CoNPS Webinar: The Sandsage Prairie of Colorado

CoNPS Webinar: The Sandsage Prairie of Colorado: A Biodiversity Hotspot Hiding in Plain Sight
Saturday, February 18, 2023; 9:30 am - 12:00 noon
Webinar Presenter: Jim Locklear, M.S.

Sandsage prairie is an ecological system unique to the central and southern Great Plains. A blend of grassland and shrubland with sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) the signature species, sandsage prairie occurs in discontinuous tracts across eight states in association with dune fields and other areas of sandy habitat. Colorado has more sandsage prairie than any other state, an estimated two million acres on the eastern plains. This overlooked and underappreciated ecological system hosts a surprisingly high level of biological diversity, including many regionally-endemic plants and animals, ecological specialists, and species of conservation concern. Sandsage prairie is particularly important to avian ecology in the Great Plains, with 14 species of endemic or obligate grassland birds utilizing it for breeding and/or foraging habitat. The aim of this introductory webinar is to raise awareness of the importance of sandsage prairie as a biodiversity refuge and hotspot for Colorado and the Great Plains.

What You’ll Need:

• A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection
• A copy of the handouts previously sent to all registrants
• A link to attend the webinar and further information sent to all registrants the day before the event

Jim Locklear has been Director of Conservation at Omaha’s Lauritzen Gardens since 2010. Previously, he was Director of the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston, Kansas and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Missouri and M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Jim is the author of Phlox: A Natural History and Gardener’s Guide (Timber Press) and editor of the revised edition of the wildflower classic, Jewels of the Plains (University of Minnesota Press). His forthcoming book, In the Country of the Kaw (University Press of Kansas), profiles the natural history of the Kansas River basin, including its headwaters region in eastern Colorado. Jim’s research on sandsage prairie has been published in the Natural Areas Journal and the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

Photo Credit: Sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) and gilia beardtongue (Penstemon ambiguus), Jim Locklear
Venue Webinar
Starts Sat Feb 18 2023, 09:30am MST
Ends Sat Feb 18 2023, 12:00pm MST