@article {6164, title = {Multiple global change drivers show independent, not interactive effects: a long-term case study in tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, year = {2023}, pages = {143{\textendash}154}, abstract = {

Ecosystems are faced with an onslaught of co-occurring global change drivers. While frequently studied independently, the effects of multiple global change drivers have the potential to be additive, antagonistic, or synergistic. Global warming, for example, may intensify the effects of more variable precipitation regimes with warmer temperatures increasing evapotranspiration and thereby amplifying the effect of already dry soils. Here, we present the long-term effects (11 years) of altered precipitation patterns (increased intra-annual variability in the growing season) and warming (1 \°C year-round) on plant community composition and aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), a key measure of ecosystem functioning in mesic tallgrass prairie. Based on past results, we expected that increased precipitation variability and warming would have additive effects on both community composition and ANPP. Increased precipitation variability altered plant community composition and increased richness, with no effect on ANPP. In contrast, warming decreased ANPP via reduction in grass stems and biomass but had no effect on the plant community. Contrary to expectations, across all measured variables, precipitation and warming treatments had no interactive effects. While treatment interactions did not occur, each treatment did individually impact a different component of the ecosystem (i.e., community vs. function). Thus, different aspects of the ecosystem may be sensitive to different global change drivers in mesic grassland ecosystems.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-022-05295-5}, url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00442-022-05295-5}, author = {Koerner, S.E. and M.L. Avolio and J. M. Blair and Alan K. Knapp and M. D. Smith} } @article {6125, title = {Making sense of multivariate community responses in global change experiments}, journal = {Ecosphere}, volume = {13}, year = {2022}, pages = {e4249}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1002/ecs2.4249}, url = {https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4249}, author = {M.L. Avolio and Kimberly J. Komatsu and Koerner, S.E. and Grman, Emily and Isbell, Forest and Johnson, David S. and K.R. Wilcox and Alatalo, Juha M. and Baldwin, Andrew H. and Beierkuhnlein, Carl and Britton, Andrea J. and Foster, Bryan L. and Harmens, Harry and Kern, Christel C. and Li, Wei and McLaren, Jennie R. and Reich, Peter B. and Souza, Lara and Yu, Qiang and Zhang, Yunhai} } @article {6044, title = {Microbial dispersal, including bison dung vectored dispersal, increases soil microbial diversity in a grassland ecosystem}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {13}, year = {2022}, pages = {825193}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2022.825193}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.825193/full}, author = {Hawkins, Jaide H. and L.H. Zeglin} } @article {KNZ002045, title = {Mechanisms influencing physically sequestered soil carbon in temperate restored grasslands in South Africa and North America}, journal = {Biogeochemistry}, year = {2021}, abstract = {

Sequestering carbon (C) into stable soil pools has potential to mitigate increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Carbon accrues in grassland soil restored from cultivation, but the amount of physically protected C (here measured as microaggregate-within-macroaggregate C) and predominant mechanisms of accrual are not well understood. We modeled the rate of physically protected carbon accrued in three mesic temperate perennial restored grasslands from cross-continental regions using datasets with a wide range of restoration ages from northeast Kansas, USA; southeast Nebraska, USA; and northeast Free State, South Africa. Further, we investigated major controls on the amount of physically protected C in each site using structural equation modeling. Variables in the structural equation model were root biomass, root C:N ratio, soil structure (indicated by bulk density, percent of macroaggregates on a per whole soil mass basis, and percent of microaggregate-within-macroaggregates on a per macroaggregate mass basis), microbial composition (indicated by microbial biomass C, total phospholipid fatty acid [PLFA] biomass, and PLFA biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi [AMF] biomass), and microaggregate-within-macroaggregate C on a per whole soil mass basis. Across all sites, physically protected C accrued at a rate of 16\ \±\ 5 g m\−2 year\−1. Data from South Africa fit an a priori metamodel developed for northeast KS that hypothesized physically protected C could be explained as a function of microbial composition, soil structure, root C:N ratio, and root biomass (listed in order of strength of direct effect on physically protected C). In contrast to the model-based hypothesis, root C:N ratio was the strongest influence (negative) on physically protected C in South Africa. The lesser effect of AMF on physically protected C in South Africa was consistent with lower AMF biomass in arid environments. The hypothesized model did not fit southeast Nebraska data possibly due to high (~\ 30\%) clay content. Overall, these results suggest that physically protected C in soil with moderate amounts of clay (more than 10\% and less than 30\%) can be predicted with knowledge of roots (biomass and C:N ratio), microbial biomass, and soil aggregation.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1007/s10533-021-00774-y}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10533-021-00774-y}, author = {Scott, D.A. and Bach, Elizabeth M. and Du Preez, Chris C. and Six, Johan and Baer, S.G.} } @mastersthesis {6131, title = {A multi-locus perspective reveals connections between island biogeography and evolutionary history of an endangered shrew (Sorex pribilofensis)}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2021}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/41548}, author = {Wiens, Benjamin J.} } @article {KNZ002001, title = {Mass ratio effects underlie ecosystem responses to environmental change}, journal = {Journal of Ecology}, volume = {108}, year = {2020}, pages = {855-864}, abstract = {

1. Random species loss has been shown experimentally to reduce ecosystem function, sometimes more than other anthropogenic environmental changes. Yet, controversy surrounds the importance of this finding for natural systems where species loss is non-random.
2. We compiled data from 16 multi-year experiments located at a single native tallgrass prairie site. These experiments included responses to 11 anthropogenic environmental changes, as well as non-random biodiversity loss either the removal of uncommon/rare plant species or the most common (dominant) species.
3. As predicted by the mass ratio hypothesis, loss of a dominant species had large impacts on productivity that were comparable to other anthropogenic drivers. In contrast, the loss of uncommon/rare species had small effects on productivity despite having the largest effects on species richness.
4. The anthropogenic drivers that had the largest effects on productivity nitrogen, irrigation, and fire experienced not only loss of species but also significant changes in the abundance and identity of dominant species.
5. Synthesis. These results suggest that mass ratio effects, rather than species loss per se, are an important determinant of ecosystem function with environmental change.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2745.13330}, url = {https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2745.13330}, author = {M.D. Smith and Koerner, S.E. and Alan K. Knapp and M.L. Avolio and Chaves, F.A. and Denton, E.M. and Dietrich, J. and Gibson, D.J. and Gray, J. and Hoffman, A.M. and Hoover, D.L. and Kimberly J. Komatsu and Silletti, A. and K.R. Wilcox and Yu, Q. and John M. Blair} } @article {KNZ002002, title = {Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances}, journal = {Science}, volume = {368}, year = {2020}, pages = {417-420}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1126/science.aax9931}, url = {https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6489/417.full}, author = {Roel van Klink and Diana E. Bowler and Konstantin B. Gongalsky and Ann B. Swengel and Alessandro Gentile and Jonathan M. Chase} } @article {KNZ002038, title = {Microanatomical traits track climate gradients for a dominant C4 grass species across the Great Plains, USA}, journal = {Annals of Botany}, volume = {mcaa146}, year = {2020}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcaa146}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa146}, author = {Bachle, Seton and Nippert, J.B.} } @article {KNZ002055, title = {Micronutrients enhance macronutrient effects in a meta-analysis of grassland arthropod abundance}, journal = {Global Ecology and Biogeography}, volume = {29}, year = {2020}, pages = {2273-2288}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/geb.13196}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geb.13196}, author = {Prather, R.M. and Castillioni, K. and Kaspari, M. and Souza, L. and Prather, C.M. and Reihart, R.W. and Welti, Ellen A. R.} } @article {KNZ001974, title = {Management regime and habitat response influence abundance of regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) in tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Ecosphere}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, pages = {e02845}, abstract = {

The \>2,570,000-ha Flint Hills ecoregion of Kansas, USA, harbors the largest remaining contiguous tract of tallgrass prairie in North America, a unique system, as the remainder of North America\&$\#$39;s tallgrass prairie has succumbed to development and conversion. Consequently, the loss and degradation of tallgrass prairie has reduced populations of many North American prairie-obligate species including the regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) butterfly. Population abundance and occupied range of regal fritillary have declined \>99\%, restricting many populations to isolated, remnant patches of tallgrass prairie. Such extensive decline has resulted in consideration of the regal fritillary for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Although it is widely accepted that management practices such as fire, grazing, and haying are necessary to maintain prairie ecosystems, reported responses by regal fritillary to these management regimes have been ambiguous. We tested effects of prescribed fire across short, moderate, and long fire-return intervals as well as grazing and haying management treatments on regal fritillary density. We also tested the relative influence of habitat characteristics created by these management regimes by measuring density of an obligate host plant (Viola spp.) and canopy cover of woody vegetation, grasses, forbs/ferns, bare ground, and litter. We found density was at least 1.6 times greater in sites burned with a moderate fire-return interval vs. sites burned with short and long fire-return intervals. Overall management regardless of fire-return interval did not have an effect on density. Percent cover of grass had the strongest positive association, while percent cover of woody vegetation had the greatest negative effect on density. Our results indicate that patch-burning is a viable and perhaps even ideal management strategy for regal fritillary in tallgrass prairie landscapes. Additionally, these results elucidate the importance of fire, particularly when applied at moderate-return intervals to regal fritillary, and corroborate a growing suite of studies that suggest fire is perhaps not as detrimental to populations of regal fritillary as previously believed.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1002/ecs2.2019.10.issue-810.1002/ecs2.2845}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/21508925/10/8}, author = {McCullough, K. and Gene Albanese and David A. Haukos and Ricketts, A. M. and Stratton, S.} } @article {KNZ001975, title = {Metaphenomic response of a native prairie soil microbiome to moisture perturbations}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, year = {2019}, pages = {e00061-19}, abstract = {

Climate change is causing shifts in precipitation patterns in the central grasslands of the United States, with largely unknown consequences on the collective physiological responses of the soil microbial community, i.e., the metaphenome. Here, we used an untargeted omics approach to determine the soil microbial community\’s metaphenomic response to soil moisture and to define specific metabolic signatures of the response. Specifically, we aimed to develop the technical approaches and metabolic mapping framework necessary for future systematic ecological studies. We collected soil from three locations at the Konza Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) field station in Kansas, and the soils were incubated for 15 days under dry or wet conditions and compared to field-moist controls. The microbiome response to wetting or drying was determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics, and the resulting shifts in taxa, gene expression, and metabolites were assessed. Soil drying resulted in significant shifts in both the composition and function of the soil microbiome. In contrast, there were few changes following wetting. The combined metabolic and metatranscriptomic data were used to generate reaction networks to determine the metaphenomic response to soil moisture transitions. Site location was a strong determinant of the response of the soil microbiome to moisture perturbations. However, some specific metabolic pathways changed consistently across sites, including an increase in pathways and metabolites for production of sugars and other osmolytes as a response to drying. Using this approach, we demonstrate that despite the high complexity of the soil habitat, it is possible to generate insight into the effect of environmental change on the soil microbiome and its physiology and functions, thus laying the groundwork for future, targeted studies.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, metaphenome, metatranscriptome, multi-omics, soil microbiome}, doi = {10.1128/mSystems.00061-19}, url = {http://msystems.asm.org/lookup/doi/10.1128/mSystems.00061-19}, author = {Roy Chowdhury, Taniya and Lee, Joon-Yong and Bottos, Eric M. and Brislawn, Colin J. and White, Richard Allen and Bramer, Lisa M. and Brown, Joseph and Zucker, Jeremy D. and Kim, Young-Mo and A. Jumpponen and C. W. Rice and Fansler, Sarah J. and Metz, Thomas O. and McCue, Lee Ann and Callister, Stephen J. and Song, Hyun-Seob and Jansson, Janet K.}, editor = {Hallam, Steven J.} } @article {KNZ001976, title = {Migration patterns of upland sandpipers in the western hemisphere}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {7}, year = {2019}, pages = {426}, abstract = {

Integrated models of the ecology of migratory species require tracking of individual migratory organisms throughout the annual cycle. Here, we report the first information on the movement patterns of nine Upland Sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) that were captured at breeding sites in Kansas and Massachusetts, and tracked with GPS and PTT tags to non-breeding sites in South America. Upland Sandpipers were extreme migrants that regularly made non-stop flights that were \>5,000 km in length and lasted up to 7 days. Sandpipers traveled up to 20,000 km per year in their annual movements. Our project resulted in a series of new discoveries. Sandpipers regularly crossed major ecological barriers during migration, which included long oceanic flights, high elevation mountains, and tropical forests. Migrating birds used known stopover sites in the central flyway of North America and eastern slope of the Andes in South America, and a subset of birds wintered in core non-breeding sites in the Pampas ecoregion of Uruguay and Argentina. We documented new staging sites at canefields in the mountain valleys of Colombia, grasslands in the Llanos of Venezuela, and at airports along the Atlantic Coast of the US. Unexpectedly, some sandpipers spent the non-breeding season on river islands in the Amazon basin, and pastures in the Cerrado ecoregion of Brazil; areas not previously known to host overwintering Upland Sandpipers. Like many other migratory birds in the Western Hemisphere, Upland Sandpipers had elliptical migration routes within the Southern Hemisphere, moved among separate activity areas during the non-breeding season, migrated faster during northbound than southbound migration, and spent more time at non-breeding than breeding sites. Collectively, the birds used sites across much of northern South America as a broad front migrant. Overall, the migratory patterns of Upland Sandpipers were more similar to migratory landbirds than to shorebirds that typically stage at wetlands and coastal estuaries. Upland Sandpipers should be buffered against habitat loss and degradation at local sites within their migratory range, but it may be difficult to protect specific sites or broad landscapes that would be needed to conserve a high percentage of the global population.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Bartramia longicauda, elliptical migration, full annual cycle, long-distance migration, seasonal, Space use, transoceanic flight}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2019.00426}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00426/full}, author = {Hill, Jason M. and Sandercock, B.K. and Renfrew, Rosalind B.} } @article {KNZ001940, title = {Migratory patterns and connectivity of two North American grassland bird species}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {9}, year = {2019}, pages = {680 - 692}, abstract = {

Effective management and conservation of migratory bird populations require knowledge and incorporation of their movement patterns and space use throughout the annual cycle. To investigate the little-known migratory patterns of two grassland bird species, we deployed 180 light-level geolocators on Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and 29 Argos-GPS tags on Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) at Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA, and six US Department of Defense (DoD) installations distributed across the species\&$\#$39; breeding ranges. We analyzed location data from 34 light-level geolocators and five Argos-GPS tags attached for 1 year to Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks, respectively. Grasshopper Sparrows were present on the breeding grounds from mid-April through early October, substantially longer than previously estimated, and migrated on average ~2,500 km over ~30 days. Grasshopper Sparrows exhibited strong migratory connectivity only at a continental scale. The North American Great Lakes region likely serves as a migratory divide for Midwest and East Coast Grasshopper Sparrows; Midwest populations (Kansas, Wisconsin, and North Dakota; n = 13) largely wintered in Texas or Mexico, whereas East Coast populations (Maryland and Massachusetts, n = 20) wintered in the northern Caribbean or Florida. Our data from Eastern Meadowlarks provided evidence for a diversity of stationary and short- and long-distance migration strategies. By providing the most extensive examination of the nonbreeding movement ecology for these two North American grassland bird species to date, we refine information gaps and provide key insight for their management and conservation.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.4795}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ece3.2019.9.issue-1}, author = {Hill, Jason M. and Renfrew, Rosalind B.} } @article {KNZ001939, title = {More salt, please: global patterns, responses and impacts of foliar sodium in grasslands}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, volume = {22}, year = {2019}, note = {

NSF-DEB-1234162

}, pages = {1136 - 1144}, abstract = {

Sodium is unique among abundant elemental nutrients, because most plant species do not require it for growth or development, whereas animals physiologically require sodium. Foliar sodium influences consumption rates by animals and can structure herbivores across landscapes. We quantified foliar sodium in 201 locally abundant, herbaceous species representing 32 families and, at 26 sites on four continents, experimentally manipulated vertebrate herbivores and elemental nutrients to determine their effect on foliar sodium. Foliar sodium varied taxonomically and geographically, spanning five orders of magnitude. Site-level foliar sodium increased most strongly with site aridity and soil sodium; nutrient addition weakened the relationship between aridity and mean foliar sodium. Within sites, high sodium plants declined in abundance with fertilisation, whereas low sodium plants increased. Herbivory provided an explanation: herbivores selectively reduced high nutrient, high sodium plants. Thus, interactions among climate, nutrients and the resulting nutritional value for herbivores determine foliar sodium biogeography in herbaceous-dominated systems.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, issn = {1461-023X}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13270}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ele.13270}, author = {E.T. Borer and Lind, E. M. and Firn, J. and Seabloom, E. W. and Anderson, T. M. and Bakker, E. S. and L.A. Biederman and Kimberly J. La Pierre and MacDougall, A. S. and Joslin L. Moore and C. W. Rice and sch{\"u}tz, M. and Stevens, C. J.} } @article {KNZ001927, title = {Mean annual precipitation predicts primary production resistance and resilience to extreme drought}, journal = {Science of The Total Environment}, volume = {636}, year = {2018}, pages = {360 - 366}, abstract = {

Extreme drought is increasing in frequency and intensity in many regions globally, with uncertain consequences for the resistance and resilience of ecosystem functions, including primary production. Primary production resistance, the capacity to withstand change during extreme drought, and resilience, the degree to which production recovers, vary among and within ecosystem types, obscuring generalized patterns of ecological stability. Theory and many observations suggest forest production is more resistant but less resilient than grassland production to extreme drought; however, studies of production sensitivity to precipitation variability indicate that the processes controlling resistance and resilience may be influenced more by mean annual precipitation (MAP) than ecosystem type. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis to investigate primary production resistance and resilience to extreme drought in 64 forests and grasslands across a broad MAP gradient. We found resistance to extreme drought was predicted by MAP; however, grasslands (positive) and forests (negative) exhibited opposing resilience relationships with MAP. Our findings indicate that common plant physiological mechanisms may determine grassland and forest resistance to extreme drought, whereas differences among plant residents in turnover time, plant architecture, and drought adaptive strategies likely underlie divergent resilience patterns. The low resistance and resilience of dry grasslands suggests that these ecosystems are the most vulnerable to extreme drought \– a vulnerability that is expected to compound as extreme drought frequency increases in the future.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.290}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.290}, author = {Ha{\"e}ntjens, Ellen and De Boeck, Hans J. and Lemoine, Nathan P. and M{\"a}nd, Pille and Dulay, K.G. and Schmidt, Inger K. and Jentsch, Anke and Stampfli, Andreas and Anderegg, William R.L. and Michael Bahn and Kreyling, Juergen and Wohlgemuth, Thomas and Lloret, Francisco and Classen, T.Aim{\'e}e. and Gough, Christopher M. and M.D. Smith} } @article {KNZ001891, title = {Microbial community structure and functional potential in cultivated and native tallgrass prairie soils of the midwestern united states}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {9}, year = {2018}, pages = {1775}, abstract = {

The North American prairie covered about 3.6 million-km2 of the continent prior to European contact. Only 1\–2\% of the original prairie remains, but the soils that developed under these prairies are some of the most productive and fertile in the world, containing over 35\% of the soil carbon in the continental United States. Cultivation may alter microbial diversity and composition, influencing the metabolism of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. Here, we explored the structure and functional potential of the soil microbiome in paired cultivated-corn (at the time of sampling) and never-cultivated native prairie soils across a three-states transect (Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas) using metagenomic and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and lipid analysis. At the Wisconsin site, we also sampled adjacent restored prairie and switchgrass plots. We found that agricultural practices drove differences in community composition and diversity across the transect. Microbial biomass in prairie samples was twice that of cultivated soils, but alpha diversity was higher with cultivation. Metagenome analyses revealed denitrification and starch degradation genes were abundant across all soils, as were core genes involved in response to osmotic stress, resource transport, and environmental sensing. Together, these data indicate that cultivation shifted the microbiome in consistent ways across different regions of the prairie, but also suggest that many functions are resilient to changes caused by land management practices \– perhaps reflecting adaptations to conditions common to tallgrass prairie soils in the region (e.g., soil type, parent material, development under grasses, temperature and rainfall patterns, and annual freeze-thaw cycles). These findings are important for understanding the long-term consequences of land management practices to prairie soil microbial communities and their genetic potential to carry out key functions.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, carbon cycle, Climate change, Land management, metagenomics, native prairie, nitrogen cycle, soil microbiome}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2018.01775}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01775}, author = {Mackelprang, Rachel and Grube, Alyssa M. and Lamendella, Regina and Jesus, Ederson da C. and Copeland, Alex and Liang, Chao and Jackson, Randall D. and C. W. Rice and Kapucija, Stefanie and Parsa, Bayan and Tringe, Susannah G. and Tiedje, James M. and Jansson, Janet K.} } @article {KNZ001902, title = {Mycorrhizal symbioses influence the trophic structure of the Serengeti}, journal = {Journal of Ecology}, volume = {106}, year = {2018}, pages = {536 - 546}, abstract = {
  1. It is known that tropical grasslands such as Serengeti host large populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and that they respond to abiotic and biotic factors. It is also known that AM symbioses are important for the uptake of essential plant nutrients, which, in turn, influences the biomass and nutritional quality of herbivores and their predators. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of AM symbioses on the biomass of different trophic levels of an ecosystem.
  2. To do this, we first measured the neutral lipid fatty acid biomarker 16:1ω5 to estimate the biomass of AM fungi in a long-term grazing exclusion experiment. Then, we used model selection of Bayesian linear regressions to infer the primary factors that influence AM fungal biomass. Using model selection of different combinations of soil characteristics, we selected the best model using the leave-one-out cross-validation information criterion. Finally, we used the Madingley model to simulate the influence of AM fungi on higher trophic levels. We combined spatially explicit information about soil phosphorus and AM fungal biomass to explore the emergent patterns of the Serengeti resulting from AM symbioses.
  3. Our Bayesian analysis indicated that total soil phosphorus was the strongest predictor of AM fungal biomass, and there were significant interactions with grazing. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomass is lowest in soil where phosphorus is limited and increases with increasing phosphorus concentration. Biomass was also significantly higher in plots that were not grazed. The Madingley model indicated that nutritional benefits of AM symbioses maintain a substantial proportion of the biomass across all trophic levels.
  4. Synthesis. Our analysis shows that inputs of phosphorus through arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses substantially increase the ability of plants to grow and maintain nutritional quality, cascading through the biomass of consumers and predators in the ecosystem. Although they account for less than 1\% of the total modelled biomass, the predicted nutritional benefit provided by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased the biomass of macro-organisms in the Serengeti by 48\%. When considering the management of biodiversity, future ecosystem models should account for the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on all trophic levels.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2745.12916}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/1365-2745.12916}, author = {Stevens, Bo Maxwell and Propster, Jeffrey and G.T. Wilson and Abraham, Andrew and Ridenour, Chase and Doughty, Christopher and Johnson, Nancy Collins}, editor = {Wurzburger, Nina} } @article {KNZ001786, title = {Mechanisms driving the soil organic matter decomposition response to nitrogen enrichment in grassland soils}, journal = {Soil Biology and Biochemistry}, volume = {99}, year = {2016}, pages = {54 - 65}, abstract = {

Empirical studies show that nitrogen (N) addition often reduces microbial decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production via microbial respiration. Although predictions from theoretical models support these findings, the mechanisms that drive this response remain unclear. To address this uncertainty, we sampled soils of three grassland sites in the U.S. Central Great Plains that each have received seven years of continuous experimental nutrient addition in the field. Nitrogen addition significantly decreased the decomposition rate of slowly cycling SOM and the cumulative carbon (C) respired per mass soil C. We evaluated whether this effect of N addition on microbial respiration resulted from: 1) increased microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE), 2) decreased microbial oxidative enzyme activity, or 3) decreased microbial biomass due to plant and/or soil mediated responses to N enrichment. In contrast to our hypotheses \– as well as results from N addition studies in forest ecosystems and theoretical predictions \– N did not increase microbial CUE or decrease microbial oxidative enzyme activity. Instead, reduced microbial biomass likely caused the decreased respiration in response to N enrichment. Identifying what factors drive this decreased microbial biomass response to N should be a priority for further inquiry.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, carbon, Fertilization, Microbial biomass, Microbial respiration, Nutrient Network}, doi = {10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.04.023}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038071716300608?via\%3Dihub}, author = {Riggs, C.E. and Hobbie, S.E.} } @article {KNZ001867, title = {Methods of approximation influence aquatic ecosystem metabolism estimates}, journal = {Limnology and Oceanography: Methods}, volume = {14}, year = {2016}, pages = {557 - 569}, abstract = {

Aquatic ecologists have recently employed dynamic models to estimate aquatic ecosystem metabolism. All approaches involve numerically solving a differential equation describing dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics. Although the DO differential equation can be solved accurately with linear multistep or Runge\–Kutta methods, less accurate methods, such as the Euler method, have been applied. The methods also differ in how discrete temperature and light measurements are used to drive DO dynamics. Here, we used a representative stream DO data set to compare the metabolism estimates generated by multiple Euler based methods and an accurate numerical method. We also compared metabolism estimates using linear, piecewise constant and smoothing spline interpolation of light and temperature. Using observed DO to calculate DO saturation deficit in the Euler method results in a substantial difference in metabolism estimates compared to all other methods. If modeled DO is used to calculate DO saturation deficit, the Euler method introduces smaller error in metabolism estimates, which diminishes as logging interval decreases. Linear and smoothing spline interpolation result in similar metabolism estimates, but differ from estimates based on piecewise constant interpolation. We demonstrate how different computational methods imply distinct assumptions about process and observation error, and conclude that under the assumption of observation error, the best practice is to use the accurate numerical method of solving differential equation with a continuous interpolation of light and temperature. The Euler method will introduce minimal error if it is paired with frequently logged data and DO saturation deficit is computed using modeled DO.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1002/lom3.10112}, url = {https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lom3.10112}, author = {Song, Chao and W. K. Dodds and Trentman, Matt T. and R{\"u}egg, Janine and Ballantyne, Ford} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001796, title = {A multi-scale examination of the distribution and habitat use patterns of the regal fritillary}, volume = {MS Thesis, }, year = {2016}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/34502}, author = {McCullough, Kelsey.E.} } @article {KNZ001688, title = {Mutualism-parasitism paradigm synthesized from results of root-endophyte models}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {5: e776}, year = {2015}, abstract = {

Plant tissues host a variety of fungi. One important group is the dark septate endophytes (DSEs) that colonize plant roots and form characteristic intracellular structures \– melanized hyphae and microsclerotia. The DSE associations are common and frequently observed in various biomes and plant taxa. Reviews suggest that the proportion of plant species colonized by DSE equal that colonized by AM and microscopic studies show that the proportion of the root system colonized by fungi DSE can equal, or even exceed, the colonization by AM fungi. Despite the high frequency and suspected ecological importance, the effects of DSE colonization on plant growth and performance have remained unclear. Here, we draw from over a decade of experimentation with the obscure DSE symbiosis and synthesize across large bodies of published and unpublished data from Arabidopsis thaliana and Allium porrum model systems as well as from experiments that use native plants to better resolve the host responses to DSE colonization. The data indicate similar distribution of host responses in model and native plant studies, validating the use of model plants for tractable dissection of DSE symbioses. The available data also permit empirical testing of the environmental modulation of host responses to DSE colonization and refining the \“mutualism-parasitism-continuum\” paradigm for DSE symbioses. These data highlight the context dependency of the DSE symbioses: not only plant species but also ecotypes vary in their responses to populations of conspecific DSE fungi \– environmental conditions further shift the host responses similar to those predicted based on the mutualism-parasitism-continuum paradigm. The model systems provide several established avenues of inquiry that permit more detailed molecular and functional dissection of fungal endophyte symbioses, identifying thus likely mechanisms that may underlie the observed host responses to endophyte colonization.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2014.00776}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00776/full}, author = {Mandyam, K.G. and A. Jumpponen} } @article {KNZ001668, title = {Mycorrhizal phenotypes and the law of the minimum}, journal = {New Phytologist}, volume = {205}, year = {2015}, pages = {1473 -1484}, abstract = {

Mycorrhizal phenotypes arise from interactions among plant and fungal genotypes and the environment. Differences in the stoichiometry and uptake capacity of fungi and plants make arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi inherently more nitrogen (N) limited and less phosphorus (P) limited than their host plants. Mutualistic phenotypes are most likely in P-limited systems and commensal or parasitic phenotypes in N-limited systems. Carbon (C) limitation is expected to cause phenotypes to shift from mutualism to commensalism and even parasitism. Two experiments compared the influence of fertilizer and shade on mycorrhizas in Andropogon gerardii across three naturally N-limited or P-limited grasslands. A third experiment examined the interactive effects of N and P enrichment and shade on A. gerardii mycorrhizas. Our experiments generated the full spectrum of mycorrhizal phenotypes. These findings support the hypothesis that mutualism is likely in P-limited systems and commensalism or parasitism is likely in N-limited systems. Furthermore, shade decreased C-assimilation and generated less mutualistic mycorrhizal phenotypes with reduced plant and fungal biomass. Soil fertility is a key controller of mycorrhizal costs and benefits and the Law of the Minimum is a useful predictor of mycorrhizal phenotype. In our experimental grasslands arbuscular mycorrhizas can ameliorate P-limitation but not N-limitation.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, stoichiometry}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13172}, url = {https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.13172}, author = {Johnson, N.C. and G.T. Wilson and Wilson, J.A. and Miller, R.M. and M. Bowker} } @phdthesis {KNZ001654, title = {A mechanistic framework for understanding prairie stream fish distributions}, volume = {PhD. Dissertation}, year = {2014}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {

A fundamental goal of ecology is to understand environmental associations of species. These associations can provide a basis for predicting spatial distributions in contemporary habitats as well as how those distributions might change in response to anthropogenic environmental change. Developing species distribution models is limited by an incomplete understanding of functional traits, spatial scaling, and the mechanisms and generalities of correlations among abundance and environmental gradients. I address these four issues using observational and experimental approaches. First, I tested opposing mechanisms of community assembly by measuring the dispersion (i.e., diversity) of three types of functional strategies at three spatial scales and along environmental gradients. I found that communities are assembled via abiotic environmental filtering, but the strength of this filtering depends on the spatial scale of investigation, longitudinal network position, and type of functional strategy. Second, I quantified community-environment relationships across thirteen sub-basins, nested within the three major basins within Kansas to evaluate the consistency (i.e., generality) in predictive capability of environmental variables among sub-basins and across spatial extents. I found that longitudinal network position is consistently the strongest predictor of community composition among sub-basins, but in-stream and catchment predictors become stronger correlates of community composition with increasing spatial extent. Third, I used environmental niche models to quantify distributions of four pairs of congeneric cyprinids and found that species within each pair exhibited contrasting stream-size preferences. I then used field experiments to test for differences in individual-level performance between one pair of species (Pimephales notatus and P. vigilax) along a gradient of stream size. I found that adult spawn success and juvenile growth and condition increased with stream size for both species, indicating that these congeners respond similarly to abiotic gradients associated with the river continuum. I concluded that complementary distributions are a consequence of biotic interactions, differential environmental filtering evident in an unmeasured performance metric, or differential environmental filtering by an environmental factor operating at longer timescales. These studies demonstrate the context dependencies of characterizing habitat associations of stream fishes, but also reveal the general importance of stream size and associated environmental gradients in structuring stream fish communities.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Community ecology, Environmental niche modeling, Fish ecology}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/2097/17285}, author = {Troia, M.J.} } @article {KNZ001760, title = {Mismatched begging displays between foreign and host offspring reduce brood parasite fitness}, journal = {Behavioral Ecology}, volume = {25}, year = {2014}, pages = {785 - 793}, abstract = {

Obligate brood parasites must obtain food from unrelated host parents during the developmental period, and this may be especially difficult when parasitic nestlings are raised alone. Unlike specialist brood parasites, generalist brood parasites use a single begging display for a range of host species. In this study, we 1) tested whether the begging display of the generalist brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) was more exaggerated than the closely related, nonparasitic red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and 2) examined how begging displays were linked to food provisioning when both foreign species were raised by the Bell\’s vireo (Vireo bellii), a small cowbird host. We also quantified parental provisioning to unparasitized broods containing 1\–4 vireo nestlings to provide a reference provisioning curve to provide context for assessing the feeding rate to foreign offspring. We found blackbirds begged as intensely as (or more intensely than) cowbird nestlings, vireo parents provisioned both species similarly, and the amount of food provisioned to unparasitized broods increased with brood size and maintained per-capita vireo growth. However, feeding of a single foreign nestling was significantly less than that of a modal brood of 4 vireos, indicating parents fed foreign nestlings at submaximal rates. Vireos did not respond to begging of foreign nestlings in the same manner as their own offspring, and this led to significant fitness costs for foreign nestlings. We conclude that a single foreign nestling provided an inadequate stimulus for vireos, probably because of a mismatch between the begging displays of foreign and host offspring.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Agelaius phoeniceus, begging, Bell{\textquoteright}s vireo, brood parasitism, brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater, provisioning behavior, red-winged blackbird, Vireo bellii}, doi = {10.1093/beheco/aru055}, url = {https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/25/4/785/2900528}, author = {Rivers, J. W. and M.A. Blundell and Rothstein, S. I.} } @phdthesis {KNZ001651, title = {Moving beyond mass loss: advancing understanding about the fate of decomposing leaf litter and pyrogenic organic matter in the mineral soil}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {2014}, school = {Colorado State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Fort Collins, CO}, abstract = {

Leaf litter decomposition recycles the energy and nutrients fixed by plants during net primary productivity back to the soil and atmosphere from where they came. Traditionally, leaf litter decomposition studies have focused on litter mass loss rates, without consideration for where that mass ends up in the ecosystem. However, during litter decomposition by soil microbes a fraction of the litter mass lost is truly lost to the ecosystem as respired CO2, while another fraction remains in the ecosystem stored in the soil as soil organic matter (SOM). SOM is heterogeneous in composition, with various SOM pools remaining stored in the soil for time spans ranging from days to millennia depending on their biochemical and physical properties. Pyrogenic organic matter (py-OM) is the partially combusted plant residue left behind by fires, and has been found to contribute to long term SOM pools. SOM accounts for the largest terrestrial pool of carbon (C) in the global C cycle and stores nitrogen (N) and other nutrients for plant productivity. Therefore the formation of SOM during litter decomposition is critical to terrestrial C and N cycling and its feedback to global biogeochemical cycles. The focus of my dissertation is the study of leaf litter and py-OM decomposition, and quantitatively tracing how much decomposing litter and py-OM is used by soil microbes, how much is lost as CO2, and how much remains in the soil and contributes to SOM formation under different conditions. In order to best address my research questions, I first studied the methods of leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 13C and 15N isotope labeling of plant material in the laboratory. Then, I conducted a laboratory incubation where I found that the amount of hot water extractable C and the lignocellulose index (Lignin/(lignin+cellulose)) can be used to predict DOM leaching, and the partitioning of C loss between DOC and CO2 from leaves and py-OM during decomposition. I also conducted two field studies using 13C and 15N labeled Andropogon gerardii leaf litter and py-OM to trace the fate of C and N losses during their decomposition in a fire affected tallgrass prairie, and understand the role of soil microarthropods in this process. I found that soil microarthropods increase the amount of leaf litter C that contributes to stabilized SOM formation during litter decomposition, by increasing litter inputs to the soil where they can be utilized by soil microbes. Finally, I found that frequent inputs of py-OM, rather than litter, due to annual burning of the tallgrass prairie alters the SOM formation process by removing relatively labile litter inputs to the soil and replacing it with py-OM that is unusable by soil microbes. Overall, my dissertation has focused on taking a mechanistic approach to understanding the process of litter and py-OM decomposition, and how their decomposition contributes to SOM formation and ecosystem CO2 fluxes. My results have helped to improve our understanding of terrestrial biogeochemistry, and the processes that control SOM formation during litter decomposition.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10217/83819}, author = {Soong, J.} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001559, title = {Macroinvertebrate responses to removal of riparian woody vegetation along tallgrass prairie streams}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2013}, school = {Southern Illinois University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Carbondale, IL}, abstract = {

Woody vegetation encroachment has become a major threat to tallgrass prairie streams mainly because of fire suppression. This process converts prairie streams from open to closed canopy systems. The effects of these riparian changes are poorly understood, but the relative importance of basal resources presumably shifts from primarily autochthonous to allochthonous with increasing canopy cover, potentially altering macroinvertebrate functional structure and production. To assess the effects of woody vegetation encroachment on stream ecosystem structure and function, riparian trees were removed from two headwater stream reaches on the Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) in eastern Kansas. Experimental stream reaches were compared to streams with naturally open and closed canopies before and after the manipulation. Benthic organic matter and macroinvertebrates were collected monthly from each reach for one year before and one year after woody vegetation removal. Total community production in canopy removal reaches ranged from 8.9-10.2 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal, and this increased significantly to 13.4-14.5 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal. Scraper production in canopy removal reaches was 2.8-3.9 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal, and increased significantly to 6.0-8.7 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal, presumably due to enhanced food availability. Total community production in naturally open reaches ranged from 7.6-12.6 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal and decreased to 6.5-9.8 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal. Riparian forest removal altered macroinvertebrate production and functional structure, but higher macroinvertebrate production in canopy removal reaches compared to naturally open reaches suggested natural conditions were not restored one year after riparian removal. However, macroinvertebrate communities in naturally open and canopy removal reaches became more similar after riparian removal. Functional structure, based on production, in naturally open and canopy removal reaches after riparian removal was dominated by scrapers (45-60\% of total production), with similar proportions of collector-gatherers (12-26\%) and predators (15-25\%). Collector-filterers and shredders contributed \< 9\% of total production in naturally open and canopy removal reaches after riparian removal. Results demonstrate that woody vegetation encroachment and riparian forest removal significantly influence tallgrass prairie stream structure and function. Information from this study can help inform and guide management, restoration, and conservation of remaining tallgrass prairie streams.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/1068/}, author = {Vandermyde, J.M.} } @article {KNZ001543, title = {Mechanisms of selection: Phenotypic differences among genotypes explain patterns of selection in a dominant species}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {94}, year = {2013}, pages = {953 -965}, abstract = {

Predicted changes in precipitation means and variability are expected to alter genotype composition of plant populations; however, it remains unclear whether selection will be for trait differences among genotypes or phenotypic plasticity. This is especially true for more variable precipitation patterns that simultaneously alter soil moisture means and variability. In a previous study we found that a decade of more variable growing-season precipitation patterns changed the genotypic composition of a dominant C4 grass population (Andropogon gerardii) in native tallgrass prairie located in northeastern Kansas. Here, we assessed potential mechanisms underlying the changes observed in population structure of this species by studying how changes in both the size and variability of watering events affected ecophysiological, growth, biomass-allocation, and fitness traits of five common genotypes of A. gerardii in a greenhouse experiment. Three of these genotypes had greater abundances or were only present in field plots receiving 10 years of greater intra-annual variability in growing-season precipitation patterns. In a fully factorial experiment, we subjected the five genotypes to three water amounts (average for Kansan study site, a 40\% decrease, and a 60\% increase) and two watering frequency treatments (every 5 or 10 days) to produce differences in soil moisture amount and variability, respectively. We found genotype \× water amount interactions for traits related to leaf-level physiology and biomass allocation; in many cases genotypes that performed better under low soil moisture conditions were outperformed by other genotypes under high soil moisture conditions. For the three genotypes that had greater abundance in field plots that received more variable precipitation patterns, we found evidence that genotypes differed in their allocation to above- vs. belowground biomass, demonstrating phenotypic trait divergence. Our results suggest that a genetically diverse population can have enough trait variation among genotypes for adaptation to occur, and thus, for dominant species, microevolution may be an important aspect of adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1890/12-1119.1}, url = {https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/12-1119.1}, author = {M.L. Avolio and M.D. Smith} } @article {KNZ001471, title = {Maternal allocation and offspring characteristics in Bison}, journal = {Ecological Applications}, volume = {22}, year = {2012}, pages = {1628 -1639}, abstract = {

Parental allocation strategies are of profound interest in life history because they directly impact offspring fitness and therefore are highly valuable for understanding population dynamics and informing management decisions. Yet, numerous questions about reproductive allocation patterns for wild populations of large mammals remain unanswered because of the challenges for measuring allocation in the wild. Using a nine-year longitudinal data set on life-history traits of mother\–calf bison pairs, we identified sources of variation in relative maternal allocation (calf mass ratio on mother mass) and assessed the occurrence of reproductive costs associated with differential maternal allocation. We found that heavy mothers provided a lower allocation but still produced heavier calves than light mothers. Older females produced lighter calves and tended to decrease allocation as they aged, supporting the occurrence of reproductive senescence. Mothers that had produced a calf the previous year produced lighter calves and allocated less than mothers that did not lactate the previous year, revealing reproductive costs. However, greater maternal allocation did not reduce the probability of breeding in successive years, and the amount of allocation provided by a mother was positively correlated among the offspring she produced, illustrating individual heterogeneity. Although life-history studies are usually classified as either supporting costs of reproduction or individual quality, our study demonstrates that these contrasting evolutionary forces can shape variation within a single trait. Our work illustrates that many processes can coevolve within a population, emphasizing the need to integrate multiple concepts to better understand the evolution of life-history traits. With regard to management of bison herds, if the goal of culling programs is to select for animals with the best performance, this research suggests that managers should account for the condition and previous reproductive status of mothers when taking culling decisions on juvenile bison.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1890/11-2181.1}, url = {https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/11-2181.1}, author = {Hamel, S. and Craine, J.M. and Towne, E.G.} } @article {KNZ001481, title = {Measuring genetic diversity in ecological studies}, journal = {Plant Ecology}, volume = {213}, year = {2012}, pages = {1105 -1115}, abstract = {

There is an increasing interest in how genetic diversity may correlate with and influence community and ecosystem properties. Genetic diversity can be defined in multiple ways, and currently lacking in ecology is a consensus on how to measure genetic diversity. Here, we examine two broad classes of genetic diversity: genotype-based and genome-based measures. Genotype-based measures, such as genotypic richness, are more commonly used in ecological studies, and often it is assumed that as genotypic diversity increases, genomic diversity (the number of genetic polymorphisms and/or genomic dissimilarity among individuals) also increases. However, this assumption is rarely assessed. We tested this assumption by investigating correlations between genotype- and genome-based measures of diversity using two plant population genetic datasets: one observational with data collected at Konza Prairie, KS, and the other based on simulated populations with five levels of genotypic richness, a typical design of genetic diversity experiments. We found conflicting results for both datasets; we found a mismatch between genotypic and genomic diversity measures for the field data, but not the simulated data. Last, we tested the consequences of this mismatch and found that correlations between genetic diversity and community/ecosystem properties depended on metric used. Ultimately, we argue that genome-based measures should be included in future studies alongside genotypic-based measures because they capture a greater spectrum of genetic differences among individuals.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Community diversity, Ecosystem function, Genome diversity, Phenotype, SGDC}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-012-0069-6}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs11258-012-0069-6}, author = {M.L. Avolio and Beaulieu, J. and Lo, E. and M.D. Smith} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001515, title = {Mechanisms driving woody encroachment in the tallgrass prairie: an analysis of fire behavior and physiological integration}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2012}, pages = {1 -72}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {

Woody encroachment has altered the vegetative structure of grasslands worldwide and represents a potentially irreversible shift in grassland dynamics and biodiversity. Clonal woody species appear to be one of the greatest contributors to the shift from graminoid to woody dominance in the tallgrass prairie. Part of the high success rate of clonal species may be attributed to an ability to circumvent recruitment filters through the integration of environmental heterogeneity and acropetal translocation of resources from mother to daughter ramets. The clonal shrub Cornus drummondii persists in a tension zone of the graminoid-dominated tallgrass prairie, where the dominance structure is primarily maintained through the direct and indirect effects of fire. The competitive displacement of native herbaceous vegetation associated with the establishment and expansion of C. drummondii causes a major alteration in the fuel dynamics responsible for the propagation and sustainment of fire, potentially contributing to biofeedback mechanisms that facilitate shrub expansion. The goal of this research was to quantify fire behavior parameters (temperature, intensity, rate of spread, and heat flux) in relation to C. drummondii invasions and to test physiological integration as a mechanism driving encroachment, using manipulation experiments at the Konza Prairie Biological Station. We observed a significant decrease in fireline intensity associated with the encroachment of C. drummondii, which was amplified by the effects of stem density and shrub island area. This alteration in fire behavior also led to reduced heat flux at stems within shrub islands, reducing the likelihood of tissue necrosis and top-kill. With additional fuel, temperatures and fire intensities were higher, similar to open grasslands. In severing rhizomes, and effectively severing the integration of clonal ramets, we observed a higher risk of mortality of daughter ramets. These rhizome severed ramets were more water stressed, had lower photosynthetic rates, and lower woody and foliar biomass production. These results indicate that C. drummondii significantly alters fire behavior, releasing ramets from the fire trap of successive top-killing, while the integration of intraclonal ramets allows daughter ramets to survive mid-summer drought and increases the likelihood of successful establishment and further clonal reproduction.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Cornus drummondii, Fire behavior, Physiological integration, woody encroachment}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/2097/14197}, author = {Killian, P.D.} } @article {KNZ001465, title = {Multiple factors limit use of local sites by Elliot{\textquoteright}s short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga) in tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Zoology}, volume = {90}, year = {2012}, pages = {210 -221}, abstract = {

Spatial variation in abundance has been attributed to habitat heterogeneity and patchiness. Our goal in this research was to understand what factors were associated with spatial patterns of habitat use by Elliot\’s short-tailed shrews (Blarina hylophaga Elliot, 1899) in tallgrass prairie. Our modeling efforts were based on 20 years (1981\–2000) of presence\–absence data for shrews at each of 20 stations (local site) along 14 permanent traplines on Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas, USA. A logistic model accurately predicted the presence of short-tailed shrews at a local site. Probability of shrew occurrence decreased as amount of precipitation decreased, slope steepness increased, grazing increased, or burned area within 500 m of a local site increased. However, when amount of precipitation was low, area burned was high, or grazing occurred, shrews were uncommon and responded little to the other variables. Numbers of shrews were negatively related only to numbers of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)), a mouse that selects burned and grazed habitats that shrews avoid. Our observations suggest that multiple environmental factors limit use of local sites, whereas competition with other species does not. Our results can inform decisions related to conservation of biodiversity given management practices in this endangered ecosystem.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1139/z11-128}, url = {http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/10.1139/z11-128}, author = {Kaufman, G.A. and Matlack, R.S. and D.W. Kaufman and Higgins, J.J.} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001557, title = {A mycorrhizal community is unresponsive to simulated future precipitation variability}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2012}, school = {St. Joseph{\textquoteright}s University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Philadelphia, PA}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Tomeo, N.J.} } @phdthesis {KNZ001413, title = {Multi-scale burned area mapping in tallgrass prairie using in situ spectrometry and satellite imagery}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {2011}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {

Prescribed burning in tallgrass prairie affects a wide range of human and natural systems. Consequently, managing this biome based on sound science, and with the concerns of all stakeholders taken into account, requires a method for mapping burned areas. In order to devise such a method, many different spectral ranges and spectral indices were tested for their ability to differentiate burned from unburned areas at both the field and satellite scales. Those bands and/or indices that performed well, as well as two different classification techniques and two different satellite-based sensors, were tested in order to come up with the best combination of band/index, classification technique, and sensor for mapping burned areas in tallgrass prairie. The ideal method used both the red and near-infrared spectral regions, used imagery at a spatial resolution of at least 250 m, used satellite imagery with daily temporal resolution, and used pixel-based classification techniques rather than object-based techniques. Using this method, burned area maps were generated for the Flint Hills for every year from 2000-2010, creating a fire history of the region during that time period. These maps were compared to active fire and burned area products, and these products were found to underestimate burned areas in tallgrass prairie.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Burn mapping, Satellite imagery, tallgrass prairie}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/2097/11986}, author = {Mohler, R.} } @article {KNZ001425, title = {Mycorrhizal suppression alters plant productivity and forb establishment in a grass-dominated prairie restoration}, journal = {Plant Ecology}, volume = {212}, year = {2011}, pages = {1675 -1685}, abstract = {

A fundamental goal of restoration is the re-establishment of plant diversity representative of native vegetation. However, many prairie restorations or Conservation Reserve Program sites have been seeded with warm-season grasses, leading to grass-dominated, low-diversity restorations not representative of native grasslands. These dominant grasses are strongly mycotrophic, while many subordinate forb species appear to be less dependent on mycorrhizal symbiosis. Therefore, manipulating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be useful in promoting establishment and growth of forb species in grass-dominated prairie restorations. To assess the potential role of mycorrhizae in affecting the productivity and community composition of restored tallgrass prairie, we conducted a 4-year field experiment on an 8-year-old grassland restoration at the Konza Prairie in northeastern Kansas, USA. At the initiation of our study, seeds of 12 forb species varying in degree of mycorrhizal dependence were added to established grass-dominated plots. Replicate plots were treated bi-weekly with a soil drench of fungicide (Topsin-M\®) over four growing seasons and compared to non-treated control plots to assess the role of AMF in affecting plant species composition, productivity, leaf tissue quality, and diversity in restored tallgrass prairie. Topsin applications successfully reduced mycorrhizal colonization of grass roots to approximately 60\–80\% relative to roots in control plots. Four years of mycorrhizal suppression reduced productivity of the dominant grasses and increased plant species richness and diversity. These results highlight the importance of mycorrhizae as mediators of plant productivity and community dynamics in restored tallgrass prairie and indicate that temporarily suppressing AMF decreases productivity of the dominant C4 grasses and allows for establishment of seeded forb species

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, forbs, Fungicide, Grassland restoration, Warm-season grass}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-011-9940-0}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs11258-011-9940-0}, author = {McCain, K.N.S. and G.T. Wilson and John M. Blair} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001318, title = {Macroinvertebrate production, trophic structure, and energy flow along a tallgrass prairie stream continuum}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2010}, school = {Southern Illinois University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Carbondale, IL}, abstract = {

Conceptual models of stream continua predict that energy flow and consumer functional structure change predictably with the physical attributes of a stream. To quantify these relationships in a prairie landscape, I estimated macroinvertebrate production, benthic organic matter standing stocks, and resource consumption and egestion by consumer groups along a longitudinal continuum of Kings Creek, a tallgrass prairie stream draining the Konza Prairie Biological Station in Eastern Kansas. I sampled benthic macroinvertebrates for 1 year from three stream reaches, each bordered by distinct riparian vegetation. Riparian vegetation along the continuum ranged from grassy headwaters to shrubby mid-reaches to lower reaches bordered by gallery forest. Total habitat-weighted production ranged from 31.9 g ash-free dry mass (AFDM) m-2 y-1 in the grassy headwater reach to 9.1 g AFDM m-2 y-1 in the shrubby reach to 17.0 g AFDM m-2 y-1 in the gallery forest. Functional group contributions to production generally were similar along the continuum, with collector-gatherers (40\%-56\% of total) and Predators (23\%-38\%) dominating all reaches. Quantitative food webs indicated detrital pathways dominated energy flow in all reaches, with collector-gatherers accounting for most energy flow through primary consumers. Predators were well represented and consumed 75\% - 135\% of total macroinvertebrate production whereas shredders (2-4\%), scrapers (11-15\%), and filterers (\<1\%) consumed a small percentage of their particular resources. High production and consumption estimates for macroinvertebrate predators suggest top-down controls are important in this system. Although functional structure was fairly similar among reaches, changes in energy flow through some groups reflected longitudinal changes in resource availability. Results indicate that this tallgrass prairie stream ecosystem is intermediate in the context of predictions of conceptual stream continua models, and biotic interactions may override some predicted responses to changes in the physical template.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/120/}, author = {Whiting, D.P.} } @article {KNZ001278, title = {Massively parallel 454-sequencing of fungal communities in Quercus spp. ectomycorrhizas indicates seasonal dynamics in urban and rural sites}, journal = {Molecular Ecology}, volume = {19}, year = {2010}, pages = {41 -53}, abstract = {We analysed two sites within and outside an urban development in a rural background to estimate the fungal richness, diversity and community composition in Quercus spp. ectomycorrhizas using massively parallel 454-sequencing in combination with DNA-tagging. Our analyses indicated that shallow sequencing (\~{}150 sequences) of a large number of samples (192 in total) provided data that allowed identification of seasonal trends within the fungal communities: putative root-associated antagonists and saprobes that were abundant early in the growing season were replaced by common ectomycorrhizal fungi in the course of the growing season. Ordination analyses identified a number of factors that were correlated with the observed communities including host species as well as soil organic matter, nutrient and heavy metal enrichment. Overall, our application of the high throughput 454 sequencing provided an expedient means for characterization of fungal communities.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04483.x}, author = {A. Jumpponen and Jones, K.L. and Mattox, J.D. and Yeage, C.} } @article {KNZ001339, title = {The meadow jumping mouse on Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas}, journal = {Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science}, volume = {113}, year = {2010}, pages = {209 -216}, abstract = {We report specific locations, habitat associations and attributes of meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius) captured over a 28-year period on the Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas. We used large Sherman live traps to survey small mammals in native tallgrass prairie habitats (by traplines and grids), woodland habitats (by traplines and grids) and planted brome fields (traplines only). Fifteen meadow jumping mice were captured over the 28 years of surveys (a total of >300,000 trap nights). Nine males and six females were captured between late June and October; only a single male was scrotal and no females were visibly reproductively active. Furthermore, meadow jumping mice were from young adult-to-adult body size (13.5{\textendash}21.0 g), except for a 9.5 g male trapped in mid-October. In terms of habitat association, more meadow jumping mice were captured in woodland habitats than in native prairie (standardized to trapping efforts in each habitat). No jumping mice were captured in brome fields. We conclude that overall the meadow jumping mouse is rare, but might be locally common in some years, on Konza Prairie, which lies near the southwestern edge of its current range distribution.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, abundance, limestone outcrops, planted brome fields, tallgrass prairie, woodland habitats, Zapus hudsonius}, doi = {10.1660/062.113.0308}, author = {Kaufman, G.A. and D.W. Kaufman} } @article {KNZ001319, title = {Microbial protein in soil: influence of extraction method and C amendment on extraction and recovery}, journal = {Microbial Ecology}, volume = {59}, year = {2010}, pages = {390 -399}, abstract = {The capacity to study the content and resolve the dynamics of the proteome of diverse microbial communities would help to revolutionize the way microbiologists study the function and activity of microorganisms in soil. To better understand the limitations of a proteomic approach to studying soil microbial communities, we characterized extractable soil microbial proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Two methods were utilized to extract proteins from microorganisms residing in a Quitman and Benfield soil: (1) direct extraction of bulk protein from soil and (2) separation of the microorganisms from soil using density gradient centrifugation and subsequent extraction (DGC{\textendash}EXT) of microbial protein. In addition, glucose and toluene amendments to soil were used to stimulate the growth of a subset of the microbial community. A bacterial culture and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were added to the soil to qualitatively assess their recovery following extraction. Direct extraction and resolution of microbial proteins using SDS-PAGE generally resulted in smeared and unresolved banding patterns on gels. DGC{\textendash}EXT of microbial protein from soil followed by separation using SDS-PAGE, however, did resolve six to 10 bands in the Benfield but not the Quitman soil. DGC{\textendash}EXT of microbial protein, but not direct extraction following the addition of glucose and toluene, markedly increased the number of bands (~40) on the gels in both Benfield and Quitman soils. Low recoveries of added culture and BSA proteins using the direct extraction method suggest that proteins either bind to soil organic matter and mineral particles or that partial degradation takes place during extraction. Interestingly, DGC may have been preferentially selected for actively growing cells, as gauged by the 10{\textendash}100{\texttimes} lower cy19:0/18:1ω7 ratio of the fatty acid methyl esters in the isolated community compared to that for the whole soil. DGC can be used to isolate soil communities and provide microbial protein that can be characterized using PAGE.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-009-9593-x}, author = {Taylor, E.B. and Williams, M.A.} } @article {KNZ001253, title = {Mineralogy and morphological properties of buried polygenetic paleosols formed in late quaternary sediments on upland landscapes of the central plains, USA}, journal = {Geoderma}, volume = {154}, year = {2010}, pages = {508 -517}, abstract = {East central Kansas is largely comprised of alternating, level beds of Permian shale and limestone of the Central Plains, USA. Polygenetic upland soils of east central Kansas have been formed though multiple and likely different sets of soil forming factors. Upland soils in this region have a complex genesis, often contain one or more paleosols, and form in multiple parent materials including loess, locally reworked loess or colluvium, and residuum. The depth to bedrock rarely exceeds 2 m. Upland hillslope soils commonly contain one or more paleosols, and can be observed on a variety of hillslope positions on the landscape. Generally, the lower paleosols are recognized by strongly expressed structure, thick continuous clay coatings on all faces of peds, and strong reddish color with either 7.5YR or 5YR hues. Soil textures of the paleosols often feel less clayey than the overlying horizons in field determinations. At first, this was attributed to a decrease in clay content, stickiness, and plasticity. However, subsequent laboratory characterization revealed that the clay content was usually highest in the lower paleosol horizons, and that the clay mineralogy of the modern soil was dominated by smectite, while the paleosols contained a mixed suite of minerals. Therefore, the perceived decrease in clay content was caused by a change in clay mineralogy, a feature that can be exploited in future field descriptions in order to more accurately distinguish between stratigraphic units in these thin, welded polygenetic soils. The age of the paleosols sampled in this study were typical for the late Quaternary-aged Severance formation, clustering in two age ranges, which were ≈ 19,000 to 20,000 and ≈ 22,500 to 27,700 uncalibrated 14C yr BP. The results from this study illustrate that although they might be thin, truncated, and welded, late Quaternary-aged loess-derived soils and paleosols occur in regular, predictable patterns on many upland hillslopes in the Bluestem Hills Major Land Resource Area, and this region should be included in future regional investigations of the Central Plains.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Central Plains, Great Plains, Landscapes, Loess, Mineralogy, Paleosols, Quaternary}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2009.03.015}, author = {Presley, D.R. and Hartley, P.E. and Ransom, M.D.} } @mastersthesis {KNZ001342, title = {Morphological and physiological traits as indicators of drought tolerance in tallgrass prairie plants}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2010}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {

The Konza Prairie in northern Kansas, USA contains over 550 vascular plant species; of which, few have been closely studied. These species are adapted to environmental stress as imposed by variable temperature, precipitation, fire, and grazing. Understanding which plant traits relate to drought responses will allow us to both predict drought tolerance and potential future shifts in plant community composition from changes in local climate. Morphological and physiological measurements were taken on 121 species of herbaceous tallgrass prairie plants grown from seed in a growth chamber. Gas exchange measurements including maximum photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance to water vapor, and intercellular CO[subscript]2 concentration were measured. All plants were exposed to a drought treatment and were monitored daily until stomatal conductance was zero. At this point, critical leaf water potential (Ψ[subscript]crit), an indicator of physiological drought tolerance was assessed. Other measurements include root length, diameter, volume, and mass, leaf area, leaf tissue density, root tissue density, and root to shoot ratio. Traits were compared using pair-wise bivariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). A dichotomy was found between dry-adapted plants with thin, dense leaves and roots, high leaf angle, and highly negative Ψ[subscript]crit and hydrophiles which have the opposite profile. A second axis offers more separation based on high photosynthetic rate, high conductance rate, and leaf angle, but fails to provide a distinction between C[subscript]3 and C[subscript]4 species. When tested independently, grasses and forbs both showed drought tolerance strategies similar to the primary analysis. Matching up these axes with long term abundance data suggests that species with drought tolerance traits have increased abundance on Konza, especially in upland habitats. However, traits that relate to drought tolerance mirror relationships with nutrient stress, confounding separation of low water versus low nutrient strategies. My results not only illustrate the utility of morphological and physiological plant traits in classifying drought responses across a range of species, but as functional traits in predicting both drought tolerance in individual species and relative abundance across environmental gradients of water availability.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Abundance; Konza, Drought Tolerance, Plant traits, tallgrass prairie}, url = {http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/4628}, author = {Tucker, S.} } @article {KNZ001320, title = {Multi-element fingerprinting and high throughput sequencing identify multiple elements that affect fungal communities in Quercus macrocarpa foliage}, journal = {Plant Signaling and Behaviour}, volume = {5}, year = {2010}, pages = {1157 -1161}, abstract = {Diverse fungal mutualists, pathogens and saprobes colonize plant leaves. These fungi face a complex environment, in which stochastic dispersal interplays with abiotic and biotic filters. However, identification of the specific factors that drive the community assembly seems unattainable. We mined two broad data sets and identified chemical elements, to which dominant molecular operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the foliage of a native tree respond most extremely. While many associations could be identified, potential complicating issues emerged. Those were related to unevenly distributed OTU frequency data, a large number of potentially explanatory variables, and the disproportionate effects of outlier observations.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.4161/psb.5.9.12681}, author = {A. Jumpponen and Keating, K. and Gadbury, G.L. and Jones, K.L. and Mattox, J.D.} } @article {KNZ001277, title = {Massively parallel 454-sequencing of Quercus macrocarpa phyllosphere fungal communities indicates reduced richness and diversity in urban environments}, journal = {New Phytologist}, volume = {184}, year = {2009}, pages = {438 -448}, abstract = {

\•\ This study targeted the fungal communities in the phyllosphere of Quercus macrocarpa and compared the fungal species richness, diversity and community composition among trees located within and outside a small urban center using recently developed 454 sequencing and DNA tagging. \•\ The results indicate that the fungal phyllosphere communities are extremely diverse and strongly dominated by ascomycetes, with Microsphaeropsis [two Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs); 23.6\%], Alternaria (six OTUs; 16.1\%), Epicoccum (one OTU; 6.0\%) and Erysiphe (two OTUs; 5.9\%) as the most abundant genera. \•\ Although the sequencing effort averaged 1000 reads per tree and detected nearly 700 distinct molecular OTUs at 95\% internal transcribed spacer 1 similarity, the richness of the hyperdiverse phyllosphere communities could not be reliably estimated as nearly one-half of the molecular OTUs were singletons. \•\ The fungal communities within and outside the urban center differed in richness and diversity, which were lower within the urban development. The two land-use types contained communities that were distinct and more than 10\% of the molecular OTUs differed in their frequency.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02990.x}, url = {https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02990.x}, author = {A. Jumpponen and Jones, K.L.} } @article {KNZ001290, title = {Mysterious mycorrhizae? A field trip and classroom experiment to demystify the symbioses formed between plants and fungi}, journal = {American Biology Teacher}, volume = {71}, year = {2009}, pages = {424 -429}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {https://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002\&context=ies_facpubs}, author = {Johnson, N.C. and Chaudhary, V.B. and Hoeksema, J.D. and Moore, J.M. and Pringle, A. and Umbanhowar, J.A. and G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ001184, title = {Modeled interactive effects of precipitation, temperature, and CO2 on ecosystem carbon and water dynamics in different climatic zones}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, volume = {14}, year = {2008}, pages = {1986 -1999}, abstract = {

Interactive effects of multiple global change factors on ecosystem processes are complex. It is relatively expensive to explore those interactions in manipulative experiments. We conducted a modeling analysis to identify potentially important interactions and to stimulate hypothesis formulation for experimental research. Four models were used to quantify interactive effects of climate warming (T), altered precipitation amounts [doubled (DP) and halved (HP)] and seasonality (SP, moving precipitation in July and August to January and February to create summer drought), and elevated [CO2] (C) on net primary production (NPP), heterotrophic respiration (Rh), net ecosystem production (NEP), transpiration, and runoff. We examined those responses in seven ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and heathlands in different climate zones. The modeling analysis showed that none of the three-way interactions among T, C, and altered precipitation was substantial for either carbon or water processes, nor consistent among the seven ecosystems. However, two-way interactive effects on NPP, Rh, and NEP were generally positive (i.e. amplification of one factor\&$\#$39;s effect by the other factor) between T and C or between T and DP. A negative interaction (i.e. depression of one factor\&$\#$39;s effect by the other factor) occurred for simulated NPP between T and HP. The interactive effects on runoff were positive between T and HP. Four pairs of two-way interactive effects on plant transpiration were positive and two pairs negative. In addition, wet sites generally had smaller relative changes in NPP, Rh, runoff, and transpiration but larger absolute changes in NEP than dry sites in response to the treatments. The modeling results suggest new hypotheses to be tested in multifactor global change experiments. Likewise, more experimental evidence is needed for the further improvement of ecosystem models in order to adequately simulate complex interactive processes.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01629.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01629.x}, author = {Luo, Y. and Gerten, D. and Le Maire, G. and Parton, W.J. and Weng, E. and Zhou, X. and Keough, C. and Beier, C. and Ciais, P. and Cramer, W. and Dukes, J.S. and Emmett, B. and Hanson, P.J. and Alan K. Knapp and Linder, S. and Nepstad, D. and Rustad, L.} } @article {KNZ001183, title = {Modelled effects of precipitation on ecosystem carbon and water dynamics in different climatic zones}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, volume = {14}, year = {2008}, pages = {1 -15}, abstract = {

The ongoing changes in the global climate expose the world\&$\#$39;s ecosystems not only to increasing CO2 concentrations and temperatures but also to altered precipitation (P) regimes. Using four well-established process-based ecosystem models (LPJ, DayCent, ORCHIDEE, TECO), we explored effects of potential P changes on water limitation and net primary production (NPP) in seven terrestrial ecosystems with distinctive vegetation types in different hydroclimatic zones. We found that NPP responses to P changes differed not only among sites but also within a year at a given site. The magnitudes of NPP change were basically determined by the degree of ecosystem water limitation, which was quantified here using the ratio between atmospheric transpirational demand and soil water supply. Humid sites and/or periods were least responsive to any change in P as compared with moderately humid or dry sites/periods. We also found that NPP responded more strongly to doubling or halving of P amount and a seasonal shift in P occurrence than that to altered P frequency and intensity at constant annual amounts. The findings were highly robust across the four models especially in terms of the direction of changes and largely consistent with earlier P manipulation experiments and modelling results. Overall, this study underscores the widespread importance of P as a driver of change in ecosystems, although the ultimate response of a particular site will depend on the detailed nature and seasonal timing of P change.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01651.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01651.x}, author = {Gerten, D. and Luo, Y. and Le Maire, G. and Parton, W.J. and Keough, C. and Weng, E. and Beier, C. and Ciais, P. and Cramer, W. and Dukes, J.S. and Emmett, B. and Hanson, P.J. and Alan K. Knapp and Linder, S. and Nepstad, D. and Rustad, L. and Sowerby, A.} } @article {KNZ001136, title = {Microbial responses to nitrogen addition in three contrasting grassland ecosystems}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {154}, year = {2007}, pages = {349 -359}, abstract = {

The effects of global N enrichment on soil processes in grassland ecosystems have received relatively little study. We assessed microbial community response to experimental increases in N availability by measuring extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) in soils from three grasslands with contrasting edaphic and climatic characteristics: a semiarid grassland at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA (SEV), and mesic grasslands at Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA (KNZ) and Ukulinga Research Farm, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (SAF). We hypothesized that, with N enrichment, soil microbial communities would increase C and P acquisition activity, decrease N acquisition activity, and reduce oxidative enzyme production (leading to recalcitrant soil organic matter [SOM] accumulation), and that the magnitude of response would decrease with soil age (due to higher stabilization of enzyme pools and P limitation of response). Cellulolytic activities followed the pattern predicted, increasing 35\–52\% in the youngest soil (SEV), 10\–14\% in the intermediate soil (KNZ) and remaining constant in the oldest soil (SAF). The magnitude of phosphatase response did not vary among sites. N acquisition activity response was driven by the enzyme closest to its pH optimum in each soil: i.e., leucine aminopeptidase in alkaline soil, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase in acidic soil. Oxidative enzyme activity varied widely across ecosystems, but did not decrease with N amendment at any site. Likewise, SOM and \%C pools did not respond to N enrichment. Between-site variation in both soil properties and EEA exceeded any treatment response, and a large portion of EEA variability (leucine aminopeptidase and oxidative enzymes), 68\% as shown by principal components analysis, was strongly related to soil pH (r = 0.91, P \< 0.001). In these grassland ecosystems, soil microbial responses appear constrained by a molecular-scale (pH) edaphic factor, making potential breakdown rates of SOM resistant to N enrichment.

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Extracellular enzyme activity, Soil carbon}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-007-0836-6}, author = {Lydia H. Zeglin and Stursova, M. and Sinsabaugh, R.L. and Scott. L. Collins} } @article {KNZ001161, title = {Mycorrhizal community dynamics following nitrogen fertilization: A cross site test in five grasslands}, journal = {Ecological Monographs}, volume = {77}, year = {2007}, pages = {524 -544}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered both ecologically and physiologically important to many plant communities. As a result, any alteration in AMF community structure following soil nitrogen (N) enrichment may impact plant community function and contribute to widespread changes in grassland productivity. We evaluated the responses of AMF communities to N fertilization (>=100 kg N{\textperiodcentered}ha-1{\textperiodcentered}yr-1) in five perennial grasslands within the Long-Term Ecological Research network to generate a broader understanding of the drivers contributing to AMF species richness and diversity with increasing soil N fertility, and subsequent effects to host-plant communities. AMF spore and hyphal community data at three mesic sites (Cedar Creek, Kellogg Biological Station, Konza Prairie) and two semiarid sites (Sevilleta, Shortgrass Steppe) were collected over two consecutive years and used to test four hypotheses about AMF responses to N fertilization. Under ambient soil N, plant annual net primary productivity and soil phosphorus (P) were strongly related to climatic differences in AMF communities (semiarid vs. mesic). Following N fertilization, the drivers of AMF community structure were soil N availability, N:P supply ratio, and host-plant photosynthetic strategy (C3 vs. C4) but not climate. In P-rich soils (low N:P), N fertilization reduced AMF productivity, species richness, and diversity and intensified AMF community convergence due to the loss of rare AMF species and the increased abundance of Glomus species. In P-limited soils (high N:P), AMF productivity, species richness, and diversity increased with N fertilization; the most responsive AMF taxa were Acaulospora, Scutellospora, and Gigaspora. Soil N or N:P {\texttimes} host-plant (C3, C4) interactions further modified these responses: AMF hyphae (primarily Gigasporaceae) associated with C3 plants increased in abundance with N fertilization, whereas C4 plants hosted nitrophilous Glomus species. Such responses were independent of the duration or quantity of N fertilization, or the time since cessation of N fertilization. This synthesis provides a new understanding of AMF community patterns and processes, and it identifies three key drivers (soil N, N:P, host plant) of AMF community structure that may be tested in other communities.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1890/06-1772.1}, author = {Egerton-Warburton, L.M. and Johnson, N.C. and Allen, E.B.} } @article {KNZ001153, title = {MODIS land cover and LAI collection 4 product quality across nine sites in the western hemisphere}, journal = {IEEE Transactions in Geosciences and Remote Sensing}, volume = {44}, year = {2006}, pages = {1843 -1857}, abstract = {Global maps of land cover and leaf area index (LAI) derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) reflectance data are an important resource in studies of global change, but errors in these must be characterized and well understood. Product validation requires careful scaling from ground and related measurements to a grain commensurate with MODIS products. We present an updated BigFoot project protocol for developing 25-m validation data layers over 49-km2 study areas. Results from comparisons of MODIS and BigFoot land cover and LAI products at nine contrasting sites are reported. In terms of proportional coverage, MODIS and BigFoot land cover were in close agreement at six sites. The largest differences were at low tree cover evergreen needleleaf sites and at an Arctic tundra site where the MODIS product overestimated woody cover proportions. At low leaf biomass sites there was reasonable agreement between MODIS and BigFoot LAI products, but there was not a particular MODIS LAI algorithm pathway that consistently compared most favorably. At high leaf biomass sites, MODIS LAI was generally overpredicted by a significant amount. For evergreen needleleaf sites, LAI seasonality was exaggerated by MODIS. Our results suggest incremental improvement from Collection 3 to Collection 4 MODIS products, with some remaining problems that need to be addressed}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1109/TGRS.2006.876026}, author = {Cohen, W.B. and Maiersperger, T.K. and Turner, D.P. and Ritts, W.D. and Pflugmacher, D. and Kennedy, R.E. and Kirschbaum, A. and Running, S.W. and Costa, M. and Gower, S.T.} } @article {KNZ001110, title = {Modular experimental riffle-pool stream system}, journal = {Transactions of the American Fisheries Society}, volume = {135}, year = {2006}, pages = {1559 -1566}, abstract = {We describe a modular method for building a large, outdoor experimental stream system that has great flexibility for research projects in fish ecology, behavior, conservation, or management. The system has been in use for more than a decade at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station (Kingston, Oklahoma) and has been used with modification at four other research facilities in the Midwest. Here, we document the system in detail, including specifications for construction of the original system and modifications or improvements at other sites. The system uses commercially available, customized fiberglass round tank and trough units that can be configured in many different ways to create flowing pool and riffle habitats. The system appears to be a good mimic of small natural streams based on system flow rates, establishment of natural substrates and cover, stream chemistry relative to that of a natural creek, and fish behaviors. At least 39 fish species have been used successfully in 1{\textendash}14-month experiments in these systems and approximately half have reproduced. The system offers great flexibility of design to experimenters, is cost effective, and may be of interest at other facilities that research basic biology, conservation, or management of stream fishes.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1577/T05-202.1}, author = {Matthews, W.J. and K. B. Gido and Garrett, G.P. and Gelwick, F.P. and Stewart, J. and Schaefer, J.} } @article {KNZ001054, title = {Molecular approach for assessing responses of microbial-feeding nematodes to burning and chronic nitrogen enrichment in a native grassland}, journal = {Molecular Ecology}, volume = {15}, year = {2006}, pages = {2601 -2609}, abstract = {A substantial proportion of the primary productivity in grassland ecosystems is allocated belowground, sustaining an abundant and diverse community of microbes and soil invertebrates. These belowground communities drive many important ecosystem functions and are responsive to a variety of environmental changes. Nematodes, an abundant and diverse component of grassland soil communities, are particularly responsive to altered environmental conditions, such as those associated with reduced fire frequency and nitrogen enrichment, with the most consistent responses displayed by microbial-feeding nematodes. However, much of the available research characterizing nematode responses to environmental change has been carried out at the taxonomic level of family or by broad trophic categories (e.g. fungivores, bacterivores). The extent to which differential responses to environmental change occurs at the genus level or below is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use molecular methods to quantify the response of microbial-feeding nematodes, at the lowest levels of taxonomic resolution, to nitrogen enrichment and changes in fire frequency. Using sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) probes for the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and the ITS1 region, we identified 19 microbial-feeding nematode taxa across four families. When nematodes were sampled across treatments, we found that some nematode taxa within a family responded similarly to nitrogen and burning treatments, while other taxa within the same family respond quite differently. Additionally, although nematodes from different families on average responded differently to nitrogen enrichment and burning, similar responses were seen in nematode taxa that span three taxonomic families. Thus, if nematodes are to be used as indicators of environmental change, care should be taken to assess the response at the lowest taxonomic level possible.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02971.x}, author = {Jones, K.L. and Todd, T.C. and Wall-Beam, J.L. and Coolon, J.D. and John M. Blair and Herman, M.A.} } @article {KNZ001046, title = {Mycorrhizal-mediated phosphorus transfer between tallgrass prairie plants Sorghastrum nutans and Artemisia ludoviciana}, journal = {Functional Ecology}, volume = {20}, year = {2006}, pages = {427 -435}, abstract = {1A glasshouse 32P-labelling study examined arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-mediated transfer of phosphorus between individuals of two tallgrass prairie species, an obligately mycotrophic grass (Sorghastrum nutans Vitm.) and a facultatively mycotrophic forb (Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.). 2Regardless of which species served as donor, 32P was transferred between both intra- and interspecific neighbours via AM mycelia. However, nutrient transfer via AM fungi was not uniform between neighbouring species. 3Conservative estimates indicate that interplant transfer via AM fungi accounted for >50\% of the total 32P acquisition by S. nutans, but accounted for only 20\% of 32P uptake into A. ludoviciana. 4While this study did not show conclusively that a common mycelial network acted as a conduit for nutrient transfer, it clearly demonstrated that mycorrhizae facilitated transfer. 5The results indicate that differential movement of plant resources via AM mycelium may be a mechanism whereby a dominant, highly mycotrophic grass extends competitive advantage over a less mycotrophic, subdominant forb species in grasslands.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01134.x}, author = {G.T. Wilson and D.C. Hartnett and C. W. Rice} } @article {KNZ00976, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis and insect herbivory in tallgrass prairie microcosms}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, volume = {81}, year = {2005}, pages = {61 -69}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Kula, A.R. and D.C. Hartnett and G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ001145, title = {Microbial community composition across the Great Plains: Landscape versus regional variability}, journal = {Soil Science Society of America Journal}, volume = {68}, year = {2004}, pages = {106 -115}, abstract = {Rates of nutrient cycling vary across landscape and regional scales. This biogeochemical variability can be partially attributed to patterns in plant community characteristics and abiotic and edaphic conditions across topographic gradients at the landscape-scale or across regional climatic gradients. However, it is also possible that concomitant changes in the microbial communities performing these biogeochemical processes occur across the same spatial scales and may therefore contribute to the observed biogeochemical trends. To assess patterns of microbial community composition across regional and landscape scales, we sampled upland and lowland topographic positions at three grassland communities spanning a 500-mm regional precipitation gradient across the central Great Plains. Soil microbial community composition and biomass were determined using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Microbial biomass increased across the regional gradient, and different microbial communities were associated with the different grassland community types. The relative abundance of fungi decreased while gram-negative anaerobic bacteria increased from shortgrass steppe to tallgrass prairie. There were no differences in microbial biomass at the landscape-scale, and the only alteration in microbial community composition between upland and lowland landscape positions was a shift toward more nonspecific bacteria in lowlands. The fact that the trends in microbial biomass and community composition at the landscape-scale were less pronounced suggests that variability in microbial community composition is larger regionally across the Great Plains than landscape variability associated with topographical features at any particular site. Alterations in the microbial community may play a role in determining the biogeochemical patterns of grasslands in the Great Plains region.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2136/sssaj2004.1060}, author = {McCulley, R.L. and Burke, I.C.} } @article {KNZ00865, title = {Misuse of inorganic N and soluble reactive P concentrations to indicate nutrient status of surface waters}, journal = {Journal of the North American Benthological Society}, volume = {22}, year = {2003}, pages = {171 -181}, abstract = {Dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and soluble reactive P (SRP) have been used by some to indicate the trophic status of waters, and concentration ratios (DIN:SRP) to indicate nutrient deficiency. The utility of such measurements should be questioned, particularly based on well-known problems associated with determination of the concentration of SRP, which is commonly assumed to represent PO43-. Another potential problem with using inorganic nutrient pools to represent trophic state and nutrient availability ratios arises because concentration values are in units of mass per unit volume, and cannot be used with certainty to estimate supply (i.e., turnover rate of the nutrient pool, expressed either in mass per unit volume per unit time or simply as per unit time) to organisms without information on uptake and remineralization. Two data sets with lotic water-column nutrient values were explored, a large, continental-scale data set with analyses and collections done by many laboratories, and a more limited data set collected and analyzed by the same laboratory. In concert, the data sets indicated that at high total N (TN) (i.e., >5 mg/L) and total P (TP) (i.e., >2 mg/L) concentrations, >60\% of the nutrient is usually made up of dissolved inorganic forms, but at low levels the ratio of dissolved inorganic to total nutrients is highly variable. Last, DIN:SRP is a weak surrogate for TN:TP and thus should be used with caution to indicate nutrient limitation.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, ammonium, dissolved reactive phosphorus, inorganic nutrients, Nitrate, nutrient limitation, phosphate, water-quality monitoring}, doi = {10.2307/1467990}, author = {W. K. Dodds} } @mastersthesis {KNZ00911, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis and insect herbivory in tallgrass prairie}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2003}, pages = {1 -97}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Kula, A.R.} } @phdthesis {KNZ00912, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis in the tallgrass prairie: above- and belowground linkages}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {2003}, pages = {1 -211}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ006, title = {Macroinvertebrate assemblage structure across a tallgrass prairie stream landscape}, journal = {Archiv Fur Hydrobiologie}, volume = {154}, year = {2002}, pages = {70 -102}, abstract = {Stream macroinvertebrates were collected from four intermittent tributaries and two perennial sites within the Kings Creek basin, Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) near Manhattan, KS, USA. The objectives of this study were to assess the roles of disturbances (floods and drying) and refugia on benthic and colonization (drift and aerial) assemblage composition over two years among sites with contrasting hydrologic regimes. Benthic taxa richness and diversity at the perennial headwater site were significantly greater than richness and diversity at intermittent sites, whereas the downstream perennial site did not differ significantly from two of the intermittent sites. The larger magnitude of floods at the downstream perennial site resulted in greater losses in richness than at the upstream intermittent and perennial sites. Both classification and ordination revealed that benthic assemblage composition was more strongly correlated with time since last disturbance and season than with static hydrologic descriptors, microhabitat measures, or assemblage characteristics (richness or density). Richness of aerial colonization and drift samples collected at intermittent sites was greatest at the site with the nearest upstream perennial surface water. Because Kings Creek is a relatively pristine stream, these data may be useful as a baseline for comparison with future efforts for bioassessment of intermittent prairie streams.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, url = {http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN\&cpsidt=13665239}, author = {Fritz, K.M. and W. K. Dodds} } @article {KNZ00799, title = {Macroinvertebrate production and trophic structure in a tallgrass prairie headwater stream}, journal = {Journal of the North American Benthological Society}, volume = {21}, year = {2002}, pages = {97 -113}, abstract = {Research on North American prairie stream communities has lagged behind other regions. We examined the ecosystem significance of the macroinvertebrate community of riffle/run habitats in Kings Creek, a 2nd-order tallgrass prairie stream at Konza Prairie Biological Station (Kansas, USA), by estimating secondary production, benthic organic matter standing stocks, and resource consumption and egestion by functional groups. Annual mean standing stock macroinvertebrate biomass was 2.3 g ash-free dry mass (AFDM)/m2, annual production was 19.7 g AFDM m-2 y-1, and the annual community production/biomass (P/B) ratio was 8.6. Macroinvertebrate production was higher than published estimates for forested streams of similar size, but much lower than that of a Sonoran desert stream. Distribution of production among functional groups was 30\% for collector-gatherers, 9\% for collector-filterers, 20\% for scrapers, 23\% for shredders, and 18\% for predators, resembling estimates from some forested streams with the exception of higher scraper production. Although detritivorous groups were productive in this prairie stream, they appeared food limited. Consumption estimates indicated shredders and collector-gatherers annually ingested \~{}80\% and \~{}240\% of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) and fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) standing stocks, respectively. Thus, re-ingestion and/or diet shifts may be common, particularly among collector-gatherers, and the FPOM pool must turn over rapidly. Invertebrate predators also consumed a sizeable portion (\~{}52\%) of prey, whereas scrapers (\~{}21\%) and filterers (<1\%) consumed relatively small portions of their respective resources, suggesting top-down influences on these groups. This study indicates that, during a period of relatively stable flow in this prairie stream, macroinvertebrate production and functional structure were roughly intermediate between North American forested and desert systems. Our results underscore the value of secondary production estimates for examining invertebrate communities in an ecosystem context}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Aquatic macroinvertebrates, Energy flow, Food web, Konza Prairie Biological Station, organic matter, Prairie stream, secondary production, Trophic structure}, doi = {10.2307/1468303}, author = {Stagliano, D.M. and M.R. Whiles} } @article {KNZ00800, title = {Measurement and modeling of soil CO2 flux in a temperate grassland under mowed and burned regimes}, journal = {Ecological Applications}, volume = {12}, year = {2002}, pages = {1318 -1328}, abstract = {Soil-surface CO2 flux (Rs), which is a large component of the carbon (C) budgets in grasslands, usually is measured infrequently using static or dynamic chambers. Therefore, to quantify annual C budgets, estimates of Rs are required during days when no direct measurements of Rs are available. Other researchers have developed empirical models based on soil temperature, soil volumetric water content (θv), and leaf area index (LAI) that have provided reasonable estimates of Rs during the growing season in ungrazed tallgrass prairie. However, the effects of mowing and grazing, which are common in grasslands, on predictions of Rs from those models are uncertain. Predictions of Rs during dormancy (postsenescence to spring fire) also are uncertain. Data from a year-long mowing study, which simulated grazing, were used to refit these models. Output from the models then was compared to independent data collected from nearby prairie sites. Results showed that LAI must be included to accurately estimate Rs in mowed prairie ecosystems. When LAI was not included in the model, predicted daily Rs following mowing was nearly four times greater than measured Rs, and cumulative, annual Rs was overestimated by 95{\textendash}102\%. When LAI was included in the model, predictions of Rs were comparable to measured Rs in the mowing study. Annual estimates of cumulative Rs ranged from 3.93 to 4.92 kg CO2/m2. When comparing the model with independent chamber data from nearby sites, cumulative Rs during those studies was within {\textpm}9\% of cumulative estimates calculated from measured Rs. The model overestimated daily Rs during a dry period, suggesting a nonlinear response of Rs to soil water content; soil water matric potential may be more appropriate than θv for modeling Rs. Data suggest that Rs, in addition to being dependent on soil temperature and soil water content, is dependent on the photosynthetic capacity of the canopy and the subsequent translocation of C belowground.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1890/1051-0761(2002)012[1318:MAMOSC]2.0.CO;2}, author = {D. Bremer and J.M. Ham} } @article {KNZ00762, title = {A method to determine rate and pattern of variability in ecological communities}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {91}, year = {2001}, pages = {285 -293}, abstract = {It is well known that ecological communities are spatially and temporally dynamic. Quantifying temporal variability in ecological communities is challenging, however, especially for time-series data sets of less than 40 measurement intervals. In this paper, we describe a method to quantify temporal variability in multispecies communities over time frames of 10{\textendash}40 measurement intervals. Our approach is a community-level extension of autocorrelation analysis, but we use Euclidean distance to measure similarity of community samples at increasing time lags rather than the correlation coefficient. Regressing Euclidean distances versus increasing time lags yields a measure of the rate and nature of community change over time. We demonstrate the method with empirical data sets from shortgrass steppe, old-field succession and zooplankton dynamics in lakes, and we investigate properties of the analysis using simulation models. Results indicate that time-lag analysis provides a useful quantitative measurement of the rate and pattern of temporal dynamics in communities over time frames that are too short for more traditional autocorrelation approaches.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.910209.x}, author = {Scott. L. Collins and Michelli, F. and Hartt, L.} } @mastersthesis {KNZ00852, title = {Movements of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in tallgrass prairie in Kansas}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {2000}, pages = {1 -107}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Rehmeier, R.L.} } @article {KNZ00704, title = {Managing Data from Multiple Disciplines, Scales, and Sites to Support Synthesis and Modeling}, journal = {Remote Sensing Environment}, volume = {70}, year = {1999}, pages = {99 -107}, abstract = {The synthesis and modeling of ecological processes at multiple spatial and temporal scales involves bringing together and sharing data from numerous sources. This article describes a data and information system model that facilitates assembling, managing, and sharing diverse data from multiple disciplines, scales, and sites to support integrated ecological studies. Cross-site scientific-domain working groups coordinate the development of data associated with their particular scientific working group, including decisions about data requirements, data to be compiled, data formats, derived data products, and schedules across the sites. The Web-based data and information system consists of nodes for each working group plus a central node that provides data access, project information, data query, and other functionality. The approach incorporates scientists and computer experts in the working groups and provides incentives for individuals to submit documented data to the data and information system.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/S0034-4257(99)00060-7}, author = {Olson, R.J. and J. M. Briggs and Porter, J.H. and Mah, G.R. and Stafford, S.G.} } @proceedings {KNZ00672, title = {Manipulation of soil resource heterogeneity in a tallgrass prairie restoration}, year = {1999}, pages = {78 -87}, publisher = {University of Nebraska at Kearney}, address = {Kearney, NE}, abstract = {Plant species diversity in native prairie ecosystems is influenced by heterogeneity of soil resources, which results from interactions among plant communities, soil properties, topography, and disturbance. Key factors which promote plant diversity in native prairie include soil moisture, rooting depth, and nutrient availability. Most prairie restorations in the Great Plains occur on former agricultural land and the soil template for these restorations has been physically homogenized through tillage practices. The reduction in soil resource heterogeneity in restored prairies may be causally related to low plant species diversity commonly encountered in these sites. To examine the role of soil heterogeneity in restoring prairie ecosystems, replicated blocks (n=4) of 4 plots consisting of different levels of soil heterogeneity were established in an agricultural field. The 4 plot types included: control (least heterogeneous with respect to soil resources), altered plant rooting depth, altered nutrient availability, and combined variation in plant rooting depth and nutrient availability (maximum heterogeneity). Plant rooting depth was varied by burying limestone barriers at 25 cm to create alternating strips of deep and shallow soil. Variation in soil nutrient (inorganic N) availability was established via increased N (+fertilizer), decreased N (+ recalcitrant C), and no change in N. All plots were seeded with the dominant native grasses and >30 forb species. Incorporation of recalcitrant C reduced total inorganic N availability 90\% as a result of 98\% reduction in available nitrate. Plots containing strips of low N availability exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) greater spatial variability than plots without this manipulation. Thus, the experimental design and methods implemented have increased heterogeneity of soil nutrients, and this will enable us to address the role of variation in soil resources on restoring tallgrass prairie.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, altered plant rooting depth, altered soil nutrient availability, Great Plains, limestone barriers, recalcitrant C, soil template, Species diversity}, url = {http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs/NAPC/NAPC16/reference/econatres.napc16.sbaer.pdf}, author = {S.G. Baer and John M. Blair and Alan K. Knapp}, editor = {Springer, J.T.} } @inbook {KNZ00691, title = {Measuring decomposition, nutrient turnover and stores in plant litter}, booktitle = {Standard Soil Methods for Long Term Ecological Research}, year = {1999}, pages = {202 -240}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, organization = {Oxford University Press}, address = {New York}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Harmon, M.E. and Naddlehoffer, K.J. and John M. Blair}, editor = {Robertson, G.P. and Bledsoe, C.S. and Coleman, D.C. and Sollins, P.S.} } @article {KNZ00701, title = {Multiscale assessment of binary and continuous landcover variables for MODIS validation, mapping, and modeling applications}, journal = {Remote Sensing of the Environment}, volume = {70}, year = {1999}, pages = {82 -98}, abstract = {Validation, mapping, and modeling efforts require accurate methods to transform process rates and ecosystem attributes estimated from small field plots to the 250{\textendash}1000-m-wide cells used by a new generation of land cover mapping sensors. We provide alternative scale transformations, each with attendant assumptions and limitations. The choice of method depends on spatial characteristics of the land cover variables in question and consequently may vary between biomes or with the intended application. We extend the fractal similarity dimension renormalization method, previously developed for binary maps, to continuous variables. The method can preserve both the mean and the multifractal properties of the image, thereby satisfying a major goal, namely, to provide accurate areal estimates without sacrificing information about within-site variation. The scale transformation enables the multifractal scaling exponents of landscapes or individual spectral bands to be brought in and out of register with each other, thereby opening another dimension upon which to detect the scales at which various land use or terrain processes operate. Alternatively, landscapes can be selectively rescaled to highlight patterns due to particular processes. We recommend geostatistical procedures with which to assess spatial characteristics both within a site and within individual image cells. We recommend that aggregation of fine-grain measurements during validation of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) products be based on continuous variables to reduce errors that originate from uncertainties in binary maps.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/S0034-4257(99)00059-0}, author = {Milne, B.T. and Cohen, W.B.} } @article {KNZ00692, title = {Mycorrhizae influence plant community structure and diversity in tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {80}, year = {1999}, pages = {1187 -1195}, abstract = {In grassland ecosystems, symbiotic associations between plants and mycorrhizal fungi are widespread and have important influences on the life histories, demography, and species interactions of plants, and on belowground ecosystem processes. To assess the consequences of the symbiosis at the plant community level, we conducted a 5-yr field experiment in tallgrass prairie to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant species composition, relative abundances, and diversity. Replicate plots in which mycorrhizal fungi were suppressed with benomyl application every two weeks during each growing season, were compared to nontreated mycorrhizal control plots on six watershed units at the Konza Prairie in northeastern Kansas. Benomyl successfully reduced mycorrhizal colonization to <25\% of mycorrhizal control plots. Mycorrhizal colonization of roots in control plots was inversely related to annual precipitation. Suppression of mycorrhizae resulted in decreases in abundances of the dominant, obligately mycotrophic C4 tall grasses, compensatory increases in abundances of many subordinate facultatively mycotrophic C3 grasses and forbs, but no change in total aboveground biomass, as estimated from canopy density. Suppression of mycorrhizal symbiosis resulted in a large increase in plant species diversity. Two possible mechanisms for mycorrhizal mediation of plant species composition and diversity are: (1) alterations in resource distribution among neighbors via hyphal connections, and (2) differential host species responses to mycorrhizal fungal colonization in communities in which the competitive dominants are more strongly or more weakly mycotrophic than their neighbors. The results of this study demonstrate that mycorrhizal symbiosis can have large effects on plant community structure, and that differential host species response to fungal colonization is a key factor explaining the dominance of warm-season C4 grasses in tallgrass prairie and limiting plant species evenness and diversity. The results also underscore the importance of above- and belowground linkages in tallgrass prairie and indicate that alterations in belowground fungi and rhizosphere processes can have large effects on aboveground floristic composition and diversity in grasslands.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[1187:MIPCSA]2.0.CO;2}, author = {D.C. Hartnett and G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ00631, title = {Modulation of diversity by grazing and mowing in native tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Science}, volume = {280}, year = {1998}, pages = {745 -747}, abstract = {Species diversity has declined in ecosystems worldwide as a result of habitat fragmentation, eutrophication, and land-use change. If such decline is to be halted ecological mechanisms that restore or maintain biodiversity are needed. Two long-term field experiments were performed in native grassland to assess the effects of fire, nitrogen addition, and grazing or mowing on plant species diversity. In one experiment, richness declined on burned and fertilized treatments, whereas mowing maintained diversity under these conditions. In the second experiment, loss of species diversity due to frequent burning was reversed by bison, a keystone herbivore in North American grasslands. Thus, mowing or the reestablishment of grazing in anthropogenically stressed grasslands enhanced biodiversity.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1126/science.280.5364.745}, author = {Scott. L. Collins and Alan K. Knapp and J. M. Briggs and John M. Blair and Steinauer, E.M.} } @article {KNZ00603, title = {Mammals of the Konza Prairie: new observations and an updated species list}, journal = {The Prairie Naturalist}, volume = {29}, year = {1997}, pages = {263 -271}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {McMillan, B.R. and Kaufman, G.A. and Matlack, R.S.} } @article {KNZ00605, title = {Modelling impact of bison on tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Transactions Kansas Academy of Science}, volume = {100}, year = {1997}, pages = {3 -9}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Nellis, M.D. and J. M. Briggs} } @article {KNZ00604, title = {Mycorrhizal fungi affect root stele tissue in grasses}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Botany}, volume = {75}, year = {1997}, pages = {1778 -1784}, abstract = {Although arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis was initially believed to have little or no impact on root morphology, we now recognize that subtle changes do occur and that these changes may be of considerable consequence to host growth and nutrition, as well as functional growth strategy. In examining the stele and root diameters of C3 and C4 grasses, C4 grasses were demonstrated to have a significantly larger proportion of their fibrous roots occupied by stele tissue than do C3 grasses. In fact, functional growth strategy (C3 versus C4) was observed to be a relatively good predictor of stele area. Mycorrhizal fungi also influenced the amount of stele tissue, but the effect was not the same for both C3 and C4 grasses. The stele area of all C4 grasses except for Sorghastrum nutans was greater in the presence of mycorrhizal colonization. Among the C3 grasses, only Bromus inermis showed a significant increase, although Elymus cinereus and Lolium perenne displayed significant decreases in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. Changes in the stele area of the plant species were closely related to their responsiveness to mycorrhizal symbiosis and might in part explain both beneficial and detrimental responses of plants to mycorrhizae. An increase in stele circumference induced by mycorrhizae would allow for greater uptake and passage of water and nutrients to the vascular cylinder, and growth depressions could be a direct outcome of reduced stele circumference. Thus, differences in stele circumference represent a possible mechanism for mycorrhizal impacts on host plants. These findings indicate that structural differences among grasses are related to different functional capabilities and further emphasize the need for better integration of comparative anatomy and morphology procedures in the study of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Key words: stele, root anatomy, mycorrhizal dependency, functional growth strategy, mycorrhiza, C3 and C4 grasses.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1139/b97-892}, author = {Miller, R.M. and Hetrick, B.A.D. and G.T. Wilson} } @phdthesis {KNZ00568, title = {Microbial ecology and denitrification in tallgrass prairie and cultivated soils}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {1996}, pages = {1 -310}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Sotomayor, D.} } @article {KNZ00536, title = {Microcosms for aquifer research: Application to colonization of various sized particles by groundwater microorganisms}, journal = {Groundwater}, volume = {34}, year = {1996}, pages = {756 -759}, abstract = {Flow-through microcosms were constructed to conduct ecological experiments on aquifer organisms. The two 5-channel microcosms were simple to construct, were fed by an artesian spring, and maintained close to in situ temperature and O2 concentrations. They were used to test relative microbial colonization of three substrate sizes: silt (0.063 mm), sand (0.9 mm), and gravel (3 mm). After 96 days of incubation, O2 microelectrode measurements revealed the lowest O2 tension in the silt, the highest in the gravel, and intermediate values in the sand. Microbial activity (3[H]-thymidine incorporation) was greatest in the gravel, followed by sand and then silt. Denitrification was greatest in the silt, followed by sand and then gravel. Microbial activity may be greatest with the largest particle size because of increased water exchange through pores, and denitrification may be greatest with the smallest particle sizes because of the occurrence of anaerobic microzones.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1745-6584.1996.tb02065.x}, author = {W. K. Dodds and Randel, C. and Edler, C.} } @phdthesis {KNZ00542, title = {Mycorrhizthe responses of tallgrass prairie grasses from a central and a relictual site to inoculation with arbuscular al fungi in native and foreign combinations (big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Kansas, Colorado)}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {1996}, pages = {1 -199}, school = {University of Colorado at Boulder}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Boulder, CO}, abstract = {

This study was undertaken to determine whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal host specificity occurs within local sites. In addition, ecotypic variation in Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) from two sites was described and the responses of these hosts and their symbionts to drought was assessed in a greenhouse study

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Fisher, D.M.} } @article {KNZ00481, title = {The measurement of stability in grasslands}, journal = {Trends in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {10}, year = {1995}, pages = {95 -96}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Scott. L. Collins} } @article {KNZ00517, title = {Measurements of water use by prairie grasses with heat balance sap flow gauges}, journal = {Journal of Range Management}, volume = {48}, year = {1995}, pages = {150 -158}, abstract = {Direct and continuous measurements of water use by range grasses are needed by both range scientists and land managers. This study tested a heat balance sap flow gauge on individual culms of the tallgrass prairie species big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash]. Gauge performance was evaluated on potted plants in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field by comparing sap flow to gravimetric measurements of transpiration. In the laboratory, gauge-measured water loss was consistently within {\textpm}10\% of gravimetric measurements for both species at flow rates <= 4 g $\text{hour}^{-1}$. The first-order time constant of the gauge was calculated to be <20 seconds. In the greenhouse, sap flow estimates were consistently below gravimetric water loss and negative flows were often computed because of suspected errors in the radial heat flux component. Laboratory data showed that despite the gauge being surrounded with insulation, errors in the heat balance could occur because of external air temperature changes. In the field, environmental alterations in the stem energy balance affected the accuracy of gauges placed outside a plant canopy, but accurate measurements did occur when the plants were placed within a plant canopy. Heat transfer analysis indicated that foam insulation should be 20 to 25 mm thick to minimize the effect of the environment on gauge performance.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2307/4002803}, author = {Senock, R.S. and J.M. Ham} } @article {KNZ00525, title = {Methane emissions to the atmosphere through emergent cattail (Typha latifolia L.) plants}, journal = {Tellus}, volume = {47}, year = {1995}, pages = {521 -534}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.3402/tellusb.v47i5.16065}, author = {Yavitt, J.B. and Alan K. Knapp} } @article {KNZ00438, title = {Mathematical simulation of C4 grass photosynthesis in ambient and elevated C02}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, volume = {73}, year = {1994}, pages = {63 -80}, abstract = {A mechanistic leaf photosynthesis model was developed for C4 grasses based on a general simplified scheme of C4 plant carbon metabolism. In the model, the PEPcase-dependent C4-cycle was described in terms of CO2 concentration in the mesophyll space using Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and the activity of PEPcase was related to the incident PAR to take account of the influence of light on the activity of C4-cycle processes. The CO2 refixation by Rubisco in the bundle sheath was described using a widely accepted C3 photosynthesis model. The model assumes a steady state balance among CO2 diffusion from surrounding atmosphere into the mesophyll space, CO2 transport into the bundle sheath by the C4-cycle, CO2 refixation by the C3-cycle in the bundle sheath, and CO2 leakage from the bundle sheath. The response to temperature of photosynthesis was incorporated via the temperature dependence of model parameters. The photosynthesis model was coupled with a stomatal conductance model in order to predict leaf photosynthesis rates at different atmospheric conditions. The empirical model of Ball et al. (1987) was adopted and slightly modified to describe responses in stomatal conductance. The coupled model was parameterized for the C4 grass Andropogon gerardii grown in both ambient (350 ppm) and elevated (700 ppm) CO2 atmospheres. The key parameters of the model were estimated by fitting the model to the measured data using non-linear regression. The model was validated by comparison the predicted photosynthetic response to PAR in both CO2-pretreatments with the measured data from an independent gas exchange experiment. The predicted photosynthesis and stomatal conductance matched the measured data quite well for both atmospheric CO2-pretreatments. At 25{\textdegree}C, the estimated maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco Vcm,25, potential electron transport rate Jm,25 and quantum efficiency α were increased by CO2 enrichment. The maximum PEPcase activity Vpm,25 was lower in elevated CO2. The model predicted that the light-saturated leaf photosynthesis will increase by about 10\% with the rising of atmospheric CO2 from 350 to 700 ppm at 30{\textdegree}C, and that the optimal temperature of photosynthesis will shift from 37 to 38.5{\textdegree}C. The estimated slope of the stomatal conductance model was increased by atmospheric CO2 enrichment. Stomatal conductance was significantly reduced by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, Andropogon gerardii, C4 grass, CO2 enrichment, photosynthesis, Stomatal Conductance}, doi = {10.1016/0304-3800(94)90098-1}, author = {Chen, D.X. and Coughenour, M.B. and Alan K. Knapp and Owensby, C.E.} } @article {KNZ00441, title = {Microbial biomass dynamics in tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Soil Science Society of America Journal}, volume = {58}, year = {1994}, pages = {816 -823}, abstract = {The temporal dynamics and effects of burning, mowing, and N fertilization on microbial biomass (MBM) in tallgrass prairie were studied in a field experiment established in 1986. Microbial C (MC) and microbial N (MN), determined by the fumigation-incubation procedure during the growing seasons of 1989 through 1991, averaged 217 mg C kg-1 and 32.6 mg N kg-1, respectively, for the 0- to 30-cm depth. Accumulation of litter and greater production of roots near the surface resulted in stratification of MBM. Seasonally, MBM was higher in early spring, decreased with the initiation of plant growth, and then recovered by late summer or early fall. Decreases of MN between March and July coincided with plant N uptake. The increase of MC and decrease of MN during the 3 yr of the study were related to increased plant production. Burning had a short-term and variable effect on MC. Burning tended to reduce MC during dry years and increase it in normal to wet years. Mowing and raking decreased MC and MN, probably because of reduced root biomass and removal of standing vegetation. Nitrogen addition resulted in higher MN and tended to reduce MC, possibly by modifying the composition of the microbial population. Microbial biomass seems to play a critical role in conserving N in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800030026x}, author = {Garcia, F.O. and C. W. Rice} } @mastersthesis {KNZ00461, title = {Microhabitat and space use by Peromyscus leucopus : influence of vertical and horizontal structure}, volume = {MS Thesis}, year = {1994}, pages = {1 -59}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {M.S. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {McMillan, B.R.} } @article {KNZ00448, title = {Mycorrhizal activity in warm-and cool-season grasses: variation in nutrient uptake strategies}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Botany}, volume = {72}, year = {1994}, pages = {1002 -1008}, abstract = {Because cool-season grasses display little or no mycorrhizal responsiveness in prairie soil, it is unclear whether the high levels of mycorrhizal activity observed previously in these grasses represent nutrient uptake by external hyphae or simply metabolism of stored fungal reserves in roots. To distinguish between these hypotheses, a warm-season grass, Andropogon gerardii, or a cool-season grass, Bromus inermis, were grown at two temperatures on one side of a pot divided by a 43-μm nylon root barrier. Mycorrhizal function was assessed by measuring the amount of 32P translocated from one side of the pot to plants on the other side. As a control, mycorrhizal hyphae crossing the barrier were severed manually. Approximately 100 times more 32P was observed in mycorrhizal B. inermis grown at 18 {\textdegree}C versus 29 {\textdegree}C, and in B. inermis with intact versus severed hyphae at the cooler temperature. In contrast, A. gerardii accumulated approximately 4 times more 32P at 29 {\textdegree}C than at 18 {\textdegree}C, and approximately 100 times more with intact versus severed hyphae at the warmer temperature. Thus, it appears that mycorrhizal hyphae are highly active in both plant species regardless of the host{\textquoteright}s mycorrhizal responsiveness. Furthermore, mycorrhizal activity is highest at the temperature that favors growth of each species. The considerable activity of mycorrhizae in B. inermis is enigmatic since it usually has no biomass response. To further clarify the relationship between nutrient uptake and biomass response, both plant species were fertilized with a range of P levels and grown at a neutral temperature that supported the growth of both species. Although the concentration of P in B. inermis plant tissue increased in response to fertilization, there was no corresponding increase in biomass. In contrast, for A. gerardii, there was a direct and positive relationship between P fertilization and biomass produced, but tissue P concentrations remained relatively stable. Mycorrhizal symbiosis had no overall effect on biomass of B. inermis but significantly improved the growth of A. gerardii. These experiments showed clear differences in the growth strategies used by these two plant species. It is unclear whether these are differences that can be attributed to warm- and cool-season grasses in general. Short-term biomass responses as a measure of a plant{\textquoteright}s reliance on the symbiosis may not entirely reflect the contribution of the symbiosis if plants store nutrients with subsequent and perhaps delayed effects on fecundity, offspring performance, or even biomass. However, if the stored nutrient merely represents luxury consumption, this could still affect competitive ability because luxury consumption preempts the availability of nutrients for competitors. }, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, big bluestem, mycorrhizal dependence, mycorrhizal responsiveness, smooth bromegrass}, doi = {10.1139/b94-126}, author = {Hetrick, B.A.D. and G.T. Wilson and Schwab, A.P.} } @article {KNZ00432, title = {Mycorrhizal dependence of Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium in two prairie soils}, journal = {American Midland Naturalist}, volume = {132}, year = {1994}, pages = {366 -376}, abstract = {Previous research in tallgrass prairie in Kansas indicated that warm-season, C4, grasses are obligate mycotrophs and do not grow normally in the absence of mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the degree to which such grasses depend on mycorrhizae in other prairie soils has not been examined. Growth and mycorrhizal colonization of roots of Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium were compared in soil collected from Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA), Riley County, Kansas and from Sand Ridge State Forest (SRSF), Mason County, Illinois. Plants of both species were grown in the two soils and were inoculated with Glomus etunicatum spores originally collected from KPRNA or colonized root pieces from S. scoparium plants collected from SRSF. Glomus etunicatum inoculum resulted in significantly greater root colonization and biomass of both plant species in steamed KPRNA soil than did root piece inoculum. There was no benefit from inoculation in non-sterile soil which contained indigenous mycorrhizal fungi. In SRSF soil, there was no response to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi from either source. The lack of mycorrhizal response in SRSF soil is attributed to the greater plant-available P level of this soil. For S. scoparium grown in SRSF soil, plants grown in steamed soil produced more biomass than plants grown in steamed soil amended with nonsterile soil sievings (containing soil organisms other than mycorrhizal fungi), or in nonsterile soil. These differences could be due to competition for inorganic nutrients between soil microbes and the plant or antagonistic relationships between the plant or the mycorrhizal association and the soil microbes. Thus, the mycorrhizal dependence of these plant species is related to both soil and inoculum type or species.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2307/2426592}, author = {Anderson, R.C. and Hetrick, B.A.D. and G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ00400, title = {Management practices in tallgrass prairie: Large- and small-scale experimental effects on species composition}, journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, volume = {30}, year = {1993}, pages = {247 -255}, abstract = {Many studies from grasslands have reported how differing management techniques affect production levels and species composition (e.g., Ehrenreich \& Aikman 1963; Wells 1980; Parr \& Way 1988). In most studies the main emphasis has been on a single treatment (e.g., mowing, grazing or burning) under either highly controlled small-scale, experimental conditions (Hover \& Bragg 1981; Collins 1987; Cox 1988) or less rigorous large-scale descriptive field studies (e.g., Abrams \& Hulbert 1987; Gibson \& Hulbert 1987). There are inherent strengths and weaknesses to both these approaches. Experimental studies, usually carried out at only one site or in small plots, may reflect local conditions; conversely, large-scale field observations usually lack statistical rigour (Hurlbert 1984) and treatment effects may be obscured by large-scale landscape heterogeneity (e.g. Gibson 1988a).}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4612-4018-1_12}, author = {D.J. Gibson and Seastedt, T.R. and J. M. Briggs} } @article {KNZ00429, title = {Maximization of aboveground grassland production: the role of defoliation frequency, intensity and history}, journal = {Ecological Applications}, volume = {3}, year = {1993}, pages = {175 -186}, abstract = {Production of tallgrass prairie vegetation was measured on experimental plots in which defoliation intensity and frequency were manipulated by mowing and using movable exclosures on areas chronically grazed by cattle. Defoliation history largely controlled whether or not defoliated plants overcompensated (exhibited enhanced production compared to undefoliated controls) for tissue removal. Plants on chronically grazed sites only compensated for foliage removed by grazers. Production on plots mowed prior to the year of measurement was similar to that on chronically grazed sites, while previously unmowed plots exhibited substantial aboveground overcompensation. Aboveground production was maximized by the most frequent mowing treatment and by intermediate mowing heights. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and amounts in aboveground tissues were increased by mowing and grazing. Current mowing regime was more important than mowing history in determining nitrogen concentrations except very early in the growing season. Effects of grazing and mowing on belowground biomass were inconsistent, but frequent mowing appeared to limit accumulation of belowground N reserves and biomass. In North American grasslands, overcompensation is a nonequilibrium plant response to grazing. Photosynthate that would be stored as reserves and used for root growth and flower and seed production instead is used to replace lost leaf area, thereby resulting in higher foliage productivity. However, under chronic grazing or mowing, vegetation is prevented from maintaining high nutrient and water uptake capacity (large root biomass) and accumulating reserves that allow overcompensation responses.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2307/1941800}, author = {Turner, C.L. and Seastedt, T.R. and Dyer, M.I.} } @article {KNZ00386, title = {Mechanisms and processes in vegetation dynamics: Introduction}, journal = {Journal of Vegetation Science}, volume = {4}, year = {1993}, pages = {146 -148}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1111/j.1654-1103.1993.tb01885.x}, author = {Agnew, A.D.Q. and Scott. L. Collins and Maarel, E.} } @article {KNZ00428, title = {Methane consumption and carbon dioxide emission in tallgrass prairie: effects of biomass burning and conversion to agriculture}, journal = {Global Biogeochemical Cycles}, volume = {7}, year = {1993}, pages = {735 -784}, abstract = {Consumption of atmospheric methane and emission of carbon dioxide by soils were measured on unburned and annually burned tallgrass prairie and on adjacent wheat and sorghum agricultural plots in Kansas. Profiles of CH4 and CO2 concentration with soil depth were also measured. Overall patterns of CH4 consumption by soils varied temporally, with soil depth and land use. Mean CH4 consumption for the 200-day sampling period was -1.02 mg CH4 m-2 d-1 (SE=0.13, n=41) for burned prairie, -0.63 (SE=0.09, n=45) for unburned prairie, -0.85 (SE=0.20, n=36) for wheat, and -0.45 (SE=0.08, n=40) for sorghum. Less than 20 \% of the variance in CH4 consumption was explained by soil temperature and/or moisture content. Overall patterns of CO2 emission from prairie and agricultural soils varied temporally, but not among land use. Mean CO2 emission for the 200-day sampling period was 15.7 g CO2 m-2 d-1 (SE=1.8, n=41) for burned prairie, 14.5 (SE=1.3, n=45) for unburned prairie, 13.9 (SE=2.1, n=36) for wheat, and 10.3 (SE=2.1, n=40) for sorghum. More than 70\% of the variance in prairie CO2 emission rate was explained by soil temperature and moisture. Crop management practices influenced the timing of CO2 emission from agricultural plots but not the net annual rate of emission. Methane concentrations generally decreased and CO2 concentrations increased with soil depth, and the magnitude of CH4 and CO2 flux generally increased with increased magnitude of the soil gas concentration gradient. Fertilization of agricultural fields had no measured effect on CH4 or CO2 flux or on soil gas concentrations.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1029/93GB02560}, author = {Tate, C.M. and Strigel, R.G.} } @article {KNZ00395, title = {Microbial decomposition of elm and oak leaves in a karst aquifer}, journal = {Applied Environmental Microbiology}, volume = {59}, year = {1993}, pages = {3592 -3596}, abstract = {Dry Chinquapin oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and American elm (Ulmus americana) leaves were placed in four microcosms fed by groundwater springs to monitor changes in dry mass, ash-free dry mass, and microbial activity over a 35-day period. Oxygen microelectrodes were used to measure microbial activity and to estimate millimeter-scale heterogeneity in that activity. Oak leaves lost mass more slowly than elm leaves. Generally, there was a decrease in total dry weight over the first 14 days, after which total dry weight began to increase. However, there were consistent decreases in ash-free dry mass over the entire incubation period, suggesting that the material remaining after initial leaf decomposition trapped inorganic particles. Microbial activity was higher on elm leaves than on oak leaves, with peak activity occurring at 6 and 27 days, respectively. The level of oxygen saturation on the bottom surface of an elm leaf ranged between 0 and 75\% within a 30-mm2 area. This spatial heterogeneity in O2 saturation disappeared when the water velocity increased from 0 to 6 cm s-1. Our results suggest that as leaves enter the groundwater, they decompose and provide substrate for microorganisms. The rate of decomposition depends on leaf type, small-scale variations in microbial activity, water velocity, and the length of submersion time. During the initial stages of decomposition, anoxic microzones are formed that could potentially be important to the biogeochemistry of the otherwise oxic aquifer.}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, url = {http://aem.asm.org/content/59/11/3592.short}, author = {Eichem, A. and W. K. Dodds and Tate, C.M. and Edler, C.} } @proceedings {KNZ00471, title = {Micromorphology of polygenetic soils in a small watershed, north central Kansas, U.S.A}, journal = {Developments in Soil Science}, volume = {22}, year = {1993}, pages = {247 -255}, publisher = {Elsevier Science Publisher}, address = {Townsville, Australia}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/S0166-2481(08)70413-6}, author = {Wehmueller, W.A. and Ransom, M.D. and Nettleton, W.D.}, editor = {Ringrose-Vaose, A.J. and Humphreys, G.S.} } @article {KNZ00377, title = {Mass loss and nitrogen dynamics of decaying litter of grasslands: the apparent low nitrogen immobilization potential of root detritus}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Botany}, volume = {70}, year = {1992}, pages = {384 -391}, abstract = {

Litter-bag studies and simulation modeling were used to examine the relationship between mass loss and nitrogen content of decaying prairie foliage and root litter. In contrast with forest studies, grassland roots were low in lignin and nitrogen, decayed more rapidly than foliage, and demonstrated very low nitrogen immobilization potentials. Our findings agree with reports indicating that buried substrates with high C:N ratios do not immobilize substantial amounts of nitrogen-limited environments induce steeper slopes in the mass loss-nitrogen concentration relationship. However, results suggesting rapid nitrogen mineralization contradict our own studies demonstrating reduced inorganic nitrogen availability in soils of frequently burned prairie. Simulation of observed patterns using the CENTURY grassland model indicated that these results could not occur without creating soil organic matter with unrealistically high C:N ratios. Litter-bag studies of buried substrates therefore may provide an incomplete perspective on the mass loss and nitrogen dynamics of buried litter in grassland and agroecosystem soils. key words: Andropogon gerardii, C:N ratio, decomposition, immobilization, mineralization, nitrogen

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1139/b92-052}, author = {Seastedt, T.R. and Parton, W.J. and Ojima, D.S.} } @article {KNZ00363, title = {Mineralization of organic phosphorus by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi}, journal = {Soil Biology \& Biochemistry}, volume = {24}, year = {1992}, pages = {897 -903}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/0038-0717(92)90012-M}, author = {Jayachandran, K. and Schwab, A.P. and Hetrick, B.A.D.} } @article {KNZ00326, title = {Modeling canopy stomatal conductance in a temperate grassland ecosystem}, journal = {Agricultural and Forest Meteorology}, volume = {55}, year = {1991}, pages = {149 -166}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/0168-1923(91)90028-O}, author = {Kim, J. and Verma, S.B.} } @article {KNZ00320, title = {Mycorrhizas and root architecture}, journal = {Experientia}, volume = {47}, year = {1991}, pages = {355 -361}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1007/BF01972077}, author = {Hetrick, B.A.D.} } @article {KNZ001144, title = {Mapping surface soil moisture with L-band radiometric measurements}, journal = {Remote Sensing of Environment}, volume = {27}, year = {1989}, pages = {305 -312}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.1016/0034-4257(89)90090-4}, author = {Wang, J.R. and Schmugge, T.J. and Shiue, J.C. and Engman, E.T.} } @article {KNZ00214, title = {Measuring and modeling spectral characteristics of a tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Remote Sensing of the Environment}, volume = {27}, year = {1989}, pages = {143 -155}, abstract = {

This study was conducted to evaluate the diurnal and seasonal, spectral reflectance characteristics of burned and unburned areas of a tallgrass prairie, based on field measurements and models of radiation transport in plant canopies. Burning of the senescent vegetation, resulting from the previous years\&$\#$39; growth, is a common management practice, which results in improved productivity and affects the succession of grass species. The burned and unburned grass canopies showed distinctly different, diurnal and seasonal, spectral reflectance characteristics in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum. These were attributed to the differences in development of the two plant canopies and the azimuthal differences in sensor-sun-canopy positions during field measurements of spectral reflectance. The radiation transfer model properly simulated the diurnal spectral behavior of the two canopies. The simulated, seasonal, spectral reflectance values for the unburned grass canopy were greater than the measured ones, because of limitations in proper representation of the layer of senescent vegetation in the model

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1016/0034-4257(89)90014-X}, author = {Asrar, G.A. and Myneni, R.B. and Li, Y. and Kanemasu, E.T.} } @article {KNZ00251, title = {Microarthropods in decaying wood from temperate coniferous and deciduous forests}, journal = {Pedobiologia}, volume = {33}, year = {1989}, pages = {69 -77}, abstract = {

Microarthropod population densities in large woody debris increase the decay process. Maximum densities were about 2 X 106 individuals per m3 of wood, but remained 2-10 times lower than population densities found in an equivalent amount of litter and soil from either coniferous or deciduous forests. Oribatid mites are the most abundant microarthropods in wood. Species diversity of all microarthropod groups is lower in decaying wood compared with species numbers in litter and soil. The dominant species in wood appear to be mycophagous; the number of wood-feeding microarthropods composes a small minority of both species and numbers of fauna found in decaying boles. Key words: coniferous forest, decay, decidous forest, population density, microarthropods, mites, Oribatids, species diversity, wood

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Seastedt, T.R. and Reddy, M.V. and Cline, S.P.} } @article {KNZ00238, title = {Mycorrhizal mediation of phosphorus availability: synthetic iron chelate effects on phosphorus solubilization}, journal = {Soil Science Society of America Journal}, volume = {53}, year = {1989}, pages = {1701 -1706}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2136/sssaj1989.03615995005300060015x}, author = {Jayachandran, K. and Schwab, A.P. and Hetrick, B.A.D.} } @article {KNZ00203, title = {Mass, nitrogen, and phosphorus dynamics in foliage and root detritus of annually burned and unburned tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {69}, year = {1988}, pages = {59 -65}, abstract = {

Mass, nitrogen, and phosphorus of litterfall were measured for 4 yr on annually burned and unburned tallgrass prairie near Manhattan, Kansas. Decomposition and mineralization rates of foliage, flowering stem, and roots were concurrently studied with a series of litterbag and tethered litter experiments. Amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in living and dead foliage and roots were measured for 2 yr on an annually burned site. Litterfall exhibited seasonal peaks on all sites, with most of the annualy litter deposition occurring in autumn. An average of 52 g.m-2.yr-1 of litter was deposited on the soil of the annual burned watersheds, while 142 g.m-2.yr-1 was collected on unburned sites. Nitrogen and phosphorus amounts were 0.53 and 0.07 g.m-2.yr-1, respectively, from burned sites and 1.94 and 0.19 g.m-2.yr-1 on unburned sites. Litterfall on unburned sites averaged approximately 35\% of aboveground maximum biomass estimates. Litter decay rates varied from a minimum of approximately 10\%/yr for flowering stems in the canopy to a maximum of approximately 50\%/yr for roots. Foliage and stems act as nitrogen and phosphorus sinks during the first 2 yr of decomposition. Dead roots and rhizomes also act as temporary nitrogen sinks, but unlike foliage, roots appear to mineralize significant amounts of phosphorus during the 1st yr of decay. Root nitrogen to phosphorus ratios may provide a proximate explanation for nitrogen limitation in tallgrass prairies. Key words: decomposition, litterfall, nitrogen, phosphorus, roots, tallgrass prairie

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.2307/1943160}, author = {Seastedt, T.R.} } @article {KNZ00205, title = {Maximization of densities of soil animals by foliage herbivory: empirical evidence, graphical and conceptual models}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {51}, year = {1988}, pages = {243 -248}, abstract = {

Feeding by consumers on one portion of a plant resource often results in benefits to consumer feeding on other portions of the same resource. Moderate grazing of foliage often increases densities and biomass of belowground herbivores and detritivores in spite of a neutral or reduced root growth response to foliage removal. Graphical and conceptual models are presented to describe these responses and suggest causal relationships. Empirical data and the models indicate that the positive numerical response of soil animals to foliage herbivory results from increased quality (nitrogen concentration) of roots and changes in consumer assimilation efficiencies. Root growth and senescence and acquisition of soil inorganic nitrogen by microbes colonizing senescent roots are hypothesized as additional causal agents for the soil animal response

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, doi = {10.2307/3565649}, author = {Seastedt, T.R. and Ramundo, R.A. and Hayes, D.C.} } @article {KNZ00193, title = {Microhabitat distribution of two Quercus (Fagaceae ) species in relation to soil differences within a Kansas gallery Forest}, journal = {The Southwestern Naturalist}, volume = {33}, year = {1988}, pages = {244 -246}, abstract = {

The primary objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between microhabitat distributions of these two gallery forest oak species and the soils on which they grow. Data are from collections and observations made within an extensive gallery forest on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in northeastern Kansas (96o35\&$\#$39;W, 39o05\&$\#$39;N). This forest borders King\&$\#$39;s Creek and is supported by fertile soils developed from deposited alluvium, the origins of which were the adjacent Udic Ustoll prairie soils. The forest overstory is dominated by hackberry (Celtis occidentalis L., 260 stems/ha) and contains five times more Q. macrocarpa stems, and seven times more Q. macrocarpa basal area than Q. muhlenbergii (48 to 10 stems/ha; 10.8 to 1.5 m2/ha) Although Q. mulhenbergii is clearly less dominant than Q. macrocarpa in the forest overall, Q. mulhenbergii completely dominates patches within the forest mosaic

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, gallery forest}, doi = {10.2307/3671906}, author = {Killingbeck, K.T.} } @article {KNZ00190, title = {Movements of the deer mouse in response to prairie fire}, journal = {The Prairie Naturalist}, volume = {20}, year = {1988}, pages = {225 -229}, abstract = {

Movements of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in response to spring fire were studied using a 13-ha study site on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. Approximately one-half of the grid was burned on 19 April 1984 following two weeks of intensive sampling of small mammals; periodic censuses were then made during the first five weeks after the fire. Density on the grid more than doubled (20 to 43 individuals) from the two weeks immediately before to 3-5 weeks after the fire. This change resulted from the classic response of deer mice to conditions created by fire with an increase in the number of individuals using the burned portion (BURN) of the grid exclusively (prefire: 5, postfire: 22) as well as individuals using both the burned and unburned portions (UNBURN) of the grid (prefire: 1, postfire: 6), but not from individuals using the unburned portion of the grid exclusively (prefire: 14, postfire: 15). Due to the known ecological requirements and the rapidity of density response observed in earlier studies, we predicted that the increase in density of deer mice in burned relative to unburned prairie shortly after a spring fire was due to the net movement of individuals from unburned to burned prairie. Postfire movements of deer mice present before our experimental fire were consistent with our predictions; however, the number of individuals present was too small to demonstrate a significant pattern of differential movements. For deer mice originally caught during the first two weeks after fire and then recaptured 3-5 weeks after fire, the proportion of mice captured in UNBURN that shifted to partial or complete use of BURN (7 individuals shifted: 4 stayed) was significantly greater than the proportion of mice captured in BURN that shifted to partial or complete use of UNBURN (1 shifted: 8 stayed). These observations supported our general prediction that in response to fire the net movement of deer mice into burned prairie is greater than net movement of deer mice into unburned tall-grass prairie

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {D.W. Kaufman and Gurtz, S.K. and Kaufman, G.A.} } @article {KNZ00183, title = {Mycorrhizal dependence and growth habit of warm-season and cool-season tallgrass prairie plants}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Botany}, volume = {66}, year = {1988}, pages = {1376 -1380}, abstract = {

Warm-season (C4) and cool-season (C3) mycorrhizal grasses were 63-215 and 0.12-4.1 times larger in dry weight than non-inoculated controls, respectively. Nonmycorrhizal warm-season plants did not grow and frequently died, while cool-season plants grew moderately well in the absense of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Like warm-season grasses, tallgrass prairie forbs were highly dependent on mycorrhizal symbiosis, even though they are not known to employ the C4 photosynthetic pathway. Thus, phenology may be more critical than photosynthetic pathway in determining mycorrhizal dependence. Warm-season grasses and forbs had coarser, less frequently branched root systems than cool-season grasses, supporting the hypothesis that mycorrhizal dependence is related to root morphology. Cool-season grasses may have developed more fibrous root systems because mycorrhizal nutrient uptake was not effective in the colder temperature environment in which they evolved. In contrast, warm-season plants and dependence on mycorrhizal fungi may have coevolved, because both symbionts are of tropical origin

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.1139/b88-193}, author = {Hetrick, B.A.D. and Kitt, D.G. and G.T. Wilson} } @article {KNZ00152, title = {Micro-based Landsat TM data processing for tallgrass prairie monitoring in the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas}, journal = {Papers and Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conference}, volume = {10}, year = {1987}, pages = {76 -80}, abstract = {

Despite the large amount of evidence supporting the important role that burning and frequency of burning have on grassland resources, information on the spatial extent of burning in the Flint Hills of Kansas has not been developed. This is primarily due to the massive data requirements needed to access burning on a regional scale. This study assesses the regional potential for monitoring burning practices in the Flint Hills of Kansas using satellite data. The specific objective of this study was to ascertain the utility of Landsat thematic mapper digital data for delineating the spatial characteristics of burning in the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area. The Konza Prairie is an area exceeding 8,000 acres owned by Nature Conservancy and leased to Kansas State University for long-term ecological research. The management objectives of the research area are based on the efforts of periodic fire and grazing on a tall grass prairie ecosystem

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Nellis, M.D. and J. M. Briggs} } @article {KNZ00111, title = {Mammals of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas}, journal = {The Prairie Naturalist}, volume = {18}, year = {1986}, pages = {153 -166}, abstract = {

An annotated list of the mammals was compiled from trapping records and observation for the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KONZA), a tall-grass prairie in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas. Thirty-one species, 1 opossum, 2 shrews, 1 mole, 1 rabbit, 17 rodents, 7 carnivores, and 2 ungulates, were recorded. Habitat use and range for each species were included relative to our experience with the animals on KONZA. Percent composition of small mammals was presented by habitat type for 15 species captured on 26 permanent live traplines from autumn 1981 to spring 1984. The likelihood of occurrence on KONZA was disscused for 15 species (8 bats, 1 hare, 2 rodents, and 4 carnivores) not presently recorded for the site

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Finck, E.J. and D.W. Kaufman and Kaufman, G.A. and Gurtz, S.K. and Clark, B.K. and McLellan, L.J. and Clark, B.S.} } @article {KNZ0098, title = {Maximization of primary and secondary productivity by grazers}, journal = {The American Naturalist}, volume = {126}, year = {1985}, pages = {559 -564}, abstract = {

Not only have consumers coevolved with their food resources, but they have coevolved with them as these resources have been modified by other herbivores and detritivores. Current theory states that most plants respond to herbivory by producing chemical that adversely affect the growth or survivorship of the herbivores. Certain consumers, however, may exhibit positive growth responses when these changes in plant chemistry occur. Increased growth is predicted whenever herbivory increases the quality of the food resource via plant stress or when it removes chemicals having a negative effect on the palatability or assimilation of the resource. I suggest that these positive responses are more widespread than is currently acknowledged

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, graze, primary, productivity}, doi = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/2461537}, author = {Seastedt, T.R.} } @article {KNZ0057, title = {Male dickcissel behavior in primary and secondary habitats}, journal = {The Wilson Bulletin}, volume = {96}, year = {1984}, pages = {672 -680}, abstract = {

In this paper I document the difference in habitat quality between primary oldfield habitat and secondary prairie habitat and its relationship with arrival times of males and females and female/male sex ratios. Primary habitat is defined as higher quality habitat where individual density is high, while secondary habitats have lower quality habitat and low individual density

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, behavior, habitat}, doi = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/4162000}, author = {Finck, E.J.} } @article {KNZ0072, title = {Microarthropods of burned and unburned tallgrass prairie}, journal = {Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society}, volume = {57}, year = {1984}, pages = {468 -476}, abstract = {

Microarthropod densities in the top 5 cm of soil of tallgrass prairie averaged 47,700 individuals/m2 on burned sites versus 73,800 individuals/m2 on sites not burned for the last 5 years. Oribatid mites, mesostigmatid mites and collembolans were more numerous on unburned sites while prostigamatid mite numbers were not affected by burning. Densities of microarthropods in the uppermost 5 cm of soil were correlated with the amount of litterfall at various sites, but were not correlated with indices of plant productivity. Numbers of microarthropods at the 5-10 cm layer of soil were not different on burned and unburned sites and averaged 20,200 individuals/m2. A preliminary survey of the mites (Acari) on Konza Prairie indicated a minimum of 81 species. The mite fauna appears as diverse as other temperate ecosystems

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/25084545}, author = {Seastedt, T.R.} } @phdthesis {KNZ0040, title = {Male behavior, territory quality and female choice in the dickcissel (Spiza americana)}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {1983}, pages = {1 -79}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, behavior}, author = {Finck, E.J.} } @phdthesis {KNZ0036, title = {Macroinvertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in a tallgrass prairie stream}, volume = {PhD Dissertation}, year = {1982}, pages = {1 -60}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D. Thesis}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, decomposition, leaf, stream}, author = {Smith, D.L.} } @proceedings {KNZ0019, title = {Management of Konza Prairie to approximate pre-white-man fire influences}, year = {1973}, pages = {14 -16}, publisher = {Division of Biology, Kansas State University}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {

Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, 916 acres (370.9 hectares) of unplowed native bluesteam prairie, 10 miles south of Manhattan, Kansas, was purchased in 1971 by The Nature Conservancy and given to the Kansas State University Endowment Association for ecological research. The objective of management is to approximate the pre-white-man prairie ecosystem. Fires in that system were caused by lightning and Indians. Although lightning occurs primarily during the growing season, lightning storms have been recorded every month of the year. Spring has a slightly higher incidence of lightning than autumn. A burning plan has been developed for Konza Prairie with four replications of six treatments: unburned, burned in late April at 1-, 2-, 4-, and 10-year intervals, and burned after years when precipitation was at least 1.2 times the mediam. These treatments include the possible range of fire occurrence in pre-white-man times, so they should allow us to assess both the ways fire affects prairie and the frequencies that result in perpetuating prairie in good condition

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, disturbance, fire, management, prairie}, author = {Hulbert, L.C.}, editor = {Hulbert, L.C.} }