CRB: Mechanisms of Persistence in Tallgrass Prairie Forbs: An Experimental Approach Coupled with a Retrospective Analysis of Long-term Patterns

大多数植物群落由许多不同的 生长形式通常在生物量中占主导地位。 生态学研究倾向于关注占主导地位的生长形式， 物种，主要是因为他们处理大部分的能量， 流经整个系统。 当物种丰富度 考虑到，它通常是从属生长内的物种 对多样性贡献最大的形式。 但不包括 ruderal物种，相对较少的是知道的机制 通过这种方式，下级物种，尤其是长寿的多年生植物， 在社区中维持自己。 综合评价 这些不太常见的物种的持续存在机制是 对维持自然和恢复生态系统的多样性至关重要 社区. 本研究将通过实验研究 持久性高草草原杂类草（非木本，多年生 在Konza Prairie自然研究区。 这个网站是 主要特征是只有两种生长形式（占主导地位的 草和杂类草），这有利于资源的比较 利用和对火、放牧、光照和氮的反应 优势和劣势生长形式之间的区别 福布斯分享 许多生活史特征，并归功于它们的持久性 在高草基质中， 克隆人/克隆人。 描述性的组合 研究和全因子实验，包括水，氮和 光操纵将被用来阐明的过程， 哪些长寿的杂类草保持它们在“海洋”中的存在， “草”在地形和火灾历史上各不相同。

Most plant communities are comprised of many different growth forms with one that usually dominates in biomass. Ecological studies tend to focus on the dominant growth form and species, primarily because they process most of the energy that flows through the system. However, when species richness is considered, it is usually species within the subordinate growth forms that contribute most to diversity. With the exception of ruderal species, relatively little is known about the mechanisms by which subordinate species, especially long-lived perennials, maintain themselves in communities. A comprehensive evaluation of the mechanisms of persistence of these less common species is critical to maintaining diversity within natural and restored communities. This study will experimentally examine the mechanisms of persistence of tallgrass prairies forbs (non-woody, perennial herbs) at the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area. This site is characterized primarily by just two growth forms (the dominant grasses and forbs) and this facilitates comparisons of resource use and responses to fire, grazing, light regime, and nitrogen between dominant and subordinate growth forms. The forbs share many life history characteristics and owe their persistence within the tallgrass matrix to the long residence times of established individuals/clones. A combination of descriptive studies and a full factorial experiment involving water, N and light manipulations will be used to elucidate the processes by which long-lived forbs maintain their presence in a "sea of grass" that varies topographically and in fire history.