Enhancement of Research Capacity for Konza Prairie Research Natural Area - Phase II

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Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA) is a 3,487 ha. tallgrass prairie preserve 15km south of the Kansas State University campus that is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by the Division of Biology. Over 80 projects, involving 14 Departments and 5 colleges on campus and dozens of researchers from off campus, are being conducted on the site, with current extramural funding of almost $6,000,000. Current facilities include a large stone ranch house and barn, a small laboratory, 30 km of fencing, 17 km of maintained gravel roads, a 16.4 km bison enclosures and bison handling facility, and fire management equipment for the experimental burn treatments imposed on the site (which requires 61 km of maintained fire guards). Over 90% of the research on the site resolves around the bison or fire experimental manipulations, or the 5,000 ft2 behavioral research facility in the loft of the barn. Research on KPRNA has grown significantly in the last decade and the site has reached its carrying capacity with the current facilities. Therefore, KPRNA has embarked on a three phase development plan that includes I) producing a long range Master Plan, II) stabilizing and renovating the existing facilities and equipment, and III) constructing a new laboratory and living quarters for visiting scientists. This proposal is to complete Phase II - specifically, to construct new bison handling facilities, upgrade our fire management capabilities, and to renovate an existing behavioral research space. The new facilities will allow effective and safe handling of the bison, and the fire management equipment will enhance our ability to conduct prescribed burns and fight unwanted fires. The behavioral research facility will be renovated with new support columns for the loft and new flooring. Concurrently, matching funds will be used to upgrade the other equipment and facilities on the site, especially the stone house, which is used by scientists for offices, sleeping qu arters, and meeting areas. The completion of Phase II is critical to increasing research capacity, and allowing a move to the next level of development and productivity.