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Dates of records of occurrence for all bird species reported on Konza Prairie.
Dates of records of occurrence for all bird species reported on Konza Prairie.
The purpose of this study is to monitor long-term changes in individual animal mass. The datasets include an annual summary of the bison herd structure, end-of-season weights of individual animals, and maternal parentage of individual bison.
Dates by species of documented records of breeding - either nests or dependent, fledged young - with contents of nest, nest placement information and location on Konza Prairie recorded by grid square.
Fishes were collected by habitat (pool or riffle) at 6 sites in the Kings Creek watershed with a single-pass electrofishing survey with one person operating the electrofisher and two people dipnetting. Collections were made seasonally.
Long-term monitoring of gall-insect densities on Solidago canadensis, Vernonia baldwinii, and Ceanothus herbaceous. Gall abundances are censused in watersheds burned at one- to twenty- year intervals to asses the role of fire frequency and time since fire on gall-insect population dynamics. The data sets contain the following: Watershed fire frequency, number of growing seasons since last fire, plant species, number of galled stems, and number of censused stems. Censuses conducted for the 1989-1996 growing seasons except 1992 and 1994, next scheduled census is fall 1997.
Sweep samples for estimating grasshopper (Acrididae) composition and relative abundance at one site for each of 12 Konza Prairie LTER fire/grazing/soil treatment combinations (3 fire treatments x 2 soils x 2 grazing treatments). Samples were collected in June, August, and September. At each site on each occasion, 18 sets of 10 sweeps each (180 sweeps total) were taken. Stored data include for each site on each occasion: total number of each species (all instars combined) collected and total number for each instar for each species (180 sweeps combined).
Sweep samples were taken for grasshoppers (Acrididae) at two sites for each of 14 Konza Prairie LTER watersheds. Samples are taken in late July to early August. At each site on each occasion, 10 sets of 20 sweeps (200 sweeps total) are taken. Stored data include for each site on each occasion: total number of each species (all instars combined) collected and total number for each instar for each species (200 sweeps combined).
Sweep samples were taken for grasshoppers (Arcididae) at two upland sites on 5 watersheds at approximately two week intervals, June-Sept 1982. At each site on each occasion, 20 sets of 20 sweeps (400 sweeps total) were taken. Stored data include for each site on each occasion: total number of each species (all instars combined) collected and total number for each instar for each species (400 sweeps combined).
Sweep samples were taken for grasshoppers (Acrididae) at two sites for each of 14 Konza Prairie LTER watersheds. Samples are taken in late July to early August. At each site on each occasion, 10 sets of 20 sweeps (200 sweeps total) are taken. Stored data include for each site on each occasion: total number of each species (all instars combined) collected and total number for each instar for each species (200 sweeps combined).
Twenty replicate permanent 2x2 m plots were established in early 1991 along a randomly located transect, with a 2m space between each plot, on the following watersheds: 1B, 1D, annually burned HQB, 10B, 20D and infrequently burned HQB. Ten of the plots were randomly assigned as long-term mycorrhizal suppression plots. In each of these plots, AM fungi were suppressed by the application of the fungicide benomyl as a soil drench (7.5 liters per plot) at the rate of 1.25 g/m2 (active ingredient).
Location of leks and number of birds per lek are censused during late April and early May across Konza Prairie to document year to year densities of greater prairie chickens. This dataset is continued by CPC02 after 04/19/1999.
Location of leks and number of birds per lek are censused during late April and early May across Konza Prairie to document year to year densities of greater prairie chickens.
Belowground densities and biomass of macroarthropods on annually were measured by hand-sorting techniques. Total herbivore biomass was greater in soils of annually burned sites, and was composed largely of white grubs (Scarabaeidae).
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring and autumn) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each grassland trapline. Each record contains year, season, trapline and number of individuals captured of each species. These live trap records are based on daily captures during two 4-day trapping periods in spring (late February to early April) and autumn (early October to mid-November) for each of 14 permanent traplines established on seven fire-grazing treatments (two traplines per treatment).
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring, summer and autumn) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each woodland trapline. Each record contains year, season, trapline and number of individuals captured of each species.
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring, summer and autumn) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each woodland trapline. Each record contains year, season, trapline and number of individuals captured of each species.
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring, summer and fall) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal caught (relative density) on each grassland census line. Each record contains trapline, year of last fire and number of individuals per species. These live trap records are based on daily captures during three 4-day trapping peroids, March, July and October, for each of 20 permanent census lines established on 10 fire-grazing treatments (2 lines per treatment).
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring and autumn) of the the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each grassland trapline. Each record contains year, season, trapline and number of individuals captured of each species. These live trap records are based on daily captures during a single 4-day trapping period in spring (mid-March to early April) and autumn (late October to early December) for each of six permanent traplines established on two fire treatments (three traplines per treatment).
Data set contains seasonal summaries (spring, summer and autumn) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each prairie trapline. Each record contains year, season, trapline and number of individuals captured of each species. These live trap records are based on daily captures during 4-day trapping periods in spring (early March to early April), summer (late June to late July) and autumn (early October to mid-November) for each permanent trapline (two traplines per treatment).
This data set contains data describing Grasshopper Sparrow nests prior to 2017, and after that, additionally many Dickcissels, Eastern Meadowlarks, and other songbirds.. These nests were primarily found by rope dragging but also on surveys (see RI Survey Data Set), flushing birds during other activities, and via behavioral observations.
Data on the location, identity, and reproductive index (Vickery et al. 1992) of Grasshopper Sparrows prior to 2017, and after that, additionally many Dickcissels, Eastern Meadowlarks, Brown-headed Cowbirds and other songbirds within 10-ha plots on multiple watersheds units on Konza and on two adjoining units on the Rannells Preserve. Each plot was surveyed every ~7-10 days. These surveys documented individual sparrow, Dickcissel, and Eastern Meadowlark locations, and are used to calculate dispersal distances and territory densities and movements.
This data set includes data on the contents of sweep samples. We collected sweeps in select years during May, June, and/or July in 3 locations on each of the focal watersheds. Sweeps were 80m long and centered at veg points. Data consist of information about the sampling events, and sample wet mass, edible mass (combined mass of selected orders listed below).
Data set includes estimates of vegetation structure and composition collected during ~monthly sampling events on Konza Prairie watersheds and on the nearby Rannell’s Preserve. Vegetation data were collected from three (prior to 2017) or 10 randomly-selected locations on each watershed; two from outside the 10-ha plot (see project abstract) and one inside the plot. We sampled vegetation on each watershed once a month, during May, June, and July. Additional vegetation data were collected from bird nest sites within ~3 days of nests failing.
‘PBG’ datasets are associated with a long-term, large-scale study that is addressing the effects of fire-grazing interactions in the context of a Patch-Burn Grazing management system designed to promote grassland heterogeneity. Effects of patch-burn grazing management on plant and animal diversity and the nature and variety of wildlife habitat are being assessed in two replicate management units, each consisting of three pastures (watersheds) designated C03A/C03B/C03C and C3SA/C3SB/C3SC.
Long-term monitoring of bird presence is performed on Konza Prairie. The purpose was to determine bird species phenology of occurrence on entire Konza Prairie. Data on the presence, including documented nesting, of all bird species is recorded weekly in five-year periods e.g. 1980-1984, 1985-1989, 1990-1994.
Prairie stream fish communities have been monitored seasonally at multiple sites within the Kings Creek watershed since 1995. The objective of this sampling is to evaluate how these communities respond to seasonal and annual variation in environmental conditions. Specifically, we are interesting in testing the resistance and resilience of stream communities in response to flood and drought disturbances. One site in a downstream perennial reach of the watershed has been sampled since 1995.
Data set contains summaries (summer) of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each transect. Each record contains date, treatment, transect, trap station, species, specimen number, recapture status, specimen disposition, external body measurements (where applicable), reproductive information, and miscellaneous associated comments.
Rainfall Manipulation Plots facility (RaMPs) is a unique experimental infrastructure that allows us to manipulate precipitation events and temperature, and assess population community, and ecosystem responses in native grassland. This facility allows us to manipulate the amount and timing of individual precipitation events in replicated field plots at the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site.
Climate extremes, such as drought, are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the ecological consequences of these extreme events can be substantial and widespread. Yet, little is known about the factors that determine recovery (or resilience) of ecosystem function post-drought. Such knowledge is particularly important because post-drought recovery periods can be protracted depending on drought legacy effects (e.g., loss key plant populations, altered community structure and/or biogeochemical processes).
Chronic nutrient additions can lead to drastic shifts in the plant community through time, both within tallgrass prairie in other grassland ecosystems worldwide. Nutrient addition experiments have answered many questions about patterns of diversity loss and community shifts; however, the level of nutrients which must be added to cause community shifts is unknown. To date, all nitrogen (N) addition experiments at Konza have added 10 g m-2 (e.g., NutNet Plots; Phosphorus (P) Plots; Belowground Plots), yet current rates of N deposition are one-tenth of that level.
The dataset (Key for Plant Species Codes in Konza Prairie Community Composition Datasets) contains a numeric code for each vascular plant species that has been recorded in any Konza Prairie LTER plant community composition dataset (e.g. PVC02, PBG01, WAT01, BGPVC). Each code designates a vasular plant taxon (species level). Variables include: family, genus, specific epithet, lifespan, growth form, origin, photosynthetic pathway (for grasses).
The distribution, structure and function of mesic savanna grasslands are strongly driven by fire regimes, grazing by large herbivores, and their interactions. This research addresses a general question about our understanding of savanna grasslands globally: Is our knowledge of fire and grazing sufficiently general to enable us to make accurate predictions of how these ecosystems will respond to changes in these drivers over time? Some evidence suggests that fire and grazing influence savanna grassland structure and function differently in South Africa (SA) compared to North America (NA).
The distribution, structure and function of mesic savanna grasslands are strongly driven by fire regimes, grazing by large herbivores, and their interactions. This research addresses a general question about our understanding of savanna grasslands globally: Is our knowledge of fire and grazing sufficiently general to enable us to make accurate predictions of how these ecosystems will respond to changes in these drivers over time? Some evidence suggests that fire and grazing influence savanna grassland structure and function differently in South Africa (SA) compared to North America (NA).
These data show locations for some experiments at Konza Prairie including: Chronic Addition of Nitrogen Gradient Experiment (ChANGE), Ghost Fire, Shrub Rainfall Manipulation Plots (ShRaMPs), sampling locations for ingrowth cores collected as part of the ShRaMPs experiment, Climate Extremes Experiment, Drought-Net, the Experimental Streams Experiment, the Nutrient Network Experiment, Phosphorous Plots experiment, the Vert-Invert experiment, and restoration areas.
Woody encroachment threatens the loss of remaining grasslands. Clonal shrubs are of particular concern because of their ability to resprout after disturbance, spread vegetatively, and share resources among interconnected stems. These traits contribute to the encroachment of deep-rooted clonal shrubs in tallgrass prairie. In this study, we investigated how leaf physiological traits differ among interconnected stems within a dominant encroaching shrub in tallgrass prairie, Cornus drummondii.
This data set is a compilation of data collected by multiple researchers describing nests of 48 bird species from across Konza Prairie. Compiled and edited into consistent format by Emma B. Smith, and included in her Master’s thesis. The goal of this dataset is to compile as much data on bird nests at Konza as possible. This data set includes data from other KNZ datasets CBN01 and PBG05, as well as data contributed by Page Klug, Jim Rivers, John Zimmerman, Bill Jensen, Brett Sandercock, Alice Boyle, Bram Verheijen, Bridget Sousa, Aaron Pearse, Karl Kosciuch, and Scott Hatch.
Herbivores of varying size classes exist with the grassland biome (large mammals, small mammals, insects), however their independent and interactive effects on grassland plant species composition and function are understudied. Here we aim to tease apart the effects of three size classes of herbivores within the Konza Prairie system, and whether these effects vary across fire regimes.
Intra-clonal stem density, natality, mortality, flowering and relative growth rate within discrete Cornus drummondii shrubs in response to fire frequency (4- vs 20-yr burn intervals) and simulated browsing. Tagged stems within individual shrubs were tracked and measured at the beginning and end of each growing season in 2018 and 2019 to assess the interactions of fire and browsing on stem demography.
Woody plants are increasing prevalence and dominance in many rangelands around the world. The reason for their increase is various but two common drivers that have changed are an increase in CO2 concentrations and alteration to precipitation dynamics. We asked what the physiological growth dynamics of four juvenile woody plant species (Cornus drummondii, Rhus glabra, Gleditsia triacanthos and Juniperus osteosperma) when grown in elevated CO2 and chronically water stressed.
Climate variability and periodic droughts have complex effects on carbon (C) fluxes, with uncertain implications for ecosystem C balance under a changing climate. Responses to climate change can be modulated by persistent effects of climate history on plant communities, soil microbial activity, and nutrient cycling (i.e., legacies). To assess how legacies of past precipitation regimes influence tallgrass prairie C cycling under new precipitation regimes, we modified a long-term irrigation experiment that simulated a wetter climate for >25 years.
Our project was designed to test if woody removal in a riparian zone allowed the system to rebound to a grassland stream state. We hypothesized that removal would increase light and decrease moss biomass.
In fall of 2010 in watershed N2B ( 39.088976°, -96.588599°), we established plant community plots to assess the potential ability of the riparian zone to shift to a grassland state based on cutting alone and cutting with replanting. The three treatments were 1) naturally open riparian grassland before the removal, 2) areas cleared of woody vegetation, and 3) areas cleared of woody vegetation and seeded with prairie plant species. The addition of the seeded treatment was designed to address if recovery of grassland vegetation is hindered by propagule limitation.
Woody plant expansion is well-known to alter plant community composition, often including a decrease in plant biodiversity, such as species richness. This dataset was used to determine if plant communities are able to “bounce back” after repeated woody plant removal, returning to plant community more similar to tallgrass prairie without woody plant encroachment. Woody plant encroachment can affect plant communities in two key ways: increasing competition for light and limiting grassland propagules (if woody encroachment is widespread).
The goal of this project was the measure changes in woody vegetation cover over time, in riparian and non-riparian locations. The study was retrospective, using high resolution aerial imagery to identify areas dominated by grasslands, shrubs, trees, and woody plant that could not be differentiated as shrubs or trees (referred to as “unk” or “unknown”). These data help us understand rates of woody plant cover over time and how these changes might affect other populations (e.g., avifauna) and processes (e.g. hydrology).
Woody encroachment, or invasion of woody plants, is rapidly shifting tallgrass prairie into shrub and evergreen dominated ecosystems, mainly due to exclusion of fire. Tracking the pace and extent of woody encroachment is difficult because shrubs and small trees are much smaller than the coarse resolution (>10m2) of common remote sensed images.
Plant survival, growth, reproduction, and recruitment of 4 forb species (Amorpha canescens, Echinacea angustifolia, Aster oblongifolius, Kuhnia eupatorioides) were estimated annually within permanent transects in 20 watersheds, starting in 2020.
Data set contains summaries of the number of individuals of each species of small mammal captured (relative abundance) on each trapping grid. Each record contains date, treatment, grid, trap station, species, specimen number, recapture status, specimen disposition, external body measurements (where applicable), reproductive information, and miscellaneous associated comments.
The objective of this study was to characterize spatial and physical attributes of bison wallows at the Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeastern Kansas. We used aerial imagery from two different years (2011 and 2019) to assess the abundance and spatial distribution of wallows in relation to fire frequency, elevation, and slope.
This dataset includes captures of small-bodied landbirds captured via passive mist-netting efforts. The objectives are to (a) initiate a long-term survey of the non-breeding birds of the site, (b) understand the behavioral and physiological mechanisms that allow birds to cope with the unpredictable, variable, and often harsh conditions during winter months, and (c) provide a training platform for students.
Like CPB01 and PBG051, this dataset includes records of bird species based on line transect sampling.