Lake Red Rock presents Bison-Mediated Seed Dispersal in Tallgrass Prairies class

Bison are considered a keystone species in grassland ecosystems. Through fire-grazing interactions, wallowing, nutrient cycling, and seed dispersal, bison altered their historic range in ways that are not found in most prairie reconstructions. We'll explore the natural history of bison in the eastern tallgrass prairie and see how the loss of these mega-herbivores has impacted the ecology of our remaining tallgrass prairies. Pete (former Naturalist for Mahaska County Conservation Board) has been involved in bison ranching in southern Iowa for the last 17 years and is currently a PhD candidate at ISU, exploring the role of bison as seed dispersal agents in tallgrass prairies. He'll share findings from research being done in Iowa and how this information may lead to new techniques for grassland management, increasing biodiversity in our prairie reconstructions.
Program begins at 7 pm at the Whitebreast Amphitheatre. Free, no registration required. Outdoor activities may be cancelled if raining or inclement weather. For more information, please contact the Corps of Engineers at (641) 828-7522 or (641) 628-8690 or via email at lakeredrock@usace.army.mil