native vegetation, we will monitor changes in abundance of Brachypodium sylvaticum, woody species, and native vegetation. We will use monitoring results to adjust future Brachypodium sylvaticum control measures and native vegetation restoration measures as needed. Title: Final report, year two: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1514 GR Author: Johnson, Deborah, Pfund, Fred, Hammond, Paul, Blakeley-Smith, Matt, Vomocil, Marc, Kaye, Tom, Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950-, Kelpsas, Bruce, Wilson, Mark V. Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum. This site is one of the three most important remaining habitats for the Fender’s blue butterfly and Kincaid’s lupine, listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. We propose to develop and implement herbicide treatments that control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation. We will also develop and implement measures to reestablish native species from seed after removal of Brachypodium sylvaticum. Conifers and mature shrubs that have encroached on the meadow, both on the edge and in the complex, will be removed by mechanical means or girdling with herbicides. We propose to construct a buffer zone between the boundary of Butterfly Meadows and the neighboring intact forest and recently clear-cut areas, which are continuing sources of seed of Brachypodium sylvaticum invading Butterfly Meadows. This buffer zone will extend into both Starker Forest owned portions and OSU owned portions. To determine the success of control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and woody species and restoration of native vegetation, we will monitor changes in abundance of Brachypodium sylvaticum, woody species, and native vegetation. We will use monitoring results to adjust future Brachypodium sylvaticum control measures and native vegetation restoration measures as needed. Close

• 3. [Article] Final report [year one]: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1342 GR

  Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Final report [year one]: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1342 GR Author: Johnson, Deborah, Pfund, Fred, Hammond, Paul, Wilson, Mark V., Vomocil, Marc, Kaye, Tom, Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950-, Kelpsas, Bruce Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum. This site is one of the three most important remaining habitats for the Fender’s blue butterfly and Kincaid’s lupine, listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. We propose to develop and implement herbicide treatments that control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation. We will also develop and implement measures to reestablish native species from seed after removal of Brachypodium sylvaticum. Conifers and mature shrubs that have encroached on the meadow, both on the edge and in the complex, will be removed by mechanical means or girdling. We propose to construct a buffer zone between the boundary of Butterfly Meadows and the neighboring intact forest and recently clear-cut areas, which are continuing sources of seed of Brachypodium sylvaticum invading Butterfly Meadows. This buffer zone will extend into both Starker Forest owned portions and OSU owned portions. To determine the success of control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and woody species and restoration of native vegetation, we will monitor changes in abundance of Brachypodium sylvaticum, woody species, and native vegetation. We will use monitoring results to adjust future Brachypodium sylvaticum control measures and native vegetation restoration measures as needed. Title: Final report [year one]: Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and restoration of rare native upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows, Benton County ODA 1342 GR Author: Johnson, Deborah, Pfund, Fred, Hammond, Paul, Wilson, Mark V., Vomocil, Marc, Kaye, Tom, Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950-, Kelpsas, Bruce Our project goal is to protect and restore rare Willamette Valley upland prairie habitat at Butterfly Meadows (Benton County) from invasion by the noxious weed Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). Native prairies, which once dominated the landscape of the Willamette Valley, are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. One of the largest remaining parcels of native upland prairie, Butterfly Meadows (Benton County), is being invaded by Brachypodium sylvaticum. This site is one of the three most important remaining habitats for the Fender’s blue butterfly and Kincaid’s lupine, listed as Endangered and Threatened respectively. We propose to develop and implement herbicide treatments that control Brachypodium sylvaticum without harming native prairie vegetation. We will also develop and implement measures to reestablish native species from seed after removal of Brachypodium sylvaticum. Conifers and mature shrubs that have encroached on the meadow, both on the edge and in the complex, will be removed by mechanical means or girdling. We propose to construct a buffer zone between the boundary of Butterfly Meadows and the neighboring intact forest and recently clear-cut areas, which are continuing sources of seed of Brachypodium sylvaticum invading Butterfly Meadows. This buffer zone will extend into both Starker Forest owned portions and OSU owned portions. To determine the success of control of Brachypodium sylvaticum and woody species and restoration of native vegetation, we will monitor changes in abundance of Brachypodium sylvaticum, woody species, and native vegetation. We will use monitoring results to adjust future Brachypodium sylvaticum control measures and native vegetation restoration measures as needed. Close

• 4. [Article] Final Report: Controlling Tall Oatgrass in Fender’s Blue Butterfly Habitats

  We report final results from a five-year field experiment evaluating the effects of different mowing regimes on groups of native and non-native grasses and forbs. The study site was a degraded prairie ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Final Report: Controlling Tall Oatgrass in Fender’s Blue Butterfly Habitats Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- We report final results from a five-year field experiment evaluating the effects of different mowing regimes on groups of native and non-native grasses and forbs. The study site was a degraded prairie at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge dominated by the pest plant Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass). Mowing treatments differed in time of year they were applied, mowing height, and removal of cut material. Treatments started in 1994 and continued through 1998. Title: Final Report: Controlling Tall Oatgrass in Fender’s Blue Butterfly Habitats Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- We report final results from a five-year field experiment evaluating the effects of different mowing regimes on groups of native and non-native grasses and forbs. The study site was a degraded prairie at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge dominated by the pest plant Arrhenatherum elatius (tall oatgrass). Mowing treatments differed in time of year they were applied, mowing height, and removal of cut material. Treatments started in 1994 and continued through 1998. Close

• 5. [Article] Final report: Restoration of Fender’s blue butterfly and its prairie ecosystem: Management applications of fire to Baskett Slough NWR

  We tested the recolonization ability of the Fender’s blue butterfly and monitored the vegetation response to a management-scale prescribed fire at the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, western Oregon. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Final report: Restoration of Fender’s blue butterfly and its prairie ecosystem: Management applications of fire to Baskett Slough NWR Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- We tested the recolonization ability of the Fender’s blue butterfly and monitored the vegetation response to a management-scale prescribed fire at the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, western Oregon. The prescribed fire successfully cut shrub cover in half, but also reduced the size of Festuca roemeri, a dominant native grass. Although the fire killed all Fender’s blue butterfly larvae, as expected, adult females were able to recolonize the burned area from a nearby, unburned patch. These results support predictions that the Fender’s blue butterfly can recolonize burned areas for a distance of at least 100 m. Title: Final report: Restoration of Fender’s blue butterfly and its prairie ecosystem: Management applications of fire to Baskett Slough NWR Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- We tested the recolonization ability of the Fender’s blue butterfly and monitored the vegetation response to a management-scale prescribed fire at the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, western Oregon. The prescribed fire successfully cut shrub cover in half, but also reduced the size of Festuca roemeri, a dominant native grass. Although the fire killed all Fender’s blue butterfly larvae, as expected, adult females were able to recolonize the burned area from a nearby, unburned patch. These results support predictions that the Fender’s blue butterfly can recolonize burned areas for a distance of at least 100 m. Close

• 6. [Article] Restoration of native upland prairies: Habitat for Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi)

  Our project goal is to promote the abundance of the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) by recreating upland prairie habitat in former agricultural land at Finley National ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Restoration of native upland prairies: Habitat for Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Our project goal is to promote the abundance of the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) by recreating upland prairie habitat in former agricultural land at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon. To achieve this goal we initiated the following three studies. Study One: Experimental Investigation on the Effectiveness of Restoration Treatments Our approach was to set up experimental field plots in a former agricultural field into which we sowed seeds of native grasses and dicots in the fall for two years, 2003 and 2004. Objective one: Investigate the effect of carbon banding on abundance of sowed native species and non-native species. Carbon banding is a treatment used by Willamette Valley grass seed farmers to promote seedling establishment of agricultural grasses and inhibit seedling establishment of weeds. Objective two: Investigate the effect of the sowing sequence of native dicot and grass species on the abundance and species richness of the sowed species. Our experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that our native grasses are more aggressive than the target native dicots in the initial stages of restoration. Objective three: Investigate the effect of the sowing sequence of the native dicot and grass species on the abundance of non-native species. Study Two: Monoculture Sowing of Native Species Compare the cover of non-native species and the cover of native species one and two years after sowing native species in monocultures. Study Three: Buffer Sowing of Native Grasses Monitor the abundance of the native grasses sowed in the buffer areas outside the experimental plots. Carbon banding had no significant effect on cover of non-native species or on cover and species richness of sowed native dicots or grasses after both the first and second growing seasons. However, carbon banding tended to reduce the cover of the annual Clarkia rhomboidea after the first growing season. Our results supported the hypothesis that our native grasses are more aggressive than the target native dicots in the initial stages of restoration. The sowing sequences tested did not affect cover and species richness of grasses but did affect cover and species richness of dicot species. Both dicot cover and dicot species richness were greater when sowed a year ahead of the grasses. Eriophyllum lanatum had significantly greater cover when sowed a year before the grasses. Average cover of sowed dicots was significantly greater when dicots were sowed with grasses compared to when dicots were sowed into a year-old stand of grasses. In particular, Madia gracilis and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata had less cover when sowed into the existing stand of grass. Species richness of all native species (grasses + dicots) was significantly less when dicots were sowed into a year-old stand of grasses. However, total cover and species richness of sowed native species (grasses + dicots) were not significantly different whether dicots were sowed a year ahead of the grasses or whether dicots and grasses were sowed together. Average cover of sowed native dicots after two years was always greater than the cover of sowed native grasses except when dicots were sowed a year after the grasses. After two growing seasons, non-native cover did not significantly vary among the three sowing sequences of sowing grasses and dicots at the same time, sowing grasses into existing dicot vegetation, and sowing grasses into existing dicot vegetation. The first year after sowing the monocultures (Study two), Collinsia grandiflora had the highest cover, greatly surpassing the next top performers, Sanguisorba occidentalis and Madia gracilis, all of which are annual species. In general, the cover of individual species sowed in monocultures decreased the second year after sowing. Only seven species, all of which were perennials, out of the 26 sowed species increased in cover. Two of these species Eriophyllum lanatum and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata were the top performers for 2005, but their cover did not reach the levels of the top performers in 2004. Title: Restoration of native upland prairies: Habitat for Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Our project goal is to promote the abundance of the endangered Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) by recreating upland prairie habitat in former agricultural land at Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Corvallis, Oregon. To achieve this goal we initiated the following three studies. Study One: Experimental Investigation on the Effectiveness of Restoration Treatments Our approach was to set up experimental field plots in a former agricultural field into which we sowed seeds of native grasses and dicots in the fall for two years, 2003 and 2004. Objective one: Investigate the effect of carbon banding on abundance of sowed native species and non-native species. Carbon banding is a treatment used by Willamette Valley grass seed farmers to promote seedling establishment of agricultural grasses and inhibit seedling establishment of weeds. Objective two: Investigate the effect of the sowing sequence of native dicot and grass species on the abundance and species richness of the sowed species. Our experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that our native grasses are more aggressive than the target native dicots in the initial stages of restoration. Objective three: Investigate the effect of the sowing sequence of the native dicot and grass species on the abundance of non-native species. Study Two: Monoculture Sowing of Native Species Compare the cover of non-native species and the cover of native species one and two years after sowing native species in monocultures. Study Three: Buffer Sowing of Native Grasses Monitor the abundance of the native grasses sowed in the buffer areas outside the experimental plots. Carbon banding had no significant effect on cover of non-native species or on cover and species richness of sowed native dicots or grasses after both the first and second growing seasons. However, carbon banding tended to reduce the cover of the annual Clarkia rhomboidea after the first growing season. Our results supported the hypothesis that our native grasses are more aggressive than the target native dicots in the initial stages of restoration. The sowing sequences tested did not affect cover and species richness of grasses but did affect cover and species richness of dicot species. Both dicot cover and dicot species richness were greater when sowed a year ahead of the grasses. Eriophyllum lanatum had significantly greater cover when sowed a year before the grasses. Average cover of sowed dicots was significantly greater when dicots were sowed with grasses compared to when dicots were sowed into a year-old stand of grasses. In particular, Madia gracilis and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata had less cover when sowed into the existing stand of grass. Species richness of all native species (grasses + dicots) was significantly less when dicots were sowed into a year-old stand of grasses. However, total cover and species richness of sowed native species (grasses + dicots) were not significantly different whether dicots were sowed a year ahead of the grasses or whether dicots and grasses were sowed together. Average cover of sowed native dicots after two years was always greater than the cover of sowed native grasses except when dicots were sowed a year after the grasses. After two growing seasons, non-native cover did not significantly vary among the three sowing sequences of sowing grasses and dicots at the same time, sowing grasses into existing dicot vegetation, and sowing grasses into existing dicot vegetation. The first year after sowing the monocultures (Study two), Collinsia grandiflora had the highest cover, greatly surpassing the next top performers, Sanguisorba occidentalis and Madia gracilis, all of which are annual species. In general, the cover of individual species sowed in monocultures decreased the second year after sowing. Only seven species, all of which were perennials, out of the 26 sowed species increased in cover. Two of these species Eriophyllum lanatum and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata were the top performers for 2005, but their cover did not reach the levels of the top performers in 2004. Close