02084nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011600041210006900157300001300226490000700239520148500246653002201731100001701753700001801770700001801788856012001806 1990 eng d00aEffects of small mammal and invertebrate herbivory on plant species richness and abundance in tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of small mammal and invertebrate herbivory on plant spec a169 -1750 v843 a

A factorial field experiment was designed to test the effects of small mammals and above-and below-ground invertebrates on plant species richness and composition in native tallgrass prairie at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, northeast Kansas. Over a 4-year period, Microtus ochrogaster densities were maintained by live-trapping in fenced plots, and invertebrate levels were reduced using the pesticides carbaryl for aboveground invertebrates and an organophsphate (isofenphos) for below-ground invertebrates. ANOVA according to a split-plot design of plant species biomass data harvested in 1984 and 1986 revealed few significant effect of either small mammal densities or pesticide application. Of 54 species harvested from both sample dates, only 10 were significantly affected by either treatment. Analysis of species richness according to 8 life-form classes provided a clearer pattern of response than did biomass either by species or life-form class. For example, numbers of C4 grasses were reduced by increasing small mammal densities, whereas numbers of C4 annual forbs were lowest when above-ground herbivory was reduced. While consumers have been shown to have strong effects on successional communities, the few significant results observed in this study suggests that the manipulated levels of small mammals and insects had few effects on a mature tallgrass prairie. Key words: herbivory, tallgrass prairie, small mammals, invertebrates, plant communities

10atallgrass prairie1 aGibson, D.J.1 aFreeman, C.C.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/effects-small-mammal-and-invertebrate-herbivory-plant-species-richness-and-abundance02061nas a2200133 4500008004100000245004800041210004800089300001100137490000700148520165900155653002201814100001801836856007301854 1988 eng d00aCauses of fire effects in tallgrass prairie0 aCauses of fire effects in tallgrass prairie a46 -580 v693 a

Eleven experimental treatments were applied to 2 x 2 m plots over 2 yr at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Riley County, Kansas, to ascertain why burning tallgrass prairie causes increased production and flowering. Warming of the soil in unburned plots resulted in an increase in both total production and flower stalk production of dominant tall grasses, primarily big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), but the increase was small (34% increase in biomass; 78% increase in number of flower stalks) compared with that in burned plots (151% increase in biomass; 435% increase in flower stalks). Increased surface light intensity also appears to be a factor affecting changes in productivity following burning as suggested by the combined responses of increased productivity with removal of standing dead, whether by clipping or burning, and decreased productivity with shading. Further, the addition of ammonium nitrate increased yield 41% and flowering 168% for the dominant grasses, suggesting that any factor increasing nitrogen availability would affect these vegetative parameters. Neither ash left from burning nor hrating of the soil surface during burning produced detectable effects on subsequent vegetative growth. Different results for some parameters between years and between species suggest that many complex interactions operate to affect the grassland's response to burning, but surface light, soil surface temperature, and nitrogen appear to be particularly important factors. Key words: aboveground biomass, bluestem prairie, burning, fire, flowering, soil temperature, tallgrass prairie

10atallgrass prairie1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/causes-fire-effects-tallgrass-prairie01572nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010800041210006900149300001300218490000800231520100300239653002201242100001701264700001801281856012701299 1987 eng d00aEffect of topographic position and fire on species composition in tallgrass prairie in northeast Kansas0 aEffect of topographic position and fire on species composition i a442 -4450 v1173 a

Plant species composition was evaluated on shallow upland and deep lowland soils in annually burned and unburned watersheds in an eastern Kansas Flint Hills tallgrass prairie. Species richness was higher in upland than lowland communities. Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) was dominant on all sites (cover=70-96%) and was not significantly affected by topographic position or burn treatment, whereas, A. scoparius (little bluestem) and Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) increased with burning. Cover of Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) was higher on lowland soils, but burning differences were not significant. Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), the dominant cool-season grass, was not affected by topography but was greatly reduced by annual burning. Cover of most forb and woody species was reduced on burned areas but species were differentially affected by topography. One exception was the woody species Amorpha canescens (leadplant), which had its highest cover on burned lowland soils

10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/effect-topographic-position-and-fire-species-composition-tallgrass-prairie-northeast-kansas01818nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011100041210006900152300001300221490000700234520125300241653002201494100001701516700001801533856012101551 1987 eng d00aEffects of fire, topography and year-to-year climate variation on species composition in tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of fire topography and yeartoyear climate variation on s a175 -1850 v723 aNative unploughed tallgrass prairie from Konza Prairie, Kansas USA is described with respect to plant species compositional changes over a five year period in response to fire and topography. The principal gradient of variation in the vegetation is related to time since burning. Species show an individualistic response in terms of relative abundance to this gradient. Both the percentage of and cover of C4 species and all grasses decrease as the prairie remains unburnt. Forb and woody plant species numbers and abundance increase along this gradient. A secondary gradient of variation reflects topography (i.e. upland versus lowland soils). Upland soils support a higher species richness and diversity. Upland and lowland plant assemblages are distinct except on annually burnt prairie. The interaction between burning regime, topography and year-to-year climatic variation affects the relative abundance of the plant species differentially. The most dominant species overall, Andropogon gerardii, was affected only by year-to- year variation (i.e. climate). Its position at the top of the species abundance hierarchy was unaffected by burning regime or soil type. The other dominant species showed a suite of varying responses to these factors10atallgrass prairie1 aGibson, D.J.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/effects-fire-topography-and-year-year-climate-variation-species-composition-tallgrass01577nas a2200157 4500008004100000245003800041210003800079260008900117300001300206520105900219653002201278100001801300700001801318700001701336856006601353 1986 eng d00aFire effects on tallgrass prairie0 aFire effects on tallgrass prairie aFargo, NDbNorth Dakota State University: Tri-College Center for Environmental Study a138 -1423 a

Fire has been an important natural part of tallgrass prairie ecosystems, started by both lightning and American Indians. Production of vegetation on burned areas can be double that on unburned, unmowed, and ungrazed areas where the old standing dead vegetation is deep. Burning stimulates earlier plant development than on unburned areas. In tallgrass prairie, burning stimulates flowering of warm-season grasses and increases stem density. Late spring burning results in fewer forbs but greater grass production than fall or early spring burning. Up to at least six years, above ground biomass is positively related to the number of years between burning. In Kansas, at least, burning is effective in keeping out exotic plants where the prairie grasses are vigorous. The few studies of fire effects consistently indicate that neither the ash left from burning nor heat form fires affects production. Warming of the increased growth resulting form burning. The increased light for new growth by removal of the old plants seems to be more important

10atallgrass prairie1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aClambey, G.K.1 aPemble, R.H. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/fire-effects-tallgrass-prairie01347nas a2200145 4500008004100000245015400041210006900195300001300264490000700277520073500284653002201019100002001041700001801061856012201079 1986 eng d00aProduction, density and height of flower stalks of three grasses in annually burned and unburned eastern Kansas tallgrass prairie: a four year record0 aProduction density and height of flower stalks of three grasses  a235 -2410 v313 a

The production, density and height of flower stalks of Andropogon gerardii, Schizachrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans were surveyed over a four-year period (1981-1984) on burned vs unburned and shallow vs deep soil sites in native, undisturbed tallgrass prairie. In general, flower stalk height was greater on deep than the shallow soils but the response of height to fire was variable. In contrast, density and production of flower stalks were usually greater on the annualy burned sites, whereas soil effects were inconsistent. Production of flower stalks for all three species combined ranged from 0 to 670 g/m2 during the 4-year period with maximum production occurring in a mesic year which followed a drought year

10atallgrass prairie1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/production-density-and-height-flower-stalks-three-grasses-annually-burned-and-unburned01941nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158300001500227490000700242520133200249653002201581100001701603700002001620700001801640856012501658 1986 eng d00aA ten-year record of aboveground biomass in a Kansas tallgrass prairie: effects of fire and topographic position0 atenyear record of aboveground biomass in a Kansas tallgrass prai a1509 -15150 v733 a

Measurements of mid-season live and dead aboveground biomass are reported for a 10 year period (1975- 1984) in a northeast Kansas tallgrass prairie. Study sites included shallow, rocky upland and deep, nonrocky lowland soils in annually burned (April) and unburned watersheds. Lowland sites had significantly greater live biomass than upland sites for both burned and unburned prairie for the 10 year period. Moreover, live biomass was greater on burned than unburned lowland sites, but was not significantly increased by fire on the upland sites. Averaged across upland and lowland sites, mid-season live biomass was 422 g m-2 on annually burned and 364 g m-2 on unburned sites for the 10 year period. Each site had its lowest live biomass value during the severe drought year of 1980 (range=185-299 g m-2). During the study period, live biomass was most strongly correlated with seasonal pan water evaporation (r=-0.45 to -0.82), whereas dead biomass was correlated with the previous years precipitation (r=0.62 and 0.90 for upland and lowland sites, respectively). When aboveground biomass was sampled throughout the 1984 season and separated into several components, biomass of the graminoids was 40% lower, whereas that of forbs and woody plants was 200-300% greater in the unburned than in the annually burned site

10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/ten-year-record-aboveground-biomass-kansas-tallgrass-prairie-effects-fire-and-topographic00954nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132300001200201490000700213520042200220653002200642100001800664700001800682856010800700 1985 eng d00aAn annotated list of the vascular flora of Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas0 aannotated list of the vascular flora of Konza Prairie Research N a84 -1150 v883 a

The Konza Prairie Research Natural Area is a 3487 hectare research area located in the northern Kansas Flint Hills. The vegetation of Konza Prairie is predominantly tallgrass prairie with limited gallery forests along major tributaries. The vascular flora of the research area includes 441 species in 90 families. This number represents approximately 44% of the species known to occur in the Kansas Flint Hills

10atallgrass prairie1 aFreeman, C.C.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/annotated-list-vascular-flora-konza-prairie-research-natural-area-kansas01635nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009600041210006900137300001300206490000700219520106200226653002201288100002001310700001701330700001801347856011201365 1985 eng d00aAn evaluation of beta attenuation for estimating aboveground biomass in a tallgrass prairie0 aevaluation of beta attenuation for estimating aboveground biomas a556 -5580 v383 a

The attenuation of beta particles by vegetation was evaluated as a nondestructive method for estimating aboveground biomass in tallgrass prairie in northeast Kansas. Regression equations using the sum of beta attenuation measurements for each of 5 height classes within the vegetation and mean midday leaf water potential as the independent variables were used to predict live and total biomass. Live and total biomass were better predicted on burned (r2=.91 and .88, respectively) and unburned sites (r2=.71 and .70, respectively). Greater variability in the relationship between beta attentuation and biomass in unburned prairie was a result of the large and variable amount of dead biomass on unburned sites. Dead biomass was poorly predicted by beta attentuation (r2=.24- .49). Beta attentuation predicted biomass in burned tallgrass prairie within +/- 5% of harvest values until late season vegetative senescence. In unburned prairie, predictions were poorer, but the technique could still be useful if the required accuracy need be only +/- 25%

10atallgrass prairie1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/evaluation-beta-attenuation-estimating-aboveground-biomass-tallgrass-prairie02129nas a2200133 4500008004100000245005900041210005900100300001100159490000600170520169200176653002201868100001801890856008701908 1985 eng d00aHistory and use of Konza Prairie Research Natural Area0 aHistory and use of Konza Prairie Research Natural Area a63 -950 v53 a

Konza Prairie, a few miles south of Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, lies in the western part of the tallgrass or true prairie. The dense roots and the very tough rhizomes (underground stems) of the tallgrass prairie of North American and of the Danube Basin of Europe made the sod so tough that neither area could be plowed ("broken" the pioneers called it) until the nineteenth century after the special sod breaking plow was developed. Nine faculty in five departments at KSU began meeting in 1956 to discuss the need for a prairie area for ecological research to complement the prairie areas being used to study livestock production. In searching for an appropriate name, it was decided to choose one of the various spellings of the Kansa tribe; the oldest tribe that lived in the area for which a name is known. The Deweys acquired the land that became the Dewey Ranch parcel-by-parcel from 1872 to 1926. Konza Prairie Research Natural Area is the premier research site for tallgrass prairie, a fact certainly not anticipated by the cowboys and other who helped raise cattle on the area from the middle of the 1800s until the area was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in the 1970s. Because fire and native herbivores (bison, elk, and pronghorn) are part of this natural system, the experimental design includes them. Cattle are also included to compare domestic with native grazers. Research focuses on the vegetation, soils, insects, earthworms, nematodes (soil roundworms), birds, mammels, streams, and other components. Plans are to continue these studies for decades in order to assess the effects of weather variation, so pronounced in this continental area

10atallgrass prairie1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/history-and-use-konza-prairie-research-natural-area01445nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260008000187300001300267520079200280653001401072653001201086653001401098100001801112700001701130700001701147856009901164 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://knz.lternet.edu/content/fire-interval-effects-flowering-grasses-kansas-bluestem-prairie01008nas a2200181 4500008004100000245005500041210005500096300001100151490000700162520048900169653001300658653001800671653001100689653001200700100001600712700001800728856008000746 1980 eng d00aDecomposition of litter in Kansas bluestem prairie0 aDecomposition of litter in Kansas bluestem prairie a33 -350 v833 a

From 1 April to 26 August 1978, about 45 percent of the aboveground standing dead plant material and litter disappeared in ungrazed bluestem prairie on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Geary County, Kansas, USA. In plots trampled on April 1 to compact the material close to the soil surface about 55 percent of the material decomposed. The results are based on 10 replications in native prairie on deep, productive, silty-clay loam at two sites, 1 and 5 years since burning

10abluestem10adecomposition10alitter10aprairie1 aBrehm, R.W.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/decomposition-litter-kansas-bluestem-prairie01504nas a2200181 4500008004100000245005200041210005200093260003600145300001300181520095300194653001301147653000901160653001201169100001801181700002201199700001801221856008301239 1978 eng d00aControlling experimental bluestem prairie fires0 aControlling experimental bluestem prairie fires aAmes, IAbIowa State University a169 -1713 a

Procedures are described that have been developed for experimental burning of 10 to 20 ha watersheds on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area in bluestem prairie near Manhattan, Kansas. First the fuel supply is reduced by July mowing and haying. In the autumn or spring fire guards about one meter wide are burned around the boundary of each watershed by burning between strips of metal edged with a band of chains which are pulled behind a tractor. Fire swatters and power water pumps are used to extinguish any fire that is left as the metal strips pass. At the time of the main burn two crews proceed in opposite directions from the middle of the leeward side. The fire is started next to the fire guard, with the crews ready in case the fire escapes. By the time the fire is started on the windward side, the fire has burned some distance back from the fire guard on the leeward side. The system works well in reasonable weather conditions

10abluestem10afire10aprairie1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aGlenn-Lewin, D.C.1 aLanders, R.Q. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/controlling-experimental-bluestem-prairie-fires02182nas a2200205 4500008004100000245007100041210006900112260003600181300001100217520153700228653001201765653001001777653001201787653000901799100001701808700001801825700002201843700001801865856009301883 1978 eng d00aEffect of standing dead plants on stem density in bluestem prairie0 aEffect of standing dead plants on stem density in bluestem prair aAmes, IAbIowa State University a78 -813 a

Dokken, D.A., and L.C. Hulbert (1978) Effect of standing dead plants on stem density in bluestem prairie. In D.C. Glenn-Lewin and R.Q. Landers Jr. (eds): Proceedings of the Fifth Midwest Prairie Conference, Extension Courses and Conferences. Ames,IA: Iowa State University, pp. 78-81. Stem density in bluestem or tallgrass prairie was measured on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area near Manhattan, Kansas. Density of steam, both flowering and nonflowering, and depth and oven-dry weight of standing dead plants were measured on two soils, deep and shallow, on areas 0, 1, and 3 years after late-spring burning. On deep soil stem density of Andropogon scoparius was significantly reduced in one year without burning, and for Sorghastrum nutans and Boutelous curtipendula in 3 years. Andropogon gerardii , the dominant grass, decreased in stem density less rapidly, and so became relatively more dominant as standing dead accumulated. Poa pratensis , in contrast, increased in stem density with time after burning. That was the expected result because it is injured by late- spring burning. For ten species correlation coefficients between stem density and oven-dry weight or depth of standing dead were statistically significant. For most species the correlations were negative, including the dominant species and all species combined. Depth Of standing dead correlated with stem density about as well as did weight of standing dead, which could be of importance decause depth can be obtained must more easily than weight

10adensity10aplant10aprairie10astem1 aDokken, D.A.1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aGlenn-Lewin, D.C.1 aLanders, R.Q. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/effect-standing-dead-plants-stem-density-bluestem-prairie00925nas a2200133 4500008004100000245004200041210004200083300001300125490000600138520055000144653001000694100001800704856006900722 1978 eng d00aNatural area needs for range research0 aNatural area needs for range research a263 -2650 v13 a

Range research should include the natural ecosystem as part of the experiemental design much more than it has in the past. We need to study natural ecosystems and compare them with domestic- animal-grazed systems to gain research objectives and detect unintended effects much earlier than without such comparisons. Where natural ecosystem research areas are not available, they should be promptly established because suitable sites continually decline. Fortunately, support for natural area preservation and research is increasing rapidly

10arange1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/natural-area-needs-range-research00871nas a2200157 4500008004100000245003700041210003700078260006300115300001100178520040000189653001600589653001200605100001700617700001800634856006100652 1973 eng d00aAzotobacter of the Konza Prairie0 aAzotobacter of the Konza Prairie aManhattan, KSbDivision of Biology Kansas State University a53 -543 a

A preliminary study of occurrence of Azotobacter chroococcum was made on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Geary County, Kansas, an area of native bluestem prairie, as a beginning of a study of nitrogen relationships in bluestem prairie. Azotobacter was abundant in soils near neutrality, and decreased in accundance with increasing acidity, being absent at pH values of 5.80 and below

10aAzotobacter10aprairie1 aHarris, J.O.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/azotobacter-konza-prairie01721nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260006400187300001100251520108700262653001601349653000901365653001501374653001201389100001801401700001801419856010201437 1973 eng d00aManagement of Konza Prairie to approximate pre-white-man fire influences0 aManagement of Konza Prairie to approximate prewhiteman fire infl aManhattan, KSbDivision of Biology, Kansas State University a14 -163 a

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

10adisturbance10afire10amanagement10aprairie1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/management-konza-prairie-approximate-pre-white-man-fire-influences