Cooperatively Improving Tallgrass Prairie with Adaptive Management

The objective of this AM project is to inform managers of remnant native tallgrass prairie about which management actions (burning, grazing, or rest) are most likely to improve the condition of the prairie. Improved condition is defined as increased cover and diversity of native plants and a reduction in cover and diversity of invasive plants.

The project started in 2008, and a summary of the data was completed after the first 9 years of management and monitoring activities. This summary is published in the journal Ecosphere under the title "Cooperatively Improving Tallgrass Prairie with Adaptive Management," and these are the data used in that paper. This dataset includes management actions alongside field measurements for percent cover for native plant communities, a categorization of shrub versus herbaceous vegetation, and a proportion of native plant species indicators.