Golden Prairie

Golden Prairie is a 630-acre (2,500,000 m2) tallgrass prairie located near Golden City in the U.S. state of Missouri. The core 320-acre (1,300,000 m2) area is a National Natural Landmark.

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea pallida) at sunrise on Golden Prairie
For the village in Canada, see Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan.

Golden Prairie
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
National Natural Landmark plaque
Map of the U.S. state of Missouri showing the location of Golden Prairie
LocationBarton County, Missouri, USA
Nearest cityGolden City
Coordinates37°21′45″N 94°9′0″W
Area630 acres (250 ha)
Established1970
Governing bodyMissouri Prairie Foundation
Designated1975

Ecology

The rolling landscape of Golden Prairie developed from Mississippian sandstones, shales, and cherty limestone. It contains examples of dry-mesic sandstone prairie, chert prairie, hardpan prairie, and prairie swale. State-endangered species found at Golden Prairie include the prairie mole cricket, the regal fritillary butterfly, and the Arkansas darter.[1] The federally-endangered prairie chicken, formerly common on the prairie, has not been observed for several years.[2] Other grassland birds found at Golden Prairie include dickcissels, eastern meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, and Henslow's sparrows.[1]

Among the over 340 vascular plants at the site are the characteristic tallgrass prairie plant species big bluestem and prairie dropseed, but rarer plants such as royal catchfly (Silene regia) can also be found.[1]

History

Utilized for hay since European settlers first arrived, prairie restoration at Golden Prairie began in the early 1970s after it was purchased by the Missouri Prairie Foundation.[3] This has included the use of controlled burns to stimulate native prairie vegetation, the removal of trees, and the control of invasive exotic plants.[1][2]

References
  1. "Missouri Natural Area Nomination Form" (PDF). May 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  2. Dermott, Dale (Summer 2015). "The Pioneer Days of Golden Prairie" (PDF). Missouri Prairie Journal.
  3. Vollman, Alexandra (August 29, 2019). "Threatened American Prairies: Crucial for Their Biodiversity, Native Grasslands Need a Hand". Modern Conservationist. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
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