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Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Pascopyrum smithii Mixedgrass Prairie Group | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Pascopyrum smithii Mixedgrass Prairie Group Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This mixedgrass prairie group ranges from South Dakota into the Rolling Plains and the western Edwards Plateau of Texas. The loessal regions in west-central Kansas and central Nebraska, the Red Hills region of south-central Kansas and northern Oklahoma are all located within this group. Because of its proximity to other ecoregions, this group contains elements from both shortgrass and tallgrass prairies, which combine to form the mixedgrass prairie group throughout its range. The distribution, species richness and productivity of plant species within the mixedgrass group is controlled primarily by environmental conditions, in particular soil moisture and topography. Grazing and fire are important dynamic processes in this group. The relative dominance of the various grass and forb species within different associations in the group also can strongly depend on the degree of natural or human disturbance. This group can contain grass species such as <i>Andropogon gerardii, Hesperostipa comata</i>, and <i>Sporobolus heterolepis</i>, although the majority of the associations within the region are dominated by <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i> or <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i>, often with substantial <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> or <i>Bouteloua curtipendula</i>. <i>Muhlenbergia reverchonii</i> can be a dominant in the southern part of the group's range. Numerous forb and sedge species (<i>Carex</i> spp.) can also occur within the mixedgrass group in the western Great Plains. <i>Bouteloua dactyloides</i> and <i>Yucca glauca</i> can be common in drier or overgrazed areas. Some common forb species include <i>Ambrosia psilostachya, Echinacea angustifolia</i>, and <i>Lygodesmia juncea</i>. Oak species such as <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i> can occur also in areas protected from fire due to topographic position, which may resemble an oak savanna, and fire suppression may result in a closed canopy and expansion of bur oak beyond sheltered areas. Likewise, within the mixedgrass prairie, small seeps may occur, especially during the wettest years. Although these are not considered a separate group, the suppression of fire within the region has enabled the invasion of both exotics and some shrub species such as <i>Juniperus virginiana</i> and also allowed for the establishment of <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> in the northwestern parts of the range.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39963-{E753305D-FA7B-4C72-80ED-956C26D0F137} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 07-May-2015 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Hesperostipa comata - Pascopyrum smithii - Festuca hallii Grassland Macrogroup This Community's Level: Group This Community's Children: Show/Hide   Muhlenbergia reverchonii Grassland Alliance   Pascopyrum smithii - Bouteloua gracilis Great Plains Grassland Alliance   Rhus trilobata Great Plains Shrubland Alliance   Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Great Plains Grassland Alliance		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.856954 NatureServe Explorer   Code: G133   Scientific: Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Pascopyrum smithii Mixedgrass Prairie Group