Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
In 2006, Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie Biological Station continued their participation in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a cooperative research support program of the state Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and numerous other governmental and private entities. NADP is a nation-wide network of sites designed to monitor and detect long-term patterns and trends in rainfall chemistry. Our specific activities in 2006 included weekly collection of precipitation samples at the Konza Prairie site. Collected samples were analyzed for pH and conductivity locally, before being shipped the NADP Central Analytical Laboratory for further elemental analyses. The data generated by this project continue to provide important information on local and regional patterns of rainfall chemistry and wet deposition of nutrients. These data are used to develop nutrient budgets for local ecosystems,
including tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills region, and for assessing regional to national trends in rainfall chemistry and nutrient deposition patterns. For example, in 2006 local NADP data were used to support research on the ecological impacts of chronic N enrichment. Regional patterns of N deposition were also used in the development of proposed experiments and Research Designs in response to the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Request for Information. In addition, information on wetfall chemistry generated by this project is used to complement data on bulk precipitation chemistry and dryfall deposition, both of which are also being done at the Konza Prairie site. This NADP data set now spans more than 24 years, and is one of the longest records of rainfall chemistry in the state of Kansas, and is becoming increasingly valuable for detecting long-term trends and changes in precipitation chemistry. Data from the Konza site are made available to the scientific
community, resource managers and policy makers via the Internet.
Impacts
Kansas grasslands provide a strong economic base for the livestock industry. Changes in nutrient deposition in rainfall can negatively impact the structure and functioning of these grassland ecosystems, and alter important ecosystem services. Thus, monitoring atmospheric inputs of nutrients is critical for the management of grassland resources in Kansas.
Publications
- Jones, K.L., T.C. Todd, J. L. Wall-Beam, J.D. Coolon, J.M. Blair and M.H. Herman. 2006. Molecular approach for assessing responses of microbial-feeding nematodes to burning and chronic nitrogen enrichment in a native grassland. Molecular Ecology 15:2601-2609.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie Biological Station continued their participation in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a nation wide network of sites designed to monitor and detect patterns and trends in rainfall chemistry. In 2005, we continued weekly collection of precipitation samples at the Konza Prairie site. Collected samples were analyzed for pH and conductivity locally, before being shipped the NADP Central Analytical Laboratory for further elemental analyses. The data generated by this project provide important information on local and regional wet deposition of nutrients, and are used to develop nutrient budgets for local ecosystems, including tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills region. These long-term data are also used in assessing regional to national trends in rainfall chemistry and nutrient deposition patterns. Information on wetfall chemistry generated by this project is also used to complement collections and analysis
of bulk precipitation chemistry and dryfall deposition, both of which are also being done at the Konza Prairie site. Changes in atmospheric nutrient deposition are an important component of global change, with importance consequences for biodiversity and native ecosystem functioning. For example, recent research suggests that increasing N deposition may contribute to changes in vegetation structure in tallgrass prairie. This data set now spans more than 23 years, and is one of the longest records of rainfall chemistry in the state of Kansas. Will continue to document long-term trends and changes in precipitation chemistry into the foreseeable future. Data from the Konza site are made available to the scientific community, resource managers and policy makers via the Internet.
Impacts
Kansas grasslands provide a strong economic base for the livestock industry. Changes in nutrient deposition in rainfall can negatively impact the structure and functioning of these grassland ecosystems, and alter important ecosystem services. Thus, monitoring atmospheric inputs of nutrients is critical for the management of grassland resources in Kansas.
Publications
- Briggs, J.M., A.K. Knapp, J.M. Blair, J.L. Heisler, G.A. Hoch, M.S. Lett and J.K. McCarron. 2005. An ecosystem in transition: causes and consequences of the conversion of mesic grassland to shrubland. BioScience 55:243-254.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie Biological Station continued their participation in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a nation wide network of sites designed to monitor and detect patterns and trends in rainfall chemistry. Weekly precipitation collection was performed at the Konza Prairie site, and samples were analyzed for pH and conductivity locally, before being shipped the NADP Central Analytical Laboratory for further elemental analyses. The data generated by this project provide important information on local and regional wet deposition of nutrients, and are used to develop nutrient budgets for local ecosystems. These long-term data are also used in assessing regional to national trends in rainfall chemistry and nutrient deposition patterns. Changes in nutrient deposition are an important component of global change, with importance consequences for biodiversity and native ecosystem functioning. This data set is one of the longest
records of rainfall chemistry in the state of Kansas, and we plan to continue data collection indefinitely. Data from the Konza site are made available to the scientific community, resource managers and policy makers via the Internet.
Impacts
Kansas grasslands provide a strong economic base for the livestock industry and alterations in nutrients can negatively impact the productivity and structure of grassland ecosystems. Thus, monitoring atmospheric inputs of nutrients is critical for the management of grassland ecosystems in Kansas.
Publications
- Baer, S.G., J.M. Blair, S.L. Collins, A.K. Knapp and A.K. Fiedler. 2004. Plant community responses to resource availability and heterogeneity during restoration. Oecologia 139:617-629
- Silletti, A.M., A.K. Knapp and J.M. Blair. 2004. Competition and coexistence in grassland co-dominants: responses to neighbor removal and resource availability. Canadian Journal of Botany 82:450-460.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie continued their participation in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a nationwide network of sites designed to detect patterns and trends in rainfall chemical inputs. Weekly precipitation collections at the Konza Prairie in NE Kansas and chemical analysis of this wet deposition provide important data. These data are key for the development of nutrient budgets for tallgrass prairie, as background data for fertilizer studies, and they serve as a benchmark data set in our Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program. These long-term data enable us to identify any alterations in trends in atmospheric nutrient inputs. This data set is one of the longest records in the state and we plan to continue collection indefinitely. Data are available to the scientific community, resource managers and policy makers via Internet access.
Impacts
Kansas grasslands provide a strong economic base for the livestock industry and alterations in nutrients can negatively impact the productivity and structure of grassland ecosystems. Thus, monitoring atmospheric inputs of nutrients is critical for the management of grassland ecosystems in Kansas.
Publications
- Baer, S.G., J.M. Blair, S.L. Collins and A.K. Knapp. 2003. Soil resources regulate productivity and diversity in newly established tallgrass prairie. Ecology 84: 724-735.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
For 19 years, Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie have participated in the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), a nationwide network of sites designed to detect patterns and trends in rainfall chemical inputs. The program entails weekly collection and chemical analysis of wet deposition at the Konza Prairie in NE Kansas, as well as at over 200 other sites nationwide. At Konza, we use these data in the development of nutrient budgets for tallgrass prairie, as background data for fertilizer studies, and they serve as a benchmark data set in our Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program. These long-term data enable us to identify any alterations in trends in atmospheric nutrient inputs. This year, as part of our biannual Visitors Day, a computer demonstration was set up for the public to view the long-term trends in precipitation chemistry in Kansas. This data set is one of the longest records in the state and we plan to continue collection
indefinitely. Data are available to the scientific community, resource managers and policy makers via Internet access. Continued participation in the NADP as vital to the success of the LTER program at Konza Prairie and Kansas State University.
Impacts
Monitoring atmospheric inputs of nutrients is critical for the management of grassland ecosystems in Kansas. These grasslands provide a strong economic base for the livestock industry and alterations in nutrients can negatively impact the productivity and structure of grassland ecosystems. Alterations in trends in nutrient inputs can only be identified if a long-term record of rainfall chemistry is available.
Publications
- Baer, S.G., J.M. Blair, S.L. Collins and A.K. Knapp. 2003. Soil resources regulate productivity and diversity in newly established tallgrass prairie. Ecology, in press.
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