Another great interview. You could compile a really great book from all of these you have conducted. I really love the short grass prairie, having grown up on it, having family properyiesy on it, dreaming of living on it. Love this scientists work. Suggest his group look at the NE Colorado's Pawnee National Grasslands area and the Sandhills area in western Nebraska for prime areas of acquisitions. Island biogeography is what they're dealing with and to make it work they're going to deal with a host of issues. Don't play favorites with the species. The fleas the plagues are part of life out there! Don't try to recreate a prairie of 150 years ago..that can't work. Just deal with what's there now! Nature has made adjustments and there's kind of a rolling equilibrium, including feral dogs rather than wolves, cattle rather than bison, etc. Reintroducing grizzlies!? Bad idea! Live in Deep Time and see this amazing prairie for what it is- a community of life far older than the dinosaurs, with ever changing dwellers..don't try to freeze a past variant of it! Just let it be and keep the humans out of it!
Thank you! Wise words-I agree that we should let ecosystems evolve with new species configurations, but I also think it's important to "put back the spare parts," e.g. reintroduce bison after they've been eradicated
Nice! Though if I had a dollar for everytime I read the word "bison" in that article, I might be able to buy another ranch just for them! In all seriousness, this is great work and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing 🤓
A fascinating interview. It's not an environment I know much about, so it was great to hear about things like the role of bison.
Another great interview. You could compile a really great book from all of these you have conducted. I really love the short grass prairie, having grown up on it, having family properyiesy on it, dreaming of living on it. Love this scientists work. Suggest his group look at the NE Colorado's Pawnee National Grasslands area and the Sandhills area in western Nebraska for prime areas of acquisitions. Island biogeography is what they're dealing with and to make it work they're going to deal with a host of issues. Don't play favorites with the species. The fleas the plagues are part of life out there! Don't try to recreate a prairie of 150 years ago..that can't work. Just deal with what's there now! Nature has made adjustments and there's kind of a rolling equilibrium, including feral dogs rather than wolves, cattle rather than bison, etc. Reintroducing grizzlies!? Bad idea! Live in Deep Time and see this amazing prairie for what it is- a community of life far older than the dinosaurs, with ever changing dwellers..don't try to freeze a past variant of it! Just let it be and keep the humans out of it!
Thank you! Wise words-I agree that we should let ecosystems evolve with new species configurations, but I also think it's important to "put back the spare parts," e.g. reintroduce bison after they've been eradicated
Sam! You ought to read this from an Eastern Montana prairie conservationist. She and your guy should definitely get acquainted!
https://www.bigskychathouse.com/p/alexis-bonogofsky-honors-the-prairie
Nice! Though if I had a dollar for everytime I read the word "bison" in that article, I might be able to buy another ranch just for them! In all seriousness, this is great work and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing 🤓
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the article!