Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU

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The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research and conservation practices in pollinator habitat. Over 2,500 acres of unplowed, grazed native grasslands have been identified on private lands in southwest Louisiana. An invasion by woody plants has resulted in a loss of plant, bird, and insect diversity and contributed to the decline of native pollinators. The recipient will engage private landowners to develop a working relationship and secure permission to restore and conserve these valuable grasslands by prescribed management actions. These stewardship actions may include prescribed fire where applicable and chemical and mechanical brush control where brush density prevents application of prescribed fire. These stewardship actions will be planned and carried out over multiple years as needed. The recipient will monitor the resulting changes in herbaceous and woody vegetation, assessing the methods and results, for application in conservation planning. Monitoring must be performed following accepted scientific methods including factors such as brush mortality, species richness, floral quality, and accurate plant species identification including specimen voucher collection.

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