Evaluating Risks and Sustainable Practices
Channel: Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Date: 2018-03-01

Presenter: Justin Meissen, Research and Restoration Program Manager, University of Northern Iowa, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Seed supply limits large-scale restorations, which often rely on seed collection from remnant ecosystems. Overharvesting seed may deplete native plant populations, exacerbate seed limitation, and jeopardize ecosystem integrity. In this webinar, Justin Meissen will discuss how life history traits provide a useful framework to address the risks of seed harvest. Throughout the talk, he will share the results from a series of studies using observational, modeling, and experimental approaches to address sustainable seed harvest from native prairies. Finally, Justin will discuss best management practices and seed harvest regimes that can provide sufficient seed supplies for restoration while preserving the health of remnant tallgrass prairies.