Evaluating Conversion of Exotic Grass Pastures to Native Warm-Season Grass: Profitability Analysis and Response of Wildlife and Imported Fire Ants

Evaluating Conversion of Exotic Grass Pastures to Native Warm-Season Grass: Profitability Analysis and Response of Wildlife and Imported Fire Ants

Summary

In 2012 we completed the second year of our grazing study, monitoring over 200 Dickcissel nests over two years, and conducting extensive vegetation and fire ant surveys in our study pastures. Preliminary results suggest a positive effect from native warm-season grass conversion on daily survival rate of Dickcissel nests, but a negative effect from grazing.

Objectives/Performance Targets

2008 – 2011
All objectives completed

2012
Prescribed burns of all pastures (Completed)

Fertilizer application when necessary (Completed)

Spring and Fall imported fire ant surveys (Completed)

Dickcissel nest monitoring; cattle weighed, removed (Completed)

Begin analyzing data; collect cost & revenue data for economic simulations. (Continuing)

Prepare progress reports, manuscripts, and conference presentations if data and analyses are sufficient. Conferences may include local meetings such as the Mississippi Forage and Grassland Conference and the Southeastern Natural Resources Graduate Student Symposium, regional conferences including the Southeastern Prairie Symposium and the Eastern Native Grass Symposium, and national conferences such as the American Ornithologists’ Union and The Wildlife Society. (Continuing)

2013
Winter bird surveys (completed)

Enter and analyze bird data (continuing)

Sort and analyze insect and ant data (continuing)

Conduct genetic tests on fire ant mounds to assess hybrid status and frequency of polygynous queens

Build economic simulations

Prepare final analyses and report.

Accomplishments/Milestones

In 2012, we completed spring and fall surveys for fire ants at our study sites. All bait cup samples have been processed, ants identified to species and counted.

We systematically searched each pasture every other week (May 14–July 26), monitoring 123 Dickcicssel nests, up from 85 in 2011.

Cattle were weighed once a month May–September, 2012.

We presented preliminary results at the Southeastern Prairie Symposium, the 8th Eastern Native Grass Symposium, and the 125th annual Wilson Ornithological Society meeting

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Collaborators: