Kendra Johnson with Dr. Mara McDonald and Dr. Nancy Mathews

UW-Madison Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
UW-Madison Laboratory of Genetics and Biocore Prairie Bird Observatory

This study attempts to assess the insect and bird populations of a restored prairie and nearby grassland to better understand the effects of prairie restoration on animal communities.

Previously collected data suggested that the bird species diversity was greater at the Biocore Prairie restoration site than at a nearby grassland control site, despite a similar physical structure. This study measures the bird species diversity of each habitat, and explores insect abundance and diversity as a possible explanation for any difference.

The bird species diversity and abundance at Biocore Prairie was found to be significantly greater at the control site (t-test, p>0.05). However, insect species diversities for insects larger than 2 mm were comparable. There was a much greater abundance of insects in the control grassland than at the Prairie site, although the number of insect species was similar. Breeding birds depend on insects as a source of nutrition for their nestlings, but in this case, some other aspect of the restored prairie must be drawing the numbers and diversity of birds.