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Biomegarden

The document describes plans to restore a plot of land with native temperate grassland flora and fauna. Key details include: - The temperate grassland biome is characterized by seasonal droughts and fires, and grasses are the dominant vegetation. - The purpose is to restore the plot with native plants and observe ecological interactions between species. - Interactions like pollination mutualisms between plants and animals, as well as commensal relationships like cattle egrets feeding on insects disturbed by grazing cattle, will be stimulated. - Native plant and animal species to include in the restoration are listed, along with the materials, methods, and budget for the project.

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171 views4 pages

Biomegarden

The document describes plans to restore a plot of land with native temperate grassland flora and fauna. Key details include: - The temperate grassland biome is characterized by seasonal droughts and fires, and grasses are the dominant vegetation. - The purpose is to restore the plot with native plants and observe ecological interactions between species. - Interactions like pollination mutualisms between plants and animals, as well as commensal relationships like cattle egrets feeding on insects disturbed by grazing cattle, will be stimulated. - Native plant and animal species to include in the restoration are listed, along with the materials, methods, and budget for the project.

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Biome Garden

by Daria Hoang, Natalie Mansergh, and Robert Schinske

Temperate Grassland Biome


Temperate grasslands are typically located north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic
of Capricorn, and include the veldts of Africa, the pampas of South America, the steppes of
Eurasia, and the plains of North America. Trees and large shrubs are rare, and grasses are the
dominant flora. Temperate grasslands are characterized by seasonal droughts and occasional
fires, and are grazed by large mammals. Perennial grasses, which bud at or just below the
surface, are well-adapted to drought, fire, and cold; their narrow, upright stems reduce heat-gain
in the hot summers. Temperatures can both be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (summer) as well as
40 degrees below Fahrenheit (winter). Temperate grasslands typically receive from 10 to 35
inches of precipitation a year, usually around late spring to early summer, thereby classifying the
climate as semiarid. The soil is nutrient-rich from growth and decay of deep, many-branched
grass roots. Rotted roots hold the soil together and provide a food source for living plants. While
wildlife is not very diverse, it is very plentiful.

Purpose & Restoration


The purpose of this project is to restore a plot of land with native flora, along the parameters of a
temperate grassland. In doing so, we hope to stimulate native plant growth as well as observe a
myriad of different interactions.

Interactions/Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism: a relationship in which both organisms benefit from each other
- Bees/Insects/Birds & Flowering Plants
Flowering plants need pollinators to fertilize them and enable their reproduction. Bees,
butterflies, and hummingbirds are all examples of pollinators that go from flower to
flower and complete this process. At the same time, they collect pollen and nectar for
their own use and survival. In this way, both sides coexist and mutually benefit each
other.
- Bacteria & Herbivores
Grasslands are cellulose-rich, but cellulose is typically difficult for organisms to break
down. As a result, ruminants (cattle, sheep, antelopes, deer, giraffes, and relatives) have
developed a mutualistic relationship with bacteria. Bacteria line the guts of these
herbivores to break down cellulose, thriving while enabling these animals to metabolize
cellulose.
Commensalism: a relationship in which one organism benefits, but the other is not harmed
- Cattle & Cattle Egrets

When cattle graze on grasses, they disturb insects in the surrounding areas. Cattle egrets
feed on these disturbed insects.
- Large Nurse Plants & Young Seedlings
Nurse plants provide protection for young seedlings growing under their leaves, thereby
protecting them from grazing by herbivores, frost stress in winter months, and heat stress
in the summer months. The large nurse plants do not benefit.
Parasitism: a relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of the other
- Rattle & Grass
Rattle is a genus of herb that lives on the roots of grasses and gains sustenance from
feeding on the flow of nutrients and water through the roots.

Native Flora
1. *Pink Mulhly grass: prefers neutral soil pH, sunlight, grows about 4 ft high when
in bloom, drought-resistant, species vary in flower color from white to dark pink
2. Silky Thread grass: Found in New Mexico or Arizona, requires little water,
prefers full sunlight. Most varieties come in varying shades of green
3. Foxtails: needs little water, grows in varying types of soil, needs moderate shade,
possible hazard to animals
4. *Bahia grass: native to South America, requires no/little water, grows in small
clusters, about 12 inches high, prefers sandy soil
5. Goldenrods: small flowering plants, grow in varying soils but prefer more basic
soil, can grow up to 100 cm tall
6. Blazing Stars: magenta and white flowering plant, grows in clusters, prefer direct
sunlight, need some water
7. Cottonwoods: large North American hardwood tree, 3 species of trees, prefer to
be near riverbanks or somewhere near water.
8. *Purple Needle Grass: grows in bunches, grows up to 24 inches, drought resistant,
once named the official grass of California
9. *Wild Indigo: Found in Texas and states around it, grows to 15 inches, prefers
sandy soil, drought tolerant
10. Buffalo grass: Native to the Great Plains of Montana to Mexico, grows to about 8
to 10 inches, needs little amount of rain.
11. California Poppy: plan to grow in seed balls
* = plants we plan on actually using

Native Fauna
1. Bison

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Pronghorn
Pocket Gopher
Ground Squirrels
Prairie Dogs
Coyote
Badger
Black-footed Ferret

Methods & Procedure


1. Solarizing the soil - weed the soil and cover with a black plastic covering, with
intent to heat the ground and kill off all the previous seeds (get rid of non-native plants)
2. Sheet mulching - place wet cardboard over soil, with intent to improve soil
condition
3. Seed balls - sprinkle flowering seeds into air-dried clay, with intent to provide
covering and protection until the next spring season when the flowers will bloom

Type of Plant

Price

Quantity

Total Price

Pink Mulhy grass

$3.59 a bulb

$14.36

Bahia Grass

$5.95 per 5 lb seed


bag

$5.95

Wild Indigo

$5.25

$5.25

California Poppy

$5.49

$0.00

Purple Needle Grass

$1.99 a seed packet

$5.97

Yarrow

$4.95

$4.95

Total

$36.48

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