03310nas a2200193 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140260004300209490002200252520267700274653001902951653001902970653001802989653002103007653001403028100001703042700002003059856003703079 2013 eng d00aGrassland restoration in a changing world: consequences of practices and variable environments0 aGrassland restoration in a changing world consequences of practi aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vPhD. Dissertation3 a

The feasibility of restoration, which traditionally targets historical conditions, is questionable in the context of global change. To address this, my dissertation investigated (Chapter 2) the patterns of restoration establishment along a chronosequence of restored prairies with respect to nearby remnant prairies, (Chapters 3-4) responses of plant communities in restorations initiated using different methods (levels of species richness and sowing density) to drought, which is projected to increase in frequency, and (Chapters 5-6) the effects of propagule source and variation (mixing among sources) on restoration establishment and the generality of restoration outcomes across variable environments using reciprocal common gardens of multi-species restoration seedings. Chapter 2, published in Restoration Ecology, showed that restoration led to the recovery of desirable characteristics within several years, but restorations utilizing primarily fall-collected seeds likely diminished the representation of early phenology species, so biodiversity may be further enhanced by including early phenology species in seeding mixes. Chapters 3 and 4, published respectively in Ecological Applications and Applied Vegetation Science, examined the establishment of native plant communities after seeding and their responses to experimentally imposed drought. Both high seed mixture richness and high density seeding resulted in greater establishment of native, seeded species compared to low richness and low density treatments, and exotic species were less prevalent in high richness and high density treatments. However, we found little evidence of differential drought resistance, recovery, and resilience among treatments. This result coupled with increases in exotic species following drought suggest that other forms of active management may be needed to produce restored plant communities that are robust to climate change. Chapter 5 (published in Ecosphere) and Chapter 6 found that seed source affects individual species establishment, community structure, and productivity. However, there was no consistent advantage for any source, including local sources, across sites or species. This suggests that source effects on single species or effects observed at single locations should not be broadly generalized. Together, this dissertation shows that restoration can recover many characteristics of native prairies and that manipulation of seeding practices (seed mixture richness, seeding density, seed source) influence grassland establishment in terms of productivity, community structure, invasion, and the abundance and survival of individual species.

10achronosequence10aClimate change10acommon garden10alocal adaptation10atallgrass1 aCarter, D.L.1 aBlair, John, M. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/1535703012nas a2200265 4500008004100000245011300041210006900154300000900223490000600232520219900238653001802437653002402455653001402479653002202493653002102515653002802536653001702564653001502581653001602596653002302612653001402635100001702649700002002666856006002686 2013 eng d00aSeed source has variable effects on species, communities, and ecosystem properties in grassland restorations0 aSeed source has variable effects on species communities and ecos a93 -0 v43 aResearch to date regarding the relative advantages of local versus non-local sources of plantmaterial for restoration has produced equivocal results. This research has typically focused on theperformance of individual species at individual locations and without addressing higher order communityand ecosystem properties. We investigated the effects of seed source (local, non-local, and mixed-sourcetreatments) on species, community, and ecosystem properties under a range of environmental conditionsusing reciprocal common gardens at locations in three states (Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma). In orderto mimic the restoration of grassland vegetation under realistic conditions where multiple species interactwith one another during establishment, we seeded twelve species together between December, 2009 andJanuary, 2010, and assessed responses in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Both common garden location and seedsource affected the establishment of individual species (measured as species-specific biomass), butresponses were not consistent among species. No seed source had a consistent advantage across all sites oracross all species. In a few cases, the local source was most productive for a particular species at onelocation, but no species showed a consistent local advantage across locations or years. Rather, in two out ofthree species that exhibited a local advantage at one location, the same source was also the most productiveat a non-local site. Community structure and species richness differed among locations in all years, butsource did not significantly affect seeded species richness, and source only affected community structure in2011. Despite source effects on individual species and community structure, seed source had no significanteffects on the combined productivity of seeded species. These results do not support the targeted use oflocal sources when the establishment of sown species and primary productivity are restoration objectives.Using mixed-source species mixtures may increase chances of restoration success, given the idiosyncrasy ofindividual species’ responses among locations and potential site-specific environmental changes likely tooccur in the future.10acommon garden10acommunity structure10adispersal10agenetic diversity10alocal adaptation10amanaged relocationplant10aproductivity10aprovenance10arestoration10aseed transfer zone10atallgrass1 aCarter, D.L.1 aBlair, John, M. uhttp://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/ES13-00090.102396nas a2200205 4500008004100000245013800041210006900179300001300248490000700261520172700268653001401995653001302009653001102022653001402033653001502047653001402062100001702076700002002093856007702113 2012 eng d00aRecovery of native plant community characteristics on a chronosequence of restored prairies seeded into pastures in West-Central Iowa0 aRecovery of native plant community characteristics on a chronose a170 -1790 v203 a

Restored grasslands comprise an ever-increasing proportion of grasslands in North America and elsewhere. However, floristic studies of restored grasslands indicate that our ability to restore plant communities is limited. Our goal was to assess the effectiveness of restoration seeding for recovery of key plant community components on former exotic, cool-season pastures using a chronosequence of six restoration sites and three nearby remnant tallgrass prairie sites in West-Central Iowa. We assessed trends in Simpson's diversity and evenness, richness and abundance of selected native and exotic plant guilds, and mean coefficient of conservatism (mean C). Simpson's diversity and evenness and perennial invasive species abundance all declined with restoration site age. As a group, restoration sites had greater richness of native C3 species with late phenology, but lower richness and abundance of species with early phenology relative to remnant sites. Total native richness, total native abundance (cover), mean C, and abundance of late phenology C3 plants were similar between restoration and remnant sites. Observed declines in diversity and evenness with restoration age reflect increases in C4 grass abundance rather than absolute decreases in the abundance of perennial C3 species. In contrast to other studies, restoration seeding appears to have led to successful establishment of tallgrass prairie species that were likely to be included in seeding mixtures. While several floristic measures indicate convergence of restoration and remnant sites, biodiversity may be further enhanced by including early phenology species in seeding mixes in proportion to their abundance on remnant prairies.

10agrassland10aInvasive10amean C10aphenology10asuccession10atallgrass1 aCarter, D.L.1 aBlair, John, M. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00760.x02834nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010700041210006900148260004300217300000900260490001400269520220700283653001502490653001202505653001102517653001502528653001602543653001402559100001802573856003702591 2007 eng d00aEffects of grazing on growth and morphology of rhizomatous and caespitose grasses in tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of grazing on growth and morphology of rhizomatous and c aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1-650 vMS Thesis3 a

Herbivory is one of the major biotic interactions shaping the structure and dynamics of grassland plant populations and community structure. The two major grass growth forms, rhizomatous and caespitose species, may show different grazing tolerance and short-term overcompensation may offset long-term reductions in plant performance and fitness. The objectives of this study were to assess 1) the effects of long-term ungulate grazing on plant architecture, population structure, and life history traits of the caespitose perennial grass, Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), and the rhizomatous Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) in tallgrass prairie, and 2) the effects of grazing intensity (frequency of defoliation) on growth responses of little bluestem. Long-term bison grazing decreased the cover, frequency, tiller height, and proportion of tillers producing seed in little bluestem, but caused no changes in tiller density and total genet size. Grazed little bluestem plants maintained a significantly larger below ground bud bank. Bison grazing had no long-term effect on the abundance, bud bank densities, or rhizome growth of the rhizomatous side-oats grama grass. Biomass, tiller density, relative growth rates, and proportion of tillers flowering in little bluestem all decreased with increasing frequency of defoliation. However, even an intense grazing regime (9 defoliations over a 12 month period) caused no plant mortality and no changes in new tiller emergence rates, or bud bank densities. Increasing defoliation frequency did result in shifts in plant architecture, as an increasing proportion of extravaginal tillers led to a more lateral, decumbent growth form. These results show that the rhizomatous side-oats grama grass has a significantly higher grazing tolerance than does little bluestem, and/or that bison selectively graze little bluestem. Results from responses to the experimental defoliation regimes suggest that little bluestem shows lower tolerance to high frequency of defoliation, and its maintenance of a reserve below ground bud bank may be its primary tolerance mechanism, allowing tiller populations to recover following severe defoliation.

10acaespitose10aGrazing10agrowth10amorphology10arhizomatous10atallgrass1 aN'Guessan, M. uhttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/398 02749nas a2200217 4500008004100000245013400041210006900175300001100244490000800255520201700263653001502280653001002295653001402305653001402319653000902333653001202342653001402354100001902368700002002387856012402407 2002 eng d00aLong-term responses of the grassland co-dominants Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans to changes in climate and management0 aLongterm responses of the grassland codominants Andropogon gerar a15 -220 v1633 aUnderstanding responses of both dominant and sub-dominant plant speciesto management regimes and climatic variables is a critical component ofunderstanding an ecosystem's potential response to local or regional changes insuch parameters. The dominant vegetation of much of the North Americantallgrassprairie is composed of C4 grasses. As the most abundant species,Andropogon gerardii has been well characterizedecologically. The second most abundant, co-dominant species,Sorghastrum nutans, has received less attention, mainlybecause it has been considered the “ecological equivalent” ofA. gerardii and is assumed to have responses similar tothose of A. gerardii. The objective of this study was toassess the validity of this assumption by examining long-term abundancepatternsand responses to climate, fire, and grazing for both species. Based on 15 years(1983–1997) of plant species composition and cover data collected atKonzaPrairie Biological Station in northeastern Kansas, USA, we were able to detectimportant differences between these two grasses. Regression analysis showedthatlong-term reductions in the cover of A. gerardii werecorrelated with decreasing summer maximum temperatures, whereas inter-annualvariations in the cover of S. nutans were related toannualprecipitation. Additionally, the cover of S. nutansincreased with increasing fire frequency, while the cover of A.gerardii was not significantly affected by fire frequency. Bisongrazing did not significantly affect the cover of either species studied. Themean cover of A. gerardii decreased significantly over the15 years, but only a slight change was noted in the cover of S.nutans. The decrease in A. gerardiicorrespondedto increased plant species diversity and evenness and has the potential toimpact the tallgrass prairie ecosystem from population through ecosystemlevels.The observed differences in these co-dominant species may prove important underclimate change scenarios predicted for the tallgrass prairie of North America.10aC4 grasses10aCover10adiversity10aDominance10afire10aprairie10atallgrass1 aSilletti, A.M.1 aKnapp, Alan, K. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/long-term-responses-grassland-co-dominants-andropogon-gerardii-and-sorghastrum-nutans00575nas a2200157 4500008004100000245013000041210006900171260004300240300001000283490001400293653001200307653001200319653001400331100001900345856005300364 1984 eng d00aHerpetofauna of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in the Flint Hills region of Kansas with respect to habitat selection0 aHerpetofauna of the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in the F aManhattan, KSbKansas State University a1 -490 vMS Thesis10ahabitat10aprairie10atallgrass1 aHeinrich, M.L. uhttp://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/1180400554nas a2200157 4500008004100000245006200041210006100103260004900164300001100213490002100224653001200245653001300257653001400270100002300284856008900307 1984 eng d00aTallgrass prairies: an ecological analysis of 77 remnants0 aTallgrass prairies an ecological analysis of 77 remnants aFayetteville, ARbThe University of Arkansas a1 -3280 vPhD Dissertation10aprairie10aremnants10atallgrass1 aEyster-Smith, N.M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/tallgrass-prairies-ecological-analysis-77-remnants01448nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260008000187300001300267520079200280653001401072653001201086653001401098100001801112700001701130700001701147856010201164 1983 eng d00aFire interval effects on flowering of grasses in Kansas bluestem prairie0 aFire interval effects on flowering of grasses in Kansas bluestem aSpringfield, MObDepartment of Biology, Southwest Missouri State University a255 -2573 a

The height, density, and weight of flower stems of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and little bluestem (A. scoparius) on ungrazed areas burned in spring of 1979 differed with respect to time elapsed since the areas had been last burned: 1, 2, or 6 years previously. These results were found on deep, fertile soils on lower slopes in areas experimentally burned on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in Geary County, Kansas. Height, density, and weight of flower stems of big bluestem were highly significantly greater as the length of interval increased. Indian grass and little bluestem showed some of the same tendency, but primarily showed marked reductions in the 6-year interval area, resulting in an increased dominance by big bluestem

10aflowering10aprairie10atallgrass1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aWilson, J.K.1 aKucera, C.L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-interval-effects-flowering-grasses-kansas-bluestem-prairie01323nas a2200157 4500008004100000245014200041210006900183300001300252490000700265520071000272653001100982653001200993653001401005100001901019856012701038 1983 eng d00aThe rhinoceros beetle, Xyloryctes jamaicensis Drury (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae):a locally abundant detritivore of a Kansas riparian forest0 arhinoceros beetle Xyloryctes jamaicensis Drury Coleoptera Scarab a543 -5460 v563 a

Third stage larvae of the rhinoceros beetle, Xyloryctes jamaicensis Drury (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), were abundant during autumn 1981 in litter and upper soil horizons of a bur oak- hackberry forest near Manhattan, Kansas. Densities of larvae ranged from 0 to 3.7 individuals/m2 within forest transects, while amounts of fecal pellets of these larvae ranged from 28.2 to 463.1 g/m2 along these same transects. No third stage larvae were present the following autumn, suggesting that the population is dominated by a particular brood. Fecal pellets exhibited slow decay rates (10%/yr), and the amount of pellets on the forest floor represents the relative abundance of several generations of larvae

10abeetle10aprairie10atallgrass1 aSeastedt, T.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/rhinoceros-beetle-xyloryctes-jamaicensis-drury-coleoptera-scarabaeidaea-locally-abundant01615nas a2200169 4500008004100000245011300041210006900154300001500223490000700238520100300245653001001248653001401258653001001272100002001282700001401302856012901316 1983 eng d00aVesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with native tall grass prairie and cultivated winter wheat0 aVesiculararbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with native tal a2140 -21460 v613 a

More vesicular- arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal species and significantly more fungal spores were recovered from undisturbed prairie soils than four winter wheat field soils in Kansas through the 1980-1981 growing season. Two previously undescribed sporocarpic species of Engogonaccae were found in prairie samples but have not been successfully established in pot culture, leaving the genus to which they belong unclear. Though variable, 11-50% VAM root colonization was evident in all prairie grass roots sampled throughout the year. In contrast, no identifiable VAM root colonization was evident in wheat until May after flowering when 27% root colonization was observed. During the 1981-1982 growing season, roots of two other wheat fields were sampled with similar results. No colonization occurred until May when 8% root colonization was evident. The possible influence of such low levels of root colonization occurring quite late in the growing season of winter wheat is discussed

10afungi10atallgrass10awheat1 aHetrick, B.A.D.1 aBloom, J. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/vesicular-arbuscular-mycorrhizal-fungi-associated-native-tall-grass-prairie-and-cultivated01163nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008700041210006900128300001300197490000700210520050700217653001800724653000900742653001200751653001100763653001400774100002200788700001600810700001800826856011300844 1982 eng d00aChemical changes in tree leaves during decomposition in a tallgrass prairie stream0 aChemical changes in tree leaves during decomposition in a tallgr a585 -5890 v633 a

As part of an investigation into the movement patterns of elements in a prairie watershed, we performed preliminary leaf pack experiments in which the concentrations of 10 elements were measured in undecomposed gallery forest litterfall, and in the same litterfall as it decomposed in the adjacent tallgrass prairie stream. What we report here are the patterns of concentration change in these 10 elements for three dominant gallery forest tree species during 16 weeks of in-stream decomposition

10adecomposition10aleaf10aprairie10astream10atallgrass1 aKillingbeck, K.T.1 aSmith, D.L.1 aMarzolf, G.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/chemical-changes-tree-leaves-during-decomposition-tallgrass-prairie-stream01043nas a2200169 4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001100192490000700203520048700210653001400697653001500711653001200726653001400738100001600752856010500768 1982 eng d00aEffects of fire and soil type on earthworm populations in a tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of fire and soil type on earthworm populations in a tall a37 -400 v243 a

This paper concerns the effect on the earthworms of fire, a vital component of prairie ecology. Prairie has two specific effects: 1) spring burned plots have greater production of grass shoots and roots than unburned plots, and 2) soil temperatures are higher and moisture content lower in spring burned plots than in unburned plots. While increased plant productivity should allow greater earthworm population density, the effect of the harsher soil climate could be adverse

10aearthworm10apopulation10aprairie10atallgrass1 aJames, S.W. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-fire-and-soil-type-earthworm-populations-tallgrass-prairie01825nas a2200217 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159300001000228490000800238520108700246653001901333653001201352653001101364653001401375100001601389700001801405700002201423700001601445700001901461856012701480 1982 eng d00aOrganic matter loading and processing in a pristine stream draining a tallgrass prairie/riparian forest watershed0 aOrganic matter loading and processing in a pristine stream drain a1 -780 v2303 a

The means by which organic matter enters and leaves streams and the rates at which it does so are significant determinants of water quality. This report documents the import, storage, decomposition, and export of organic matter in a prairie stream from natural sources in a watershed on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area that contains no human activity other than ecological research. This prairie stream has features that differ from streams in forested watersheds. During this one-year study, the headwater channels were ephemeral and drained watersheds vegetated by grasses rather than trees. They received less organic matter from the watershed but retained a larger fraction of it. Intermittent third and fourth order channels flowed through riparian gallery forest in the lower portions of the watershed and received more organic matter than headwater channels. They retained less of it during the period of flow (i.e., more was exported during storm flows) so in situ decomposition was reduced. These exports represent pulses of organic matter loading downstream

10aorganic matter10aprairie10astream10atallgrass1 aGurtz, M.E.1 aMarzolf, G.R.1 aKillingbeck, K.T.1 aSmith, D.L.1 aMcArthur, J.V. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/organic-matter-loading-and-processing-pristine-stream-draining-tallgrass-prairieriparian