Portrait of a Prairie Dallas falls within the major Texas ecoregion called “the Blackland Prairies”, so named for the region’s dominant grassland plant communities supported by dark, clay soils.  While Little Bluestem and several other native grass species form much of the actual prairie vegetation in undisturbed and restored prairies, numerous forb and tree species are also common, along with an abundance of wildlife adapted to prairie ecosystems. Within the broader ecoregion, variations in factors such as topography and soil type also play major roles in determining plant and animal communities in specific locales. For a more detailed description of such factors, see World Wildlife Fund’s profile of the ecoregion: Texas blackland prairie.

Are you drawn to the beauty and biology of prairies? Do you see the value in preserving and restoring prairies?  If so, check out Blackland NPAT. Monthly meetings and frequent field trips provide opportunities to fulfill the group’s mission to “identify, preserve, and promote prairies in Dallas County and beyond.” For more information, see Blackland NPAT.

 

As described in our last issue, iNaturalist is a Website open to the public for observing and documenting wildlife. For citizen scientists specifically interested in prairies, check out the iNaturalist project Prairie Seekers Prairie Mapping & Assessment Program, an effort organized by Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT.) The project is described as follows in the project "About" Webpage: "Volunteers take a quantifiable datasheet in the field to assess prairie sites.  Data collected will be prioritized & the information will be passed along to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's prairie database; which can be used to identify future conservation opportunities."