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One important goal in prairie restorations is to have forb species that flower throughout the growing season (i.e. a range of flowering phenology). We conducted an experiment to test whether three early‐ and three late‐flowering forb species are seed or recruitment limited, if mowing can influence this limitation, and if forb additions will impact overall plant diversity in ongoing restorations.The experiment was conducted at two restorations in northern Iowa and one in southern Minnesota, USA, using a split‐plot design. Whole plots tested the effect of mowing, and subplots tested the effect of target forbs being added as seeds or small transplants at varied richness levels (0, 1, 3 or 6 species added). Control plots received no forb additions. To compare establishment success, we estimated target species biomass, survivorship and per cent cover of target species across 3 years (2019–2021). Plant diversity measures (richness, inverse Simpson's diversity) were estimated within subplots to determine whether forb additions impacted diversity.Biomass and relative abundance of early‐ and late‐flowering forbs was much higher when they were added as transplants than when added as seeds. Survivorship across life stages indicated that the transition from seed to adult had lower survivorship probabilities (0.6%) than the transition from transplant (juvenile) to adult (75%).Plant diversity of these ongoing restorations was higher when target forbs were added compared to controls. Diversity was higher when target forbs were transplanted (8.4 species/plot and inverse Simpson's diversity of 4.0) than when they were seeded (7.6 species/plot and inverse Simpson's diversity of 3.8). Early‐flowering treatments increased diversity more than late‐flowering treatments, and diversity increased linearly with the number of forb species added.Mowed and unmowed plots had similar levels of target species establishment and plant diversity.Synthesis and applications: Our results indicate that early‐ and late‐flowering species are more recruitment limited than seed limited and that diversity is lower when these species are missing in restorations. We recommend transplanting a rich mix of early‐ and late‐flowering forbs to increase their biomass and ensure that flowering occurs throughout the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first text is a book review of "Green, Fair, and Prosperous: Paths to Sustainable Iowa" by Charles E. Connerly. It discusses the key sectors and issues that could shape the future of Iowa in a positive way, including agriculture, manufacturing, the environment, and progress in race relations and racial equity. The book provides policy recommendations for a more prosperous and sustainable future for Iowa, considering its slow population growth, increasing diversity, and challenges such as water quality and natural disasters. It is a valuable resource for those studying Iowa and the Midwest.The second text discusses a book on smart village technology. It explores the concept of smart villages and their potential for sustainable rural development. The book covers topics such as smart village policies, agriculture and water management, renewable energy, and smart applications. It emphasizes the importance of self-sustainability, ecological-friendliness, and innovative approaches to rural development. The book is a valuable addition to the field of planning and constructing eco-friendly and sustainable rural settlements. [Extracted from the article]

Many productive agricultural soils have naturally poor drainage characteristics and may intermittently pond water even where artificial drainage infrastructure is present, especially in topographic depressions. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is often higher in depressions than uplands, but whether temporary ponding increases SOC by suppressing decomposition remains an important knowledge gap. We measured SOC and inorganic C (carbonate) along topographic gradients from tile-drained depressions to adjacent uplands and tested their relationships with hydrological and biogeochemical properties in corn/soybean fields in Iowa, USA, and examined soil respiration and its stable C isotopes (δ13C) by lab incubation. The 0–30 cm SOC concentration was greatest at depression bottoms, as expected, while carbonate C was highest at boundaries between depressions and uplands. However, only carbonate C, not SOC, increased in depressions with increasingly poor drainage (greater ponding duration). Silt + clay content was the strongest positive predictor of SOC, while ponding duration and oxalate-extractable iron were negatively related to SOC in a statistical model (R2 = 0.83). These negative relationships are consistent with suppression of crop biomass production and iron-mediated decomposition in periodically anoxic soil. Soil C/N ratios were similar in depressions and uplands, indicating that plant detritus did not accumulate with ponding. Stable C isotopes of respiration from incubated soils indicated a similar C3/C4 plant mixture in depressions and uplands, consistent with decomposing soybean and corn residues. In contrast, depression soil organic matter had lower δ13C and δ15N values than uplands, more consistent with pre-agricultural prairie plants than crop residues. Accumulation of SOC in these agricultural depressions is more likely explained by erosion than by suppression of decomposition due to temporary ponding. Gaining additional SOC may require fundamental changes in management, or wetland restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland birds are under threat worldwide due to loss of habitat to agriculture. Prairie strips are a new agricultural conservation practice composed of linear strips of reconstructed diverse, native, herbaceous, perennial vegetation designed to promote land sharing among agriculture and biodiversity, while also addressing soil and water conservation goals. We evaluated bird community response to establishment of prairie strips on commercial row-crop fields (corn [(Zea mays ] and soybean [ Glycine max ]) in Iowa, USA compared to controls fields without prairie strips, from 2015 to 2020. We found a 2.94-fold higher density of grassland birds on fields with prairie strips compared to control fields, and a 1.87-fold higher density of birds overall. Time since prairie strip establishment was a significant predictor of grassland bird density, with significant increases between years 1 and 2 and years 3 and 4. Species with the strongest positive response to prairie strips were Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) and two species of greatest conservation need: Dickcissel (Spiza americana) and Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna). Diversity measures (e.g., Shannon's and Simpson's indices) did not differ between fields with prairie strips versus those without. Prairie strips provide quality breeding habitat for a suite of species, including grassland species and those of conservation concern. While improving several bird community measures, prairie strips do not provide habitat for area-sensitive grassland birds. Larger grassland patches are needed, potentially managed as land-sparing reserves, to achieve overall biodiversity goals in agricultural landscapes. • Farmers establish prairie strips to promote land sharing on monocultural crop field. • We measured field-level bird community response for 6 years compared to controls. • Overall bird and grassland bird density were higher in fields with prairie strips. • Bird density increased with prairie strip age over six years of study. • Larger grassland patches are still needed to conserve area-sensitive bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the key soil components for cultivated soils. SOC is regularly monitored and mapped to improve the quality, health, and productivity of the soil. However, traditional SOC-level monitoring is expensive for land managers and farmers. Estimating SOC using satellite imagery provides an easy, efficient, and cost-effective way to monitor surface SOC levels. The objective of this study was to estimate the surface SOC distribution in selected soils of Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA), 102A (Rolling Till Plain, Brookings County, SD), and 103 (Central Iowa and Minnesota Till Prairies, Lac qui Parle County, MN), using satellite imagery with different resolutions (Landsat 8 and PlanetScope). The dominant soils in the study area are Haplustolls, Calciustolls, and Endoaquolls, which are formed in silty sediments, local silty alluvium, and till. Landsat 8 and PlanetScope spectral bands were used to develop SOC prediction models. Parametric and data-driven methods were employed to predict the SOC. Multiple linear regression and Linear Spatial Mixed Model (LSMM) were used on the Landsat 8 and PlanetScope data. In addition to the parametric models, Regression Trees and Random Forest were also employed on both satellite data. The results showed that reduced LSMM provided the lowest RMSE, which are 0.401 and 0.367 for Landsat 8 and PlanetScope, respectively. Furthermore, the random forest has the highest RPD and RPIQ for Landsat 8 (RPD of 2.67 and RPIQ of 2.49) and PlanetScope (RPD of 2.85 and RPIQ of 3.7). In all cases, models obtained from PlanetScope are better than those obtained from Landsat 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article overviews the prairie and tree planting tool or PT2 (1.0), an online GIS-based decision support tool for landowners interested in exploring opportunities to plant prairie or trees in and around their farm fields for conservation or production purposes. PT2 1.0 can be found online at: https://pt2.nrem.iastate.edu/. With the PT2 (1.0) users locate farm fields of interest in an online aerial photograph and mapping geographic information system (GIS). Users explore areas they are considering for prairie or tree cover by examining different data layers: soil maps, 2-foot contour topography maps, LiDAR hillshade maps, and a map of current land values based on estimated land rent. Users then utilize scaled dimensional drawing tools to measure and delineate areas of interest for planting trees and or prairie. Once an area is delineated, users select from drop-down menus prairie seed mixes or woody species that are suitable for the soils present, and users can select basic long-term management options. PT2 (1.0) estimates total annualized costs for tree or prairie establishment, long-term management, and opportunity costs (based on area weighted expected soil rent), and factors in the potential benefit of utilizing government cost-share programming, e.g., Environmental Quality Incentive Program or the Conservation Reserve Program. Key data layers are currently functional in Iowa, likewise the financial data underlying the cost analysis are specific to Iowa. PT2 (1.0) is, however, open source and open code and guidance is provided regarding how to access and adapt the data for use in other states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Vegetation quantity and quality influence the degree to which large grazers shape grassland structural heterogeneity. Invasive plants threaten the function of cross-scale interactions that exist when multi-scale effects such as fire and grazing interplay to form patterns of grassland structural heterogeneity. Objectives: We investigated how grazing pressure and time since fire at the patch scale influenced patch utilization and production as well as forage quality in experimental grassland pastures dominated by an invasive grass, tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceous). We also assessed the response of tall fescue utilization and production to interactive fire-and-grazing under moderate and heavy grazing pressure. Methods: We collected data on vegetation quantity and quality over two grazing seasons to evaluate the role of fire and grazing across time in shaping structural heterogeneity among patches in invaded tallgrass prairie in Iowa, USA. We anticipated greater initial patch-scale utilization in patches burned for the first time in two years than patches not burned in two years in our experimental pastures. We expected that greater utilization in recently-burned patches would reduce tall fescue production, mostly where grazing pressure was highest. Results: The contrast in the availability of live herbage between patches was half the level typical for native-dominated tallgrass prairie. Under increased grazing pressure, the interplay between fire and grazing did not result in greater broad-scale heterogeneity (among-patch heterogeneity) or an invasive grass reduction in experimental pastures. Yet, increased grazing early in the season did promote native-grass production in this invaded grassland landscape. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the dominance of tall fescue mediates the lack of structural heterogeneity induced by patch-level prescribed fire and grazing. Unlike native perennial grasses, tall fescue provides access to forage in unburned patches through its low-stature growth form. Diminished cross-scale interactions through a weak coupling of fire and focal grazing in invaded tallgrass prairie may facilitate structural homogenization of fire-dependent grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing recognition of the importance of wetlands in the prairie pothole region (PPR) of the northern United States for stopover habitat for spring‐migrating waterfowl. The quality and quantity of stopover habitat found near breeding areas can affect speed and success of migration and subsequent breeding events. Conservation and management of wetlands in the region has traditionally focused narrowly on reproductive phases of the life cycle, and little to no research has examined how ducks use a diversity of available wetlands in the region during migration. We conducted weekly surveys on 1,061 wetlands during spring 2018 and 2019 to examine factors affecting duck use of wetlands in the intensively modified southern PPR landscape of Iowa, USA, for wetland restoration and conservation strategies. We compared wetland types, which included farmed, seasonal, and semi‐permanent wetlands, and lakes. The highest duck use per unit area occurred on semi‐permanent wetlands, followed by seasonal, and then farmed wetlands, and lakes. Ducks were highly clustered in our study, with 75% of all use‐days occurring on only 37 wetlands comprising 41% of all wetland area surveyed. We used hurdle models to examine how local and landscape factors measured within and around wetlands influenced duck use during spring migration. Multiple factors related to duck use at local and landscape scales, such as wetland area, vegetation abundance, and number of wetlands in the surrounding landscape. Among semi‐permanent wetlands, local factors within wetlands were more important than landscape factors in determining duck use. Collectively, our findings suggest semi‐permanent wetlands within the PPR play a key role in transitioning birds from wintering areas to breeding areas and that management of semi‐permanent wetlands should promote interspersion of emergent vegetation and open water and growth of submersed aquatic plants to improve their function for migrants. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society. : We examined spring migrating duck use of a diversity of wetland types in the southern Prairie Pothole Region in Iowa, USA, and a highly clustered distribution of migrants, focused on a few large semi‐permanent wetlands. Furthermore, local wetland factors, such as wetland area and vegetation characteristics, were more important than landscape factors for predicting duck use on different wetland types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moths are often specialists of particular host plants, making them good indicators of what plants are present in a habitat, as well as the overall health and diversity of an ecosystem. Moths are important pollinators, and their caterpillars are an important food source for many species of birds. The objective of this study was to compare the abundance, species richness, and structure of moth assemblages in planted tallgrass prairies and oak hickory forests in Decorah, Iowa. During the summer of 2018, black light bucket traps were set up in three planted prairies and three oak-hickory forests on five nights from early June to mid-September. Moth samples were brought back to the lab, frozen, then sorted and counted. Representatives of each species of moth were pinned, spread, and identified to species. We collected a total of 12,290 moths, representing 468 species and 34 families. There were significantly more moths, families of moths, and moth species in the forests than in the prairies. Among sample dates over the course of the summer, there were no significant differences in either number of moths or species richness. This study provides valuable baseline data for monitoring future changes in moth diversity and abundance in Northeast Iowa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A primary goal of restoration ecology is to understand the factors that generate variability in species diversity and composition among restorations. Plant communities may assemble deterministically toward a common community type, or they may assemble stochastically, ending differently because of weather conditions during establishment, soil legacy effects, or exotic species propagule pressure. To test these alternative hypotheses, we sampled plant communities and soil at 93 randomly selected restored prairies distributed throughout Iowa, USA. Five remnant sites were sampled as a reference. We tested our hypotheses using multiple regressions and investigated the strength of direct and indirect effects on species diversity and richness using structural equation models. The prairie restorations were highly variable in their age, size, diversity, soil characteristics, and how they were managed post‐seeding. The strongest predictor of plant species richness and diversity was the degree of invasion, as measured by the abundance of exotic species. Restorations planted with species‐rich seed mixes had reduced exotic species abundance, which led indirectly to higher species richness of restorations. Sites with higher organic matter and a more linear shape had a direct positive effect on exotic abundance, which in turn decreased diversity. We found little support for deterministic assembly, and diversity did not increase with the age of planting. Our results indicate that restored prairie communities tend to assemble into states of high or low diversity, driven by invasion from exotic plant species. Management of exotic species is essential for maximizing species diversity in temperate grassland restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare inundation in two potholes using Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution model (AnnAGNPS) with three Digital Elevation Models (DEMs): a 1 m DEM prepared from the LiDAR data which is readily available for the state of Iowa, USGS 1/9 arc-second DEM (∼3 m) which covers about 25% of the conterminous U.S. and USGS 1/3 arc-second DEM (∼10 m) which covers the entire USA. In this study, we found that the variations in water depth and presence/absence of ponding in the potholes of size greater than 1 ha can be predicted using USGS DEMs. The estimates of average water depths using USGS 3 m DEM was found to be 6% and 2% lower than the 1 m LiDAR DEM and the estimates of average water depths using USGS 10 m DEM was found to be 7% and 12% higher than the 1 m LiDAR DEM for the Walnut and Bunny potholes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult butterfly abundance and diversity was compared in four remnant and four planted tallgrass prairies in Northeast Iowa. Butterfly surveys were conducted at approximately three week intervals over the summer of 2015. Researchers used a modified "Pollard Walk" technique following a meandering transect, and butterfly sightings recorded using the Unified Butterfly Recorder (UBR) Android app. If a butterfly was observed nectaring on a flower, the species of flower was recorded. Floral resource availability, plant species richness and percent cover were measured in each prairie. Although planted prairies contained significantly greater floral resources than remnant prairies, there was no significant difference in floral plant species richness between remnants and plantings. Remnant and planted prairies did not differ in butterfly abundance, but remnant prairies had significantly greater butterfly species richness than planted prairies. These results provide valuable information on the current status of butterflies in each prairie type in northeast Iowa, and can be used in directing future land management and conservation work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prairie pothole region ranges from central Iowa to the northwest into Montana and south-central Canada, totaling around 700,000 km². This area contains millions of potholes, or enclosed topographical depressions, which often inundate with rainfall. Many are located in areas that have been converted to agricultural land through installation of artificial drainage. However, even with drainage, potholes pond or remain saturated during and after significant rain events. In this two-year study, surface water depth was collected hourly (typically from after planting through harvest) from eight farmed potholes (drained and under corn-soybean rotation) on the Des Moines Lobe in central Iowa. Nutrient data were collected daily and tested for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) when inundation depth exceeded 10 cm. The data were analyzed in two ways. First, seasonal differences were investigated using samples from the first day of each inundation event. Surface water concentrations were higher in the early growing season than late season for total N (TN), NO3-N, NH3- N, total P (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS). Secondly, average event concentration changes were determined. Nitrate reductions occurred in 85% of multiday events, but these reductions were offset by increases in P. Total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) had significant increases that averaged 0.51 and 0.46 mg L-1 per event, respectively, with event lengths of 2 to 19 days. This study demonstrates that inundated farmed potholes reduce NO3-N but serve as in-field hotspots, contributing elevated TP and DRP to drainage waters. When a surface intake directly connects inundated farmed potholes to drainage, new strategies, such as field management or engineered technologies, are needed to mitigate P export. This study is useful in informing policy regarding field management and conservation of farmed potholes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prairie pothole region (PPR) ranges from central Iowa to the northwest into Montana and south central Canada, totaling around 700,000 km2. This area contains millions of potholes, or enclosed topographical depressions, which often inundate with rainfall. Many are located in areas that have been converted to arable agricultural land through installation of artificial drainage. However, even with drainage, potholes will pond or have saturated soil conditions during and after significant rain events. The portion of the PPR that extends into Iowa is known as the Des Moines Lobe. In this two-year study, surface water depth data were collected hourly from eight prairie potholes in the Des Moines Lobe in central Iowa to determine the surface water hydrology. These potholes included surface and subsurface drained row crops and undrained retired land, allowing for drainage comparisons. Inundation lasted five or more days at least once at six of the eight potholes, including four potholes with surface inlets and subsurface drainage, which resulted in four of fourteen growing seasons not producing a yield in part of the pothole. Water balances of four different drainage intensities showed increased infiltration due to subsurface drainage and up to 78% of outflow due to surface inlet drainage. Overall, drainage decreased the number of average inundation days, but heavy precipitation events still caused lengthy inundation periods that resulted in crop loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in migratory monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) over the past 20 years has been attributed to several drivers, including loss of their host plants (milkweeds Asclepias spp.). This has sparked widespread interest in milkweed ecology and restoration. We developed a model on environmental and habitat‐type variables to predict milkweed abundance by sampling 93 prairie plantings (47 conservation plantings and 46 roadsides) and 5 unplowed prairie remnants throughout the state of Iowa, United States. Milkweeds were censused in 10–25 random locations within each site, and data on plant diversity, age of planting, soil characteristics, and management were tested as predictors of abundance. Milkweed densities of all species combined were highest in remnant prairies (8,705 stems/ha), intermediate in roadside plantings (1,274 stems/ha), and lowest in conservation plantings (212 stems/ha). Most milkweeds were common milkweeds Asclepias syriaca, which were more abundant in roadside than conservation plantings. Remnants contained the most milkweed species. Total milkweed and common milkweed abundance were both predicted by higher soil pH, a more linear site shape, and lower soil bulk density across restorations. Our results indicate that common milkweed is maintained by disturbance, and establishes readily in rural roadside habitat. Remnants are important as reservoirs for multiple milkweed species and should be protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of the sediment fingerprinting approach to apportion surface-derived sediment, and then age date that portion using short-lived fallout radionuclides. In systems where a large mass of mobile sediment is in channel storage, age dating provides an understanding of the transfer of sediment through the watershed and the time scales over which management actions to reduce sediment loadings may be effective. Materials and methods: In the agricultural Walnut Creek watershed, Iowa, the sediment-fingerprinting approach with elemental analysis was used to apportion the sources of fine-grained sediment (croplands, prairie, unpaved roads, and channel banks). Fallout radionuclides (7Be, 210Pbex) were used to age the portion of suspended sediment that was derived from agricultural topsoil. Age dating was performed at two different scales: 210Pbex which can date sediment to ~ 85 years and 7Be to ~ 1 year. Results and discussion: Sediment fingerprinting results indicated that the majority of suspended sediment is derived from cropland (62%) with streambanks contributing 36%, and prairie, pasture, and unpaved roads each contributing ≤ 1%. The topsoil–derived portion of sediment (primarily agriculture) dated using 210Pbex has ages ranging from 1 to 58 years, and using 7Be, a component of much younger sediment that yields ages ranging from 44 to 205 days. The occurrence of 7Be indicates that some portion of the sediment is young, on the order of months, whereas the dating based on 210Pbex indicates that some of the surface-derived sediment has been in channel storage for decades. Published studies in Walnut Creek indicate that a large component of sediment is stored in the channel bed. Conclusions: We conclude that the 210Pbex-based ages are a reasonable estimate for the mean age of the surface-derived fraction and that 7Be activities are evidence that there is a smaller fraction of very young sediment in the stream. We propose a geomorphic model where agricultural soil is delivered to the channel and conveyed to the watershed outlet at three time scales: a geologic-millennial time scale, decades, and a young time scale (< 1 year). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tallgrass prairies are some of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America, yet the herpetofauna found within these habitats are not well known. We studied the herpetofaunal assemblage of the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt and Chichaqua Wildlife Management Area complex (CBG) in Iowa as well as the natural history of Thamnophis species. We found that the CBG housed substantial diversity with seven species of anurans, one species of salamander, three species of turtles, and nine species of snakes. Three Thamnophis species in the CBG differed in body size, diet, and both ambient temperature and time of day at capture. This research contributes to our knowledge of the diversity and natural history of herpetofauna in northern prairies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge was established as a tallgrass prairie ecosystem reconstruction in the Walnut Creek watershed (5238 ha), Jasper County, Iowa, with >1200 ha of prairie plantings initiated between 1993 and 2006. This study updates the documented decreases in watershed NO3–N losses that accompanied this change in land cover to a 20‐yr record. Annual flow‐weighted NO3–N concentrations declined by 0.15 mg NO3–N L−1 yr−1, which was not significantly different from the rate of 0.07 mg NO3–N L−1 yr−1 reported after the first decade of monitoring. There was also evidence (p < 0.1) that prairie reconstruction led to a declining trend in annual watershed water yield, which would have contributed to the trend of decreasing NO3–N loads. However, variability in climate, including 2 yr with significant flooding events followed by a major drought during the second decade of monitoring, challenged any notion that a watershed water quality record will stabilize even >10 yr after a substantial change in land cover, in this naturally drained watershed underlain by fine grained glacial deposits that exhibit multidecadal groundwater transport times. Efforts to document progress toward water quality goals will need to consider dominant flow paths and associated travel times, uncertainty in the effectiveness of management changes, and a changeable climate. Core Ideas: Nitrate in streamflow draining a prairie reconstruction was tracked for 20 yr.Nitrate loss decreased with time, at a slow rate of only 0.15 mg NO3–N L−1 yr−1.Even with substantial land use change, water quality response may take decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmed pothole depressions, common in the Prairie Pothole Region, frequently hold water during wet periods and play an important role in ecosystem dynamics such as flood retention and hosting migratory waterfowl. In this study, we developed a spreadsheet-based daily water budget model of a drained and farmed pothole in Hamilton County, Iowa, to evaluate how site-specific characteristics affect the frequency, depth, and duration of surface ponding. For a 3-year period characterized by a range of precipitation, the model predicted that on an annual basis ponded water would be present in the pothole approximately 14 to 47% of the time. Total ponding days ranged from 51 to 173 days year−1 and maximum ponding depth ranged from 112 to 334 mm. Infiltration rate, catchment-to-pothole ratio, and the presence of a surface intake had the largest impact on ponding depth and duration. Results of this study have implications for management of farmed and drained potholes and we can envision using the PPWB model to test potential strategies for pothole management from both agricultural profitability and ecological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bryophyte inventory was conducted at Bixby State Park and Preserve in Iowa's Paleozoic Plateau from 2011 to 2016. 779 specimens were collected representing 105 species of bryophytes, including 93 moss species and 12 liverworts. No hornworts were found. Dicranum schreberiana (Hedwig) Hilferty ex H. A. Crum & L. E. Anderson is reported new to Iowa. 68 bryophyte species were collected from algific talus slopes near cold air vents, including 16 mosses and 1 liverwort that are uncommon elsewhere at Bixby. 39 bryophyte species were collected from the small prairie remnant in the park, of which 10 are rare in other habitats at Bixby. 23 bryophyte species were collected from the white pine (Pinus strobus L.) stand, including 2 mosses and one liverwort that were not collected elsewhere in the park. Bryophytes occurring in special habitats at Bixby are not restricted to these habitats elsewhere in Iowa and North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maintenance of habitat heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes has been promoted as a key strategy to conserve biodiversity. Animal response to grassland heterogeneity resulting from spatiotemporal variation in disturbance is well documented; however, the degree to which edaphic variation generates heterogeneity detectable by grassland wildlife has proven more difficult to study in natural settings., We conducted a field experiment to study how soils directly affect vegetation structure and composition and indirectly affect bird and butterfly assemblages using plantings of tallgrass prairie species managed as agroenergy crops in Iowa, USA. The experimental design included four vegetation treatments of varying species richness replicated on three soil types., Habitat characteristics varied widely among soils. Crops on sandy loam, the driest, most acidic soil with the lowest nutrient content, developed shorter, less dense vegetation with sparse litter accumulation and more bare ground compared to crops on loam and clay loam., Birds and butterflies responded similarly to soil-induced variation in habitat characteristics. Their abundance and species richness were similar on all soils, but their assemblage compositions varied among soils in certain vegetation treatments., In low-diversity grass crops, bird assemblages using sandy loam were dominated by species preferring open ground and sparse vegetation for foraging and nesting, whereas assemblages using loam and clay loam were dominated by birds preferring tall, dense vegetation with abundant litter. In high-diversity prairie crops, the species composition of forbs in bloom varied among soils and strongly influenced butterfly assemblages., Synthesis and applications. Prairie agroenergy crops established with identical management practices developed variable habitat characteristics due to natural edaphic variation, and this heterogeneity influenced the spatial distribution of bird and butterfly assemblages due to differential habitat use among species. This finding suggests that if unfertilized prairie crops were grown for agroenergy by land managers large-scale, soil-induced habitat heterogeneity would promote wildlife diversity within and among fields, further increasing the habitat value of these crops compared to the fertilized, annual monocultures that currently dominate the agricultural landscape. Our study also highlights the need for managers to consider soil properties when selecting sites to restore grassland habitat for species of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Prairie vegetation strips improve N retention after only 3 years. [•] PVS footslope improved soil quality by increasing TN by almost 100% and SOC by 37%. [•] N retention in PVS results of simultaneous biological and geochemical mechanisms. [•] In PVS, the mix of C3 and C4 species promote greater N retention from fertilizer. [•] Topographical position influenced of PVS effectiveness to retain C and N retention. [•] Dominant mechanism of PVS N retention depends on the topographical position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Intensively managed annual cropping systems have produced high crop yields but have often produced significant ecosystem services alteration, in particular hydrologic regulation loss. Reconversion of annual agricultural systems to perennial vegetation can lead to hydrologic function restoration, but its effect is still not well understood. Therefore, our objective was to assess the effects of strategic introduction of different amounts and location of native prairie vegetation (NPV) within agricultural landscapes on hydrological regulation. The study was conducted in Iowa (USA), and consisted of a fully balanced, replicated, incomplete block design whereby 12 zero-order ephemeral flow watersheds received four treatments consisting of varying proportions (0%, 10%, and 20%) of prairie vegetation located in different watershed positions (footslope vs. contour strips). Runoff volume and rate were measured from 2008 to 2010 (April–October) with an H-Flume installed in each catchment, and automated ISCO samplers. Over the entire study period, we observed a total of 129 runoff events with an average runoff volume reduction of 37% based on the three treatments with NPV compared to watersheds with row crops. We observed a progressively greater reduction across the 3years of the study as the perennial strips became established with the greatest differences among treatments occurring in 2010. The differences among the watersheds were attributed mainly to NPV amount and position, with the 10% NPV at footslope treatment having the greatest runoff reduction probably because the portion of NPV filter strip that actually contacted watershed runoff was greater with the 10% NPV at footslope. We observed greater reductions in runoff in spring and fall likely because perennial prairie plants were active and crops were absent or not fully established. High antecedent soil moisture sometimes led to little benefit of the NPV treatments but in general the NPV treatments were effective during both small and large events. We conclude that, small amounts of NPV strategically incorporated into corn-soybean watersheds in the Midwest US can be used to effectively reduce runoff. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Restored grasslands comprise an ever-increasing proportion of grasslands in North America and elsewhere. However, floristic studies of restored grasslands indicate that our ability to restore plant communities is limited. Our goal was to assess the effectiveness of restoration seeding for recovery of key plant community components on former exotic, cool-season pastures using a chronosequence of six restoration sites and three nearby remnant tallgrass prairie sites in West-Central Iowa. We assessed trends in Simpson's diversity and evenness, richness and abundance of selected native and exotic plant guilds, and mean coefficient of conservatism (mean C). Simpson's diversity and evenness and perennial invasive species abundance all declined with restoration site age. As a group, restoration sites had greater richness of native C3 species with late phenology, but lower richness and abundance of species with early phenology relative to remnant sites. Total native richness, total native abundance (cover), mean C, and abundance of late phenology C3 plants were similar between restoration and remnant sites. Observed declines in diversity and evenness with restoration age reflect increases in C4 grass abundance rather than absolute decreases in the abundance of perennial C3 species. In contrast to other studies, restoration seeding appears to have led to successful establishment of tallgrass prairie species that were likely to be included in seeding mixtures. While several floristic measures indicate convergence of restoration and remnant sites, biodiversity may be further enhanced by including early phenology species in seeding mixes in proportion to their abundance on remnant prairies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous and ecologically important microbes in grasslands. Both the host plant species and soil properties have been suggested as potentially important factors structuring AM fungal communities based on studies within local field sites. However, characterizations of the communities in relation to both host plant identity and soil properties in natural plant communities across both local and broader geographic scales are rare. We examined the AM fungal spore communities associated with the same C grasses in two Eastern serpentine grasslands, where soils have elevated heavy metals, and two Iowa tallgrass prairie sites. We compared AM fungal spore communities among host plants within each site, looked for correlations between fungal communities and local soil properties, and then compared communities among sites. Spore communities did not vary with host plant species or correlate with local soil chemical properties at any site. They did not differ between the two serpentine sites or between the two prairie sites, despite geographic separation, but they did differ between serpentine and prairie. Soil characteristics are suggested as a driving force because spore communities were strongly correlated with soil properties when data from all four sites are considered, but climatic differences might also play a role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One anticipated benefit of ecosystem restoration is water quality improvement. This study evaluated NO3-N and phosphorus in subsurface waters during prairie establishment following decades of row-crop agriculture. A prairie seeding in late 2003 became established in 2006. Wells and suction cup samplers were monitored for NO3-N and phosphorus. Nitrate-N varied with time and landscape position. Non-detectable NO3-N concentrations became modal along ephemeral drainageways in 2006, when average concentrations in uplands first became <10mg NO3-NL−1. This decline continued and upland groundwater averaged near 2mg NO3-NL−1 after 2007. The longer time lag in NO3-N response in uplands was attributed to greater quantities of leachable N in upland subsoils. Spatial differences in vadose-zone travel times were less important, considering water table dynamics. Phosphorus showed a contrasting landscape pattern, without any obvious temporal trend. Phosphorus was greatest along and near ephemeral drainageways. Sediment accumulation from upland agricultural erosion provided a source of P along drainageways, where shallow, reductive groundwater increased P solubility. Phosphorus exceeded eutrophication risk thresholds in these lower areas, where saturation-excess runoff could readily transport P to surface waters. Legacy impacts of past agricultural erosion and sedimentation may include soluble phosphorus in shallow groundwater, at sites prone to saturation-excess runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural small, xeric hill prairies in forested landscapes throughout the Midwest United States often contain high diversity and unique species of some organisms because of their unusual landscape context and microclimate. We measured the diversity, richness, and abundance of the bee communities of five hill prairies located in northeastern Iowa and we compared these to values for large prairie preserves in northwestern Iowa, using a Monte Carlo resampling approach to standardize sampling effort between habitat types. We also measured the diversity and richness of the flowering forb communities at the hill prairies and we quantified percentage of the landscape at a 1 km radius in different landscape elements. Bee diversity at the five hill prairies spanned the range of diversity values for large prairies preserves, so although the hill prairies are small (<5 ha), their bee communities are not uniformly depauparate compared to larger western prairie preserves. Bee diversity was significantly related to flowering forb diversity, and may have been influenced by landscape features within 1 km—particularly the percentage of agricultural row crops and open water, which may negatively affect bee diversity at the sites. Iowa’s hill prairie bee communities were largely composed of widespread eastern species, although about 10% of the bee species have more northern or western ranges and appear to be taking advantage of the region’s unique habitat features. Given the dependence of the bee communities on the plant diversity of the sites, management of the plant community to maintain its diversity will also likely benefit bee diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chronosequences are useful to evaluate long-term changes in ecosystem services but assessing groundwater quality changes using this approach has rarely been done. In this study, groundwater level and quality comparisons were made in a watershed-scale reconstructed prairie chronosequence that extended back in time approximately 13 years at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (NSNWR) near Prairie City, Iowa. Our objectives were to determine whether groundwater conditions varied significantly across the chronosequence and quantify the rate of nitrate concentration reduction when row crop fields are replaced by prairie. We installed 19 groundwater wells at upland locations selected to provide similar soil type, landscape position and slope. Water samples were collected on five occasions in 2006 and 2007 and analyzed for field parameters, anions and NO3-N, NH4-N and PO4-P. Significant groundwater changes were primarily associated with groundwater levels, and groundwater nitrate and chloride concentrations. The groundwater was deeper under the older prairie plantings but fluctuated similarly among all well sites. Groundwater nitrate and chloride concentrations decreased 0.58 and 0.52mg/l per year over the 13-year chronosequence, respectively. Results are seen to provide some guidance to land managers regarding possible nitrate concentration reductions achievable from converting cropland to perennial land cover in similar geomorphic settings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study examined bee communities by sweep-net and pan-trap sampling and quantified the number of ramets of floral resources in native tallgrass prairie fragments and nearby ruderal areas (within 2.1km) in Iowa, USA in the summer of 2004. Bee communities in ruderal areas were significantly less diverse than those in native tallgrass prairie remnants, with about half as many species and approximately a third as many bees. Diversity, abundance, and richness of floral resources were also significantly less in ruderal grasslands than in native prairies, indicating that poor floral resource levels may substantially depauperate their bee communities. Common bees dominated the composition of the ruderal grasslands; only one rare species in this study was found at a ruderal site, indicating that high-quality prairie remnants are important reservoirs of bee diversity. Abundance of flowering ramets of a plant species was a significant predictor of the abundance of bees found on that plant. There was also a preference for human-yellow flowers after adjusting for ramet abundance and there were significantly more bees caught in yellow pan traps than blue or white ones. The abundance, but not the richness, of small bee species (length≤7.5mm) was less than expected at ruderal sites when compared to prairies, implying the presence of local nesting opportunities in ruderal grasslands for small bees but insufficient resources to support large populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Excessive nitrate-nitrogen (nitrate) loss from agricultural watersheds is an environmental concern. A common conservation practice to improve stream water quality is to retire vulnerable row croplands to grass. In this paper, a groundwater travel time model based on a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of readily available soil and topographic variables was used to evaluate the time needed to observe stream nitrate concentration reductions from conversion of row crop land to native prairie in Walnut Creek watershed, Iowa. Average linear groundwater velocity in 5-m cells was estimated by overlaying GIS layers of soil permeability, land slope (surrogates for hydraulic conductivity and gradient, respectively) and porosity. Cells were summed backwards from the stream network to watershed divide to develop a travel time distribution map. Results suggested that groundwater from half of the land planted in prairie has reached the stream network during the 10 years of ongoing water quality monitoring. The mean travel time for the watershed was estimated to be 10.1 years, consistent with results from a simple analytical model. The proportion of land in the watershed and subbasins with prairie groundwater reaching the stream (10–22%) was similar to the measured reduction of stream nitrate (11–36%). Results provide encouragement that additional nitrate reductions in Walnut Creek are probable in the future as reduced nitrate groundwater from distal locations discharges to the stream network in the coming years. The high spatial resolution of the model (5-m cells) and its simplicity may make it potentially applicable for land managers interested in communicating lag time issues to the public, particularly related to nitrate concentration reductions over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroduction of fire and grazing, alone or in combination, has increasingly been recognized as central to the restoration of North American mixed-grass and tallgrass prairies. Although ecological studies of these systems are abundant, they have generally been observational, or if experimental, have focused on plant species diversity. Species diversity measures alone are not sufficient to inform management, which often has goals associated with life-form groups and individual species. We examined the effects of prescribed fire, light cattle grazing, and a combination of fire and grazing on three vegetation components: species diversity, groups of species categorized by life-form, and individual species. We evaluated how successful these three treatments were in achieving specific management goals for prairies in the Iowa Loess Hills (U.S.A.). The grazing treatment promoted the greatest overall species richness, whereas grazing and burning and grazing treatments resulted in the lowest cover by woody species. Burning alone best achieved the management goals of increasing the cover and diversity of native species and reducing exotic forb and (predominantly exotic) cool-season grass cover. Species-specific responses to treatments appeared idiosyncratic (i.e., within each treatment there existed a set of species attaining their highest frequency) and nearly half of uncommon species were present in only one treatment. Because all management goals were not achieved by any one treatment, we conclude that management in this region may need refining. We suggest that a mosaic of burning and grazing (alone and in combination) may provide the greatest landscape-level species richness; however, this strategy would also likely promote the persistence of exotic species. Our results support the need to consider multiple measures, including species-specific responses, when planning and evaluating management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent losses and fragmentation of tallgrass prairie habitat to agriculture and urban development have led to corresponding declines in diversity and abundance of plants and birds associated with such habitat. Mowing and burning are alternative management strategies for restoring and rejuvenating prairies in fragmented landscapes, but their specific, comparative effects are the subjects of ongoing evaluation. We compared the responses of plant and bird communities on four sets of mowed, burned, and untreated sites of small (3-10 ha), fragmented tallgrass prairies at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR), Iowa, U.S.A., during May-July in 1998 and 1999. Species richness and diversity of plants, resident grassland birds, and communities of birds associated with grassland edges (edge species) were independent of treatment. Although not affecting species richness and diversity in plant communities, mowed sites ranked lower in total plant coverage and total forb coverage than burned sites or untreated sites. In contrast, untreated sites had more coverage by shrubs, suggesting that mowing and burning did retard shrub encroachment. Overall, abundance and diversity of plants and birds were generally insensitive to management strategies. Small, fragmented sites of rare habitat may not respond in the short term to management treatments and may not be capable of supporting highly diverse communities, no matter how intensively manipulated. It is more probable that diversity of native prairie communities can be enhanced and restored only through long-term efforts, acquisition of large land units capable of supporting stable populations, and deliberate reintroduction of species of high conservation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground beetle assemblages were monitored at four tallgrass prairie sites burned on 3-year cycles in northeastern Iowa. The objectives of this study were to quantify differences in carabid communities between original and reconstructed tallgrass prairies, and to determine the responses of ground beetles to 3-year cycles of early spring fire commonly used to manage tallgrass prairies. Using pitfall traps, ground beetle assemblages in two original and two reconstructed tallgrass prairies were compared between 1994 and 1998, where beetles were sampled annually (0-, 1-, and 2-year post-fire conditions) from plots burned every 3 years. When burned, the greatest abundance, activity density, and species richness of carabid beetles occurred the year immediately following a spring burn, with abundance declining steadily with increased time since burning. Overall ground beetle diversity as determined by Shannon's diversity index was greatest in original tallgrass prairies several years after a fire. Some species of ground beetles were found only in original prairies, while others were found primarily in reconstructed prairie. Similarly, some species were more abundant the year immediately following a burn, while others were found in greater abundance with increased time since fire. NMS ordination and indicator species analysis clearly show differences in carabid species between original and reconstructed tallgrass prairies, but did not show differences among burn treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on topics related to tallgrass prairie insect restoration that were discussed at the 11th Annual Prairie Invertebrate Conference in Decorah, Iowa. Results of the restoration of the ground beetle Carabidae in remnant and reconstructed tallgrass prairies in Iowa; Observations on the behavior of soldier beetles in Wisconsin; Analyses of prairie insect surveys in Illinois.

A five‐year record of streamflow and chemical sampling data was evaluated to assess the effects of large‐scale prairie restoration on transport of NO3–N, Cl, and SO4 loads from paired 5000‐ha watersheds located in Jasper County, Iowa. Water quality conditions monitored during land use conversion from row crop agriculture to native prairie in the Walnut Creek watershed were compared with a highly agricultural control watershed (Squaw Creek). Combining hydrograph separation with a load estimation program, baseflow and stormflow loads of NO3–N, Cl, and SO4 were estimated at upstream and downstream sites on Walnut Creek and a downstream site on Squaw Creek. Chemical export in both watersheds was found to occur primarily with baseflow, with baseflow transport greatest during the late summer and fall. Lower Walnut Creek watershed, which contained the restored prairie areas, exported less NO3–N and Cl compared with upper Walnut Creek and Squaw Creek watersheds. Average flow‐weighted concentrations of NO3–N exceeded 10 mg/L in upper Walnut Creek and Squaw Creek, but were estimated to be 6.6 mg/L in lower Walnut Creek. Study results demonstrate the utility of partitioning loads into baseflow and stormflow components to identify sources of pollutant loading to streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise effects of natural and disturbed terrestrial systems on the atmospheric CH4 pool are uncertain. This study was conducted to quantify and compare CH4 fluxes from a variety of ecosystems in central Iowa. We investigated agricultural systems under different management practices, a hardwood forest site, native and restored prairies, and a municipal landfill. Flux measurements were obtained using a closed‐chamber method, and measurements were compiled by sampling over the 1993 and 1994 growing seasons. In 1993, most of the agricultural sites were net CH4 producers with cumulative CH4 fluxes ranging from −0.02 to 3.19 g m−2 over the 258‐d sampling season, while the natural ecosystems were net CH4 consumers, with cumulative seasonal fluxes ranging from −0.27 to −0.07 g m−2 258 d−1 In 1994, only the landfill and the agricultural site treated with broadcast liquid swine manure (LSM) were net CH4 producers, while the remainder of the natural and agricultural ecosystems were net CH4 consumers, with mean seasonal flux rates ranging from −0.43 to −0.008 g m−2 271 d−1 We hypothesize that the differences in CH4 fluxes between the two years are due to differences in rainfall. To illustrate the integration between land use and CH4 flux, we computed an area‐weighted soil CH4 flux for the state of Iowa. Our calculations yielded a net average soil CH4 flux of 139000 Mg CH4 for 1993 and 1994. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watershed models are robust tools that inform management and policy in a variety of sectors, but these models are often neglected through time due to economic or technical constraints. Additionally, they are not readily accessible tools for key decision makers. Conversely, machine learning models are robust alternatives to common hydrologic modeling frameworks. The random forest algorithm specifically is an interpretable predictive tool. We couple Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model output, an abstract, anthropogenic flood risk metric, and develop a random forest model to provide an empirical tool that benefits decision makers in the Des Moines Lobe of the Prairie Pothole Region in north-central Iowa. The developed model has the capacity to predict our flood risk metric (calibration: R2 > 0.9, validation: R2 > 0.7) for individual farmed prairie potholes across a variety of morphologic and management conditions and can be used iteratively to assess alternative actions. • A flood risk metric was developed using spatial and temporal variables. • A random forest regression was calibrated to predict flood risk of prairie potholes. • The random forest model enables comparison of agricultural management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a study conducted to obtain information regarding the degree of wetness and extent of the wet prairie in Iowa. The main results are the evidences, first, that the wet prairie was at once type of natural vegetation, drainage condition, and natural land use classification, and second, that classification, description, and mapping of the soil constitute the most valid means of approximating the extent of the wet prairie which early pioneers encountered, with other types of information providing only secondary evidence.

Discusses some features of early woodland and prairie settlement in Central Iowa county. Types of land in the Iowa prairies at the time of the white settlement; Distribution of woodland; Changes in rural occupance in the county after three decades of white settlement.