Long-Term Monitoring of Reintroduced Species Success in Restored Prairie Ecosystems
DOI::
https://doi.org/10.70102/AEJ.2026.18.1.40کلمات کلیدی:
Species reintroduction, Prairie ecosystems, Plains bison, Long-Term monitoring, Habitat restoration, Biodiversity conservation, Ecological management.چکیده
This paper analyses the species restoration and reintroduction of the plains bison (Bison bison) into the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oklahoma, and how it is monitored in the long term. This was done to determine the effectiveness of these interventions in restoring prairie ecosystems and species populations. The researchers utilized a combination of monitoring methods, such as field survey, camera trapping, radio telemetry, and soil and vegetation survey, between the years 2015 and 2020. The major study was done on the basis of the survival rates, quality of the habitat, and the impact on the ecology, especially the influence of invasive species and climate conditions. Findings indicated that the population of the plains bison increased by 200 to 450 animals during the study, and the survival rate was 85 %. There was a significant increase in the survival rate in the regions where the native vegetation was restored by plants (90% and 70%, respectively). As a predictor of survival was identified by statistical analysis, habitat quality (regression coefficient of 0.76, p < 0.01) and temperature (regression coefficient of -0.45, p < 0.05) had a negative influence on survival. The regression models of the study accounted for 82 % of the variance in the survival rates of bison. Nevertheless, other species, including the prairie chicken (45%), had a lower survival rate and thus require specific management tactics. The paper finds that the restoration of habitats and species reintroduction are effective but should be customized to the requirements of the species. Further studies are required to cope with issues such as habitat fragmentation and climate change, and optimize management strategies to help species survive in reintroduced ecosystems.