Tucker Prairie is a 146-acre (590,000 m2) tallgrass prairie in the U.S. state of Missouri. Never plowed by farmers,[2] the prairie patch is operated as a National Natural Landmark by the Division of Biological sciences of the University of Missouri, which is headquartered relatively close to the prairie.[1]
| Tucker Prairie[1] | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
| Location | Callaway County, Missouri, USA |
| Nearest city | Fulton, Missouri |
| Area | 146 acres (59 ha)[1] |
| Established | 1999 |
| Governing body | University of Missouri[1] |
| Designated | 1978[1] |
Ecology
editAlthough located well within the North American climate zone where prairie grasses and forbs grow, Tucker Prairie is a non-standard prairie patch. It contains hardpan soil types, rich in clay and restricted in its drainage.[2] This means that Tucker Prairie is, at random intervals of time after rainstorms, a wet-footed ecosystem and welcomes plants accordingly. The U.S. National Park Service characterizes Tucker Prairie as "a virgin tall grass prairie occurring within the transition zone between the oak-hickory forest and typical tall grass prairie."[3] The 250-plus native plant species[2] logged at Tucker Prairie include many grasses and forbs that thrive in intermittent-wetland conditions.[1] Grasses reported here include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and prairie dropseed.[2]
Owned and unplowed by the William C. Tucker family for 125 years, Tucker Prairie was acquired by the University of Missouri in 1957. It became a National Natural Landmark in 1978.[2] Located on a rural road, it opened to the public in 1999.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Tucker Prairie". mdc.mo.gov. Conservation Commission of Missouri. 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tucker Prairie". biology.missouri.edu. University of Missouri. 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "National Natural Landmarks: Tucker Prairie". nps.gov. National Park Service. 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.