Plants as Indicators

by Gene Gade

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PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE EXCELLENT INDICATORS. THEY LIVE WHERE THEY LIVE FOR A REASON, AND THEY INDICATE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PLACE WHEN YOU SEE THEM.

I'M HERE ON A SANDY HILLSIDE EAST OF CASPER.  LET'S LOOK AT THE KINDS OF PLANTS THAT EXIST ON SITES LIKE THIS.

RIGHT BEHIND ME HERE IS AVERY CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES OF GRASS. IT'S CALLED PRAIRIE SAND REED, AND I HAVE THREE OTHER EXAMPLES, INDIAN RICE GRASS, NEEDLE AND THREAD GRASS AND SAND DROP SEED.

ALL OF THESE ARE PLANTS ARE FOUND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON SANDY AREAS AROUND WYOMING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT PLANTS ACTUALLY HELP CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT THEY NEED FOR THEIR EXISTENCE.

THIS PRAIRIE SAND REED FOR EXAMPLE IS PILING UP THE SNOW WHICH IT NEEDS AS A MOISTURE SOURCE, AND THAT INSURES THE CONDITIONS ON WHICH IT THRIVES.

WHEN YOU ARE WALKING OR DRIVING AROUND WYOMING, JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE INDICATORS OF AN ENVIRONMENT, IN THIS CASE A SANDY ENVIRONMENT.  I'M GENE GADE, UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.