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openCC (other)Jan 2025View details →

Effects of inoculation of restored and remnant prairie soils on growth, nodulation, and root colonization of three prairie legumes

In this dataset, we present legume biomass, nodule number, and % root colonization of three species of prairie legumes (Amorpha canescens, Lespedeza capitata, and Dalea purpurea) when inoculated with soil from one of 6 remnant or 10 restored prairies in southwest Michigan, USA. Plants were grown for 10 weeks in a growth chamber.

AWE01 Meteorological data from the konza prairie headquarters weather station

The following weather data are included in this data set: hourly (record type 1): mean temperature, mean relative humidity, mean wind speed, mean wind direction, mean solar radiation, soil temperature, max wind speed; Daily (record type 2): maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, mean air temperature, mean relative humidity, total solar radiation, total precipitation, maximum soil temperature, minimum soil temperature, mean soil temperature, average wind speed. These data are collectecd by a micrologger at headquarters on Konza Prairie.

openCC0Sep 2025View details →

CBC02 Winter-spring survival and response of birds to variable climate using mist-net captures at Konza Prairie

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. The collection of this dataset is fully integrated into the teaching of “Wild Bird Research” (an undergraduate hands-on research course in the Division of Biology) and less formal instruction in bird research methods for graduate students. Additionally, the banding efforts have benefited from the engagement of Konza Prairie docents and frequently hosts class visits and other visitors interested in witness bird banding operations.

openCC (other)Dec 2025View details →

GPH01 Grazing management effects on pollinator communities and habitat at Konza Prairie, 2024-2025

For all data files, data were collected in Konza Prairie LTER sites: N1A, N1B, C1A, K1B, and 1D during May, July, and August in both 2024 and 2025. The goal was to investigate variation in pollinator foraging and nesting habitat and in foraging and nesting pollinator communities across grazing regimes. Details for each file follow: 1. Plant-pollinator interactions (file = pollinatorNetworks); 2. Bees collected from ground nests (file = nestingBees); 3. Floral resources observed along transects (file = floralResources); 4. Bare ground cover and vegetation height measured along transects (file = otherHabitat); 5. Soil characteristics (file = soils)

CBP01 Variable distance line-transect sampling of bird population numbers in different habitats on Konza Prairie

Records of bird species based on line transect sampling, giving perpendicular distance of sighting from the transect line on 16 separate transects. Bird surveys were conducted 2-4 times per year in January, April, June, and October for a 29-year period from 1981 to 2009. Transects were designed to determine bird communities and population numbers associated with tallgrass prairie habitats with different experimental treatments (fire frequency, grazed by bison vs. ungrazed), riparian habitats on forest edge, and gallery forests dominated by oak woodland.

CGR01 Sweep sampling of Grasshoppers on Konza Prairie LTER watersheds in 1981 only

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).

openCC0Dec 2025View details →

CGR02 Sweep sampling of Grasshoppers on Konza Prairie LTER watersheds

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).

CSM04 Seasonal summary of numbers of small mammals on the eight LTER seasonal burn traplines in prairie habitats at Konza Prairie

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 periods, March, July and October, for each of 20 permanent census lines established on 10 fire-grazing treatments (2 lines per treatment). These 10 fire-grazing treatments are one unburned, one annual burn and one 4-year burn site to be grazed by native ungulates and one unburned, one annual burn, four 4-year burn and one 10-year burn site not grazed by ungulates.

APT01 Daily precipitation amounts measured at multiple sites across konza prairie

Data set contains daily records of precipitation on 10 raingauges at 10 sites on Konza Prairie. Two sites (020A and 002C; SE) have 7-day clocks (one revolution per week), 7 have 24-hour clocks (one revolution per day), and the Headquarters raingauge generates daily data and 15 minute data. The Headquarters raingauge generates data year round. The remaining rain gauges are operated from April 1 to October 31. Precipitation amounts are recorded in mm. As of 2011, the HQ 1 (7-day clock) and HQ 2 (24-hour clock) raingauges have been discontinued and replaced with an Ott Pluvio2 rainguage that began data generation March 2010. APT011 - Precipitation on Konza Prairie collected at the Headquarter (HQ); APT012 - Precipitation on Konza Prairie collected at 10 rainfall gauges; APT013 - Precipitation on Konza Prairie collected at 8 rainfall gauges (HOBO Data Logging Rain Gauges).

openCC0Nov 2025View details →

KFH01 Konza prairie fire history

The Konza burn history data is downloadable by year. Watershed names and codes listed are the current watershed designations (2010). Please note that several watershed designations have changed over the history of Konza. This is inevitable due to changes in research objectives but is problematic for those wanting to discover the full burn history of a given area. In some cases watersheds have simply been renamed to reflect changes in experimental burn treatments (e.g. R20A was formerly 1A). In other cases watersheds have been subdivided or aggregated from smaller watersheds (eg. in 1994 3B3UA was added to 20A (currently R1A) to form a larger watershed). In a few cases watershed names have been moved to new areas (e.g. 1D was moved from its original location in 1978 after the acquisition of new property. The original 1D watershed is now part of WB and 20C). Investigators should consult the proper watershed map for a given year to see watershed designations at the time of burning.

openCC0Jun 2025View details →

PAB01 Aboveground net primary productivity of tallgrass prairie based on accumulated plant biomass on core LTER watersheds (001d, 004b, 020b)

Data set contains estimates of end-of-season standing crop biomass (grams per square meter) of live graminoids, forbs, woody plants, and previous year's dead vegetation for 2 soil types (shallow and deep) on three core LTER watersheds representing three fire frequency treatments. Twenty quadrats (0.1 square meters) are harvested for each soil/treatment type. NOTE: Early (April) and mid-season (July) biomass was collected from 1983-1988, and these data are available by request.

WAT01 Konza Prairie long-term irrigation transect study

In 1991, an irrigation transect experiment was established near the Konza Prairie HQ to assess the effects of supplemental water on ecological processes in tallgrass prairie. The site is burned annually in the spring. The transect spans upland, hillside and lowland topographic positions with irrigation and sampling points (12) located at 10 m intervals. Adjacent control transects are marked on both sides of the irrigation transect. Irrigation is scheduled according to estimates of actual evapotranspiration and measures of plant water status. In 1992, an additional 4 irrigation sprinklers were added to the transect (2 at each end). In 1993, a second line of sprinklers and control plots was added (#16-31). At the time of peak aboveground biomass (late August to October), six 0.1 m2 quadrats are harvested at each of the 30 sites (no #9 due to rock outcrop) for the irrigated and control/non-irrigated lines. Biomass is separated into live grass, forb and woody. As of 2006, c.dead is no longer separated from live grass. Vegetative species composition was initially measured in 1991 at each site, and continues to be measured at midseason by using a modified Daubenmire canopy coverage technique in a 10 m2 circular plot. At approximately 10 day intervals, predawn and midday plant water potentials are measured in Andropogon gerardii at each site in both irrigated and control transects. Since 1992, reproductive effort of the dominant grasses Andropogon gerardii (ANGE), Sorghastrum nutans (SONU), Schizachyrium scoparius (ANSC) has been assessed in irrigated and control transects by measuring heights (n=9) and densities (n=4) of flowering stalks. In 1993, soil moisture measurements at 15 and 30 cm depths were begun with a Time Domain Reflectometry system. Data set also includes measured natural precipitation and supplemental water added to the site. Full data used in the Broderick et al. (2022) paper, "Climate legacies determine grassland responses to future rainfall regimes", ca

CBH01 Konza Prairie bison herd information

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.

PRP01 Konza prairie long term restoration study of aboveground annual net primary productivity (ANPP)

The experiment is a randomized complete block design with four whole plot hetereogeneity treatments replicated within each of four blocks (n=16 whole plots). The whole plot treatments were created using different combinations of soil depth and nutrient manipulations. The control plots contained no depth or nutrient manipulations. The 'maximum hetereogeneity' plots contained three 2 m x 8 m vertical strips assigned to ambient, enriched and reduced N treatments and four 2 m x 6 m horizontal strips assigned to deep and shallow soil to result in six treatment combinations. The maximum heterogeneity plots are a split-block design. Each plot contained 12 subplots (2 m x 2 m) for sampling. All of the plots had surface soil temporarily removed to a depth of approximately 25 cm and natural limestone slabs were laid in strips assigned to the shallow soil treatment. The soil from all plots was then replaced, leveled, and disked (2-3 cm deep). In February 1998, we incorporated sawdust (49% C; C:N ratio=122) into the strips assigned to the reduced-N treatment. The average C concentration and bulk density in the surface 15 cm following long-term cultivation was 1.5% and 1.2 g cm-3, respectively. Sawdust was tilled into the soil at a rate of 5.5 kg dry wt./m2 to achieve a C concentration representative of native prairie soil (approx.3% C). Surface applications of granular sugar were initiated in 2004 at a rate of 200 g sucrose m-2 (84.22 g C/m2) 3-4 times each growing season. Strips assigned to the enriched-N treatment were fertilized with 5 g N m2/y (applied as ammonium-nitrate) in July of the first growing season and early June of each subsequent year.

CSM02 Seasonal summary of numbers of small mammals on the four LTER gallery forest and limestone ledges traplines in wooded habitats at Konza Prairie

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. These live trap records are based on daily captures during a single 4-day trapping period in spring (early March to early April), summer (early July to late July) and autumn (mid-October to early December) for each of four permanent traplines established in two habitats (two traplines in gallery forest and two on limestone ledges). Bison did not graze any of the treatment units during the period of study.

CSM01 Seasonal summary of numbers of small mammals on 14 LTER traplines in prairie habitats at Konza Prairie

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). These seven fire-grazing treatments include three sites that are grazed by bison (1 unburned, 1 annual burn and 1 4-year burn) and four sites that are not grazed by bison (1 unburned, 1 annual burn and 2 4-year burn).

AET01 Konza prairie grass reference evapotranspiration

Estimated evapotranspiration from a hypothetical short grass with a height of 0.12 m, a surface resistance of 70 s m-1, and an albedo of 0.23 (no water stress). Dataset contains daily total estimated evapotranspiration.