| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.77 |
| Liaison | Joe Herbst |
| Submission Date | Jan. 17, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Minnesota State University Moorhead
OP-11: Biodiversity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Josh
Costello Intern Office of Campus Sustainability |
Does the institution own or manage land that includes or is adjacent to legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance?:
A brief description of any legally protected areas, internationally recognized areas, priority sites for biodiversity, and/or regions of conservation importance on institution owned or managed land:
MSUM's Regional Science Center provides an ecological buffer zone to adjacent protected areas. The prairie within the park, and the adjoining Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA), is judged to be one of the largest and best of the state's prairie preserves. The landscape contains more than 250 species of wildflowers and grasses including some plants now rare in Minnesota. The Buffalo River that runs through the park is bordered by a river bottom forest of elm, ash, cottonwood, oak, and basswood.
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify endangered and vulnerable species with habitats on institution-owned or –managed land?:
Has the institution conducted an assessment or assessments to identify environmentally sensitive areas on institution-owned or –managed land?:
The methodology(-ies) used to identify endangered and vulnerable species and/or environmentally sensitive areas and any ongoing assessment and monitoring mechanisms:
As part of a larger protected and managed tall grass prairie community with the state park and adjacent Nature Conservancy’s holdings, the science center is included in the regular biological surveying, sampling and monitoring of indicator species used to assess the overall health of the Bluestem Prairie complex. In addition to this general monitoring, specific species of concern are targeted for additional monitoring.
Date Revised: Sept. 25, 2014
A brief description of identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
Bluestem Prairie is an extensive remnant of "a vast sea of natural grassland" that at one time covered the entire Red River valley. It is also one of the highest quality prairie sites in the U.S. Lying within the Glacial Lake Agassiz bed, it contains two significant shorelines, the Norcross and Campbell Standlines. Uplands contain mesic tallgrass prairie, while low swales contain wet black-soil prairie with sedge meadow and calcareous fen communities. Plant species found here include the rare sticky false asphodel, alkali and slender cordgrass, small white lady slipper,and a rare sedge. Rare fauna species include regal fritillary, melissa blue, prairie vole, plains pocket mouse, northern grasshopper mouse, Henslow's sparrow, upland sandpiper, marbled godwit, eastern meadowlark, loggerhead shrike, and greater prairie chicken.
A brief description of plans or programs in place to protect or positively affect identified species, habitats and/or environmentally sensitive areas:
MSUM's Regional Science Center is located within the boundaries of Buffalo State Park, which is a wildlife habitat for bobolinks, prairie chickens, upland sandpipers, marbled godwits, red foxes, badgers, coyotes, prairie toads, white-tailed deer, jackrabbits, and many more.
The website URL where information about the institution’s biodiversity policies and programs(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.