John E. Ebinger

Fire History of a Post Oak (Quercus stellata Wang.) Woodland in Hamilton County, Illinois

Abstract Cross-sections of 36 post oaks (Quercus stellata Wang.) were examined to determine the fire history of a post oak woodland in Hamilton County, Illinois. The 226-year tree ring record contained three distinct periods; a fire era from 1776 to1850 having a mean fire return interval of 1.97 years, a fire-free period from 1851 to1884, and a second fire era from 1885 to 1996 having a mean fire return interval of 1.44 years. The fire-free interval corresponds with the rapid settlement of Hamilton County during 1850–85. The fires between 1770 and 1850 are considered landscape fires associated with Native Americans and/or early European settlers, while those between 1885 and 1996 are thought to be due to burning of local woodlands, a practice that became increasingly less common in the late 20th century. Three post oak cohorts were identified, including 211–224 year-old (217-year mean), 137–151 year-old (144-year mean), and 104–115 year-old (105-year mean) age classes. Post oak recruitment ended and fire sensitive hickories (Carya ovata and C. tomentosa), black cherry (Prunus serotina), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and black oak (Quercus velutina) now dominate the seedling and sapling layers of the woodland.

Floristic Assessment of the Henry Allan Gleason Nature Preserve, Mason County, Illinois

Abstract The Henry Allan Gleason Nature Preserve is located in the extensive glacial sand deposits associated with the Illinois River in central Illinois. An extensive sand dune is present within the preserve on which undisturbed dry sand prairie, disturbed dry sand prairie, and blow-out communities are present. The undisturbed sand prairie is dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium (42% of the importance value [IV]), along with Tephrosia virginiana, Opuntia humifusa, and Ambrosia psilostachya. The disturbed sand prairie is dominated by Eragrostis trichodes (24% of the IV), followed by Heterotheca camporum, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Rhus aromatica. Common species in an active blow-out includes Aristida tuberculosa and Cyperus grayioides, while nearly stabilized blow-outs have a high diversity characterized by Bouteloua hirsuta, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Eragrostis trichodes. A total of 172 plant species were found: 4 fern and fern-allies, 3 gymnosperms, 39 monocots, 126 dicots. Thirty-one non-native species were found, comprising about 18% of the flora. The Floristic Quality Index for the nature preserve is 41.33 when the non-native species are included in the calculations.

Prairie and Savanna Vegetation of Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve, Will County, Illinois

ABSTRACT Vegetation of the Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve in Will County, Illinois, was studied during the growing seasons of 2004 and 2005. Located in the northeastern part of the Kankakee sand deposits, this site is a small remnant of sand prairie and sand savanna vegetation that once contained extensive marsh, wet, mesic, and dry sand prairie communities. The dry sand prairie was dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium with an Importance Value (IV) of 33.3 (200 possible) followed by Opuntia humifusa and Dichanthelium villosissimum with IVs of 23.9 and 20.3, respectively. In the dry-mesic sand prairie Solidago nemoralis (IV of 24.7) and Schizachyrium scoparium (IV of 23.8) were co-dominant. Two distinct ground layer communities were encountered in the dry-mesic sand savanna, one dominated by Pteridium aquilinum, and one where this species was absent. The dominant overstory species was Quercus velutina along with a few individuals of Q. alba. Woody overstory averaged 188.1 stems/ha, with a basal area of 15.57 m2/ha. A few small sedge meadows occurred in the Preserve. Carex stricta dominated these sedge meadows with an IV of 44.5, with Helianthus grosseserratus, Thelypteris palustris, and Galium obtusum also common. A total of 448 vascular plant taxa were found on the Preserve, 13 fern and fern-allies, one gymnosperm, 120 monocots, and 314 dicots. Fifty-four exotic taxa were encountered, representing about 13% of the species found.

Vascular Flora of Beadles Barrens Nature Preserve, Edwards County, Illinois

Abstract The floristic composition of Beadles Barrens Nature Preserve, located in west-central Edwards County, Illinois was studied during the growing seasons of 1999–2002. The vascular flora of this 4.0 ha preserve consisted of 306 species in 75 families, including 65 species not previously reported from Edwards County. The herbaceous layer was dominated by prairie grasses with Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (IV = 61.5 of 100) being the most abundant. Many other prairie species were common with Soliadgo nemoralis Ait., Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Schrad. and Carex spp. having the highest importance values. Trees were sparse with most occurring in a small (0.125 ha) grove located in the northwest corner of the barrens. Tree density in the grove was 432 trees/ha with Diospyros virginiana L. (IV = 54.6) and Quercus stellata Wangh. (IV = 53.9) being co-dominants. Herbaceous species were also sparse in the grove, consisting of Danthonia spicata (L.) Roem. & Schultes, Antennaria spp., and Lechea tenuifolia Michx. The Floristic Quality Index for the site was 61.3.

Floristic Study of Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve, Mason County, Illinois

ABSTRACT The 590 ha Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve in Mason County, Illinois contains remnant dry sand prairies, sand savanna, sand forest, and successional fields. Purchased in 1969, the abandoned agricultural fields have been allowed to re-vegetate naturally. The vegetation of a mature dry sand prairie was compared with two successional fields, one 60- and one 30-years-old. The mature dry sand prairie was dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Dichanthelium villosissimum (hairy panic grass), Tephrosia virginiana (goats-rue), Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed), and Opuntia humifusa (common pricklypear). Eragrostis trichodes (sand love grass) dominated the 60-year-old successional fields. The 30-year-old successional field was dominated by Eragrostis trichodes, Strophostyles helvula (wild bean), and Monarda punctata (horsemint). A total of 393 vascular plant species were documented for the preserve.

A Floristic Inventory and Vegetation Survey of Three Dolomite Prairies in Northeastern Illinois

ABSTRACTu2003 Dolomite prairies are rare natural plant communities, with a few high-quality examples in northeastern Illinois. In this study, three dolomite prairies located in southwestern Will County, Illinois, were surveyed to assess species composition and quality. Two of the dolomite prairies were located on the Des Plaines Wildlife Conservation Area (i.e., Blodgett Road Dolomite Prairie Natural Area and Grant Creek Nature Preserve) and the third in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (i.e., Exxon Mobil Natural Area). Overall, a total of 438 taxa were recorded: 318 at Blodgett Road, 255 at Exxon Mobil, and 270 at Grant Creek, with 129 common to them all. Of these, 97 were mesic or wet prairie species, 26 were nonnative taxa, and six were native woody species. Three state endangered and two state threatened species were found associated with these dolomite prairies. The Blodgett Road site was dominated by the annual grass Sporobolus vaginiflorus, along with Andropogon gerardii, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia. The Exxon Mobil site was dominated by the exotic species Poa compressa and Daucus carota, and several native taxa including Sporobolus vaginiflorus, Allium cernuum, Andropogon gerardii, and Solidago altissima. The Grant Creek location was dominated by Sporobolus heterolepis, Rosa carolina, Sorghastrum nutans, and Solidago altissima. These three dolomite prairies can be considered good quality natural areas based on species richness and floristic quality. However, the presence and occasional dominance of nonnative species suggests the need for implementation and continuation of management practices that should maintain or improve their quality.

Vegetation of Hooper Branch Nature Preserve, Iroquois County, Illinois

Abstract n The Hooper Branch Nature Preserve is located in the extensive dune and swale topography of the sand deposits of northeastern Illinois. The plant communities present at the time of this survey were similar to those of pre-settlement times. The vegetation associated with the dunes had not been disturbed except for past grazing; the swales, in contrast, were drained and farmed before the area was dedicated in 1986. Dry and dry-mesic sand savanna was associated with the dunes where Quercus velutina (Black Oak) accounted for 75% to 97% of the importance value in the savanna. Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge) was the dominant ground cover species usually followed by Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem). In parts of the preserve that had been most recently burned, woody species were more common in the ground layer, with the most important being Q. velutina seedlings, Rhus copallina (Dwarf Sumac), and Rubus allegheniensis (Common Blackberry). A 3-ha flatwoods in the Preserve was dominated by Q. palustris (Pin Oak), which accounted for nearly 95% of the overstory.

Vascular Flora of Iroquois Woods Nature Preserve, Kankakee County, Illinois

Abstract The Iroquois Woods Nature Preserve, located just south of Aroma Park, Kankakee County, is in the Kankakee Sand Area of northeastern Illinois. Three relatively distinct topographic zones exist within the preserve (low terrace, shallow depression, high sand terrace). The forest overstory in all three zones, however, is very similar with most of the same species occurring in each zone, but in different densities. These natural communities are probably due to elevation, distance from the river, soil moisture, and erosion due to flooding events. In the low terrace (mesic sand forest), located near the edge of the Iroquois River channel, Quercus rubra, Tilia americana, Ulmus rubra, Aesculus glabra, and Q. macrocarpa dominate, with the oaks in the larger diameter class. In the shallow depression (wet-mesic sand forest) behind the low terrace Quercus bicolor dominated with 50 stems/ha and accounted for almost half of the total basal area. Tilia americana and U. americana were second and third in importance due to the large number of small diameter individuals. East of the depression was a high sand terrace (dry-mesic sand forest) dominated by Q. alba followed by U. americana, Q. velutina, Prunus serotina, and Q. rubra. This preserve contains one of the few examples of high quality mesic sand forests in the state, but oak regeneration is limited, and shade-tolerant species are becoming more abundant.

Sand prairie communities of Matanzas nature preserve, Mason County, Illinois

ABSTRACT The Matanzas Prairie Nature Preserve is located near Bath, Mason County, Illinois, in the extensive glacial sand deposits associated with the Illinois River. This Preserve contains the only remaining high quality wet-mesic sand prairie, shrub prairie, and sedge meadow associated with the Illinois River sand deposits. The sedge meadow, about 5 ha in size, was dominated by Carex stricta (Importance Value or IV of 66.6 out of 200), Calamagrostis canadensis, and Rosa palustris (both with IVs of 28.3). The wet-mesic sand prairie occurred on slightly higher ground and was dominated by Solidago canadensis (IV of 34.2), Andropogon gerardii (IV of 25.9), Carex stricta (IV of 21.9), Poa pratensis (IV of 18.0), and Euthamia graminifolia (IV of 17.7). Parts of the Preserve were shrub prairie with a ground layer similar to the wet-mesic sand prairie community. A total of 340 species of vascular plants were encountered on the Preserve: 5 fern and fern-allies; 100 monocots; and, 235 dicots. Except for Poa pratensis, which was among the dominant species in the wet-mesic sand prairie and shrub prairie, the 38 exotic species were rarely encountered (11% of the flora). The Floristic Quality Index (including exotic species) for the sedge meadow was 38.80, the wet-mesic sand prairie 43.65, and the shrub prairie 31.76.

Flora and vegetation of Coneflower Glacial Drift Hill Prairie Natural Area, Moultrie County, Illinois

Abstract The vascular flora of Coneflower Glacial Drift Hill Prairie Natural Area in Moultrie County, east-central Illinois, was studied during the growing seasons of 2002 and 2003. The prairie is located on a steep SW-facing hillside of the Cerro Gordo Glacial Moraine, overlooking the Kaskaskia River Valley and Lake Shelbyville. The flora was documented by general reconnaissance, and the structure of the vegetation was sampled in September 2003 using 0.25 m2 plots placed along two transects. The site supported 164 vascular plant species (including one named hybrid). The native grasses with the highest importance values were Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) and Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem). Important forbs included Euphorbia corollata (flowering spurge), Helianthus divaricatus (woodland sunflower), Ratibida pinnata (drooping coneflower), and Comandra umbellata (false toadflax). Exotic species were represented by 28 taxa, 16.4% of the flora. The community had a Floristic Quality Index of 38.82, indicating a site of statewide significance.