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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. |
Native Prairies Assoc. of Texas (NPAT) - Blackland Chapter 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.
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Citizen Science 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."
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Exploring PrairiesSeveral locations within the Dallas area provide opportunities to experience Blackland Prairie first-hand. One prairie worth highlighting resides just south of Dallas in Ellis County, Kachina Prairie, a 30-acre native Blackland Prairie remnant that is open to the public year-round. A useful guide for exploring this and other local prairies, published by The North Texas Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is Blackland Prairie - Guide to 100 Common Species. In addition to helping identify common plants and animals, the booklet lists several locations in and around Dallas that include prairie habitat (see the section “Where can I experience Blackland Prairie today?”)
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Prairie : a natural history
by Candace Sherk Savage
Stunningly presented illustrations capture the beautiful and haunting vistas of North America's central grasslands, as well as sidebars illuminating a wide variety of species, and other aspects of natural history and tales of successful conservation projects.
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Prairie : a North American guide
by Suzanne Winckler
Provides an informative traveler's guide to the varied and majestic landscape of what is left of North America's prairies, including prairies found within national grasslands, wildlife refuges, and state parks. Original.
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Field guide to common Texas grasses
by Stephan L. Hatch
Covering 172 species of the most significant common grasses growing in Texas, this complete update of the now-classic guide contains range maps and color images of the inflorescences and spikelets of each species along with the detailed, black-and-white illustrations found in the original volume.
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Prairies, fields, and meadows
by Patricia A. Fink Martin
Provides instructions for projects and activities that explore prairies, fields, and meadows and demonstrate the importance of preserving and protecting grasslands
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Business & Technology Division,Dallas Public Library 1515 Young St., 5th Floor Dallas, Texas 75201 214-670-1400www.dallaslibrary.org |
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