03068nas a2200349 4500008004100000245014000041210006900181300000900250490000600259520197400265653001702239653001902256653002002275653001702295653001902312653001902331653002002350100002402370700002202394700002302416700002602439700001902465700001602484700002502500700001702525700002302542700001702565700002502582700002202607700002302629856006602652 2018 eng d00aMicrobial community structure and functional potential in cultivated and native tallgrass prairie soils of the midwestern united states0 aMicrobial community structure and functional potential in cultiv a17750 v93 a
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.
10acarbon cycle10aClimate change10aLand management10ametagenomics10anative prairie10anitrogen cycle10asoil microbiome1 aMackelprang, Rachel1 aGrube, Alyssa, M.1 aLamendella, Regina1 aJesus, Ederson, da C.1 aCopeland, Alex1 aLiang, Chao1 aJackson, Randall, D.1 aRice, C., W.1 aKapucija, Stefanie1 aParsa, Bayan1 aTringe, Susannah, G.1 aTiedje, James, M.1 aJansson, Janet, K. uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.0177502777nas a2200217 4500008004100000245014600041210006900187300001300256490000700269520205800276653002502334653000902359653001602368653001202384653002402396653002002420653002202440100001602462700001502478856006602493 2011 eng d00aLandscape context matters: local habitat and landscape effects on the abundance and patch occupancy of collared lizards in managed grasslands0 aLandscape context matters local habitat and landscape effects on a837 -8500 v263 aThe distribution and abundance of a species may be simultaneously influenced by both local-scale habitat features and the broader patch and landscape contexts in which these populations occur. Different factors may influence patch occupancy (presence–absence) versus local abundance (number of individuals within patches), and at different scales, and thus ideally both occupancy and abundance should be investigated, especially in studies that seek to understand the consequences of land management on species persistence. Our study evaluated the relative influences of variables associated with the local habitat patch, hillside (patch context), and landscape context on patch occupancy and abundance of the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) within tallgrass prairie managed under different fire and grazing regimes in the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, USA. Using a multi-model information-theoretic approach that accounted for detection bias, we found that collared lizard abundance and occupancy was influenced by factors measured at both the local habitat and landscape scales. At a local scale, collared lizard abundance was greatest on large rock ledges that had lots of crevices, high vegetation complexity, and were located higher up on the hillslope. At the landscape scale, collared lizard abundance and occupancy were both higher in watersheds that were burned frequently (1–2 year intervals). Interestingly, grazing only had a significant effect on occupancy and abundance within less frequently burned (4-year burn interval) watersheds. Our results suggest that, in addition to the obvious habitat needs of this species (availability of suitable rock habitat), land-management practices have the potential to influence collared lizard presence and abundance in the grasslands of the Flint Hills. Thus, mapping the availability of suitable habitat is unlikely to be sufficient for evaluating species distributions and persistence in such cases without consideration of landscape management and disturbance history.
10aCrotaphytus collaris10afire10aFlint Hills10aGrazing10aHabitat suitability10aLand management10atallgrass prairie1 aBlevins, E.1 aWith, K.A. uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10980-011-9612-402661nas a2200205 4500008004100000245007200041210006900113300001100182490000700193520203000200653002502230653000902255653001402264653001802278653002002296653002702316100001502343700001402358856008302372 2010 eng d00aNet carbon fluxes over burned and unburned native tallgrass prairie0 aNet carbon fluxes over burned and unburned native tallgrass prai a72 -810 v633 aPrescribed burning of aboveground biomass in tallgrass prairie is common and may influence dynamics and magnitudes of carbon (C) movement between the surface and atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes were measured for 2 yr using conditional sampling systems on two adjacent watersheds in an ungrazed tallgrass prairie near Manhattan, Kansas. One watershed was burned annually (BA) and the other biennially (BB). Leaf and soil CO2 fluxes were measured in the source area. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 reached a maximum daily gain of 26.4 g CO2 · m−2 · d−1 (flux toward surface is positive) in July 1998 (year when both sites were burned and precipitation was above normal); gains were similar between sites in 1998. The maximum daily NEE loss of CO2 was −21.8 g CO2 · m−2 · d−1 from BA in September 1997 (year when only BA was burned and precipitation was below normal). When data were integrated over the two years, both sites were net sources of atmospheric CO2; NEE was −389 g C · m−2 · 2 yr−1 on BA and −195 g C · m−2 · 2 yr−1 on BB. Burning increased canopy size and photosynthesis, but the greater photosynthesis was offset by corresponding increases in respiration (from canopy and soil). Carbon losses from fire represented 6–10% of annual CO2 emissions (bulk came from soil and canopy respiration). Data suggest that annual burning promotes C loss compared to less-frequently burned tallgrass prairie where prairie is not grazed by ungulates. Greater precipitation in 1998 caused large increases in biomass and a more positive growing season NEE, indicating that C sequestration appears more likely when precipitation is high. Because C inputs (photosynthesis) and losses (canopy and soil respiration) were large, small measurement or modeling errors could confound attempts to determine if the ecosystems are long-term CO2 sources or sinks.
10aconditional sampling10afire10agrassland10aKonza Prairie10aLand management10anet ecosystem exchange1 aBremer, D.1 aHam, J.M. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550742410500101?via%3Dihub02509nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001100192490000700203520185800210653001602068653002302084653000902107653001402116653002002130653002302150100001502173700001402188856010102202 1999 eng d00aEffect of spring burning on the surface energy balance in a tallgrass prairie0 aEffect of spring burning on the surface energy balance in a tall a43 -540 v973 aSpring burning of dead biomass in tallgrass prairie is a common practice that may influence heat and water vapor transport from the landscape. Bowen ratio methods were used to measure the surface energy balances and evapotranspiration (ET) from burned (B) and unburned (UB) prairie near Manhattan, KS, USA. Data were collected from day of year (DOY) 109–258, 1997 following fire on the B site on DOY 107. Early in the growing season, differences in albedo and surface conductance to water vapor transport (gs, i.e., mulch effect) caused large variations in energy fluxes between B and UB sites. During a 44-day period immediately after the burn (DOY 109–152), albedo averaged 43% lower on the B compared with the UB site. Consequently, available energy (net radiation minus soil heat flux) was 8.6% higher on the B than on the UB site. The gs during that time was over three times higher on the B site, a result of dead biomass removal by fire. During the same period, the daytime Bowen ratios averaged 0.79 on the B site and 2.89 on the UB site, with ET rates of 2.97 mm per day (B site) and 1.40 mm per day (UB site). By DOY 152, canopy growth had moderated differences in albedo and available energy between sites. However, gs and ET remained higher on the B site between DOY 152 and 181. Green leaf area index averaged 71% higher on the B site, and was the primary cause for this mid-season effect (i.e., differences in transpiration). By DOY 182, the effects of the burn on energy fluxes were negligible. Cumulative estimates of ET during the 150-day period were 503 mm on the B site and 408 mm on the UB site, thus, burning increased seasonal ET by 23.3%. Results suggest that land management or environmental factors that affect dead litter, albedo, or green leaf area will have strong impacts on the water and energy balances of a grassland.10aBowen ratio10aEvapotranspiration10afire10agrassland10aLand management10aSeasonal variation1 aBremer, D.1 aHam, J.M. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effect-spring-burning-surface-energy-balance-tallgrass-prairie