On November 11, 2024, six chain-sawyers and a dozen pile builders forged a valiant start to reversing a decades old calamity. Finally, enough people care.
At long last, we started cleaning up an unnecessary lethal mess that has been degrading one of the richest and most important biodiversity preserves in the midwest.
In the summer, we battle invasive plants in the rich turf. But those dead pines in the background remind us of needed fall and winter work.
There will be more on all this in future posts.
But for a couple of photos from the 11th, see below:
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| Sawing the logs into pieces small enough to lift and pile was the first step. |
When the day ended, we were tired and dirty, but happy.
We had hoped to burn the piles as we worked, but the day was too windy, with acres of flammable prairie and savanna grass all around. We ended up with eight enormous piles and many smaller ones. We'll burn them spectacularly as we do more of this amazing work on more Saturdays this fall or winter, depending on conditions and other priorities.
For updates on work priorities each week, check with:
Please let us know if you're coming. To sign up and for any questions, go to:
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Illinoisduneslandrestoration@gmail.com
For more photos and links about the Illinois Beach stewards, click here.
Hi Stephen. You and others may be interested in paper I published in 2011 that specifically documents the impacts of these invasive Pinus nigra stands on the native prairie and savanna vegetation at IBSP. Here is a link to the article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232673666_Naturalized_Pine_Pinus_nigra_Promotes_Growth_of_Woody_Vegetation_in_Native_Sand_Prairie_Impacts_of_Invasion_130_Years_After_Introduction
ReplyDeleteGood luck removing the pines. It's about time someone did....
I read your paper. It makes sense.
DeleteEven away from the lake shore, where there are trees in prairies woody species establishment increases as a tree trunk is approached. A lot of this is because this is where birds deposit seeds. However, increased soil moisture, decreased ground-level temperature, and reduced fuel for fires all contribute.
I have found skunk cabbage under Pinus strobus and PInus sylvestris in barrens where open areas support Crocanthemum, Danthonia, Schizachyrium, Lechea, etc. I think as much as shading and soil moisture contribute, reduction in air movement/wind must also be important. Of course many woody species benefit from this too, and its certainly not just those deposited by bird (although things like Acer tataricum could be dropped by birds or cashed by rodents). ...and once deciduous, non-oak woody vegetation reaches a certain threshold, it's leaf litter and associated soil microbial community create an even more susceptible condition of high nutrient availability--even in sands.
DeleteSkunk cabbage occurs where there is seepage. Seepape creates a microsite that has more moisture and is cooler. Such microsites may reduce or prevent fire impacts thereby allowing species not adapted to fire/drought/wind to grow near plants adapted to these conditions.
DeleteWind is definitely important. Fire, moisture, and wind are all interconnected. Strong wind stokes fire. Wind accelerates moisture loss. Dry conditions favor fire. It is a self-reinforcing cycle.
Birds do contribute to the spread of woody species. This is visible along fences where birds perch that grow lines of common buckthorn and Asian bush honeysuckle. Birds also spread eastern red cedar cones allowing them to establish far from native populations into prairie. Non-native crabapples and multiflora rose are also spread by birds. Birds spreading seed is a key characteristic that has allowed certain invasive species to become invasive.
Soil microbial communities and nutrient availability are complicated. An example is that invasive earthworms have a synergy with common buckthorn and garlic mustard. Where common buckthorn grows, soil nitrogen and soil organic matter are increased favoring the growth of more common buckthorn. There can be self-perpetuating feedbacks that make the reversal of degraded ecosystems very difficult.