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

Konza草原研究自然区(KPRNA)占地3487公顷。塔尔格拉斯草原保护区位于堪萨斯州立大学校区以南15公里处，该校区由自然保护协会所有，由生物系管理。该网站正在进行80多个项目，涉及校园内的14个系和5所学院，以及来自校外的数十名研究人员，目前校外资金近600万美元。目前的设施包括一个大型的石头牧场房屋和谷仓、一个小实验室、30公里的栅栏、17公里的维修砂砾路、16.4公里的野牛围栏和野牛处理设施，以及对现场进行实验性烧伤治疗的火灾管理设备(需要61公里的维修消防人员)。该网站上超过90%的研究都是围绕野牛或火的实验操作，或者谷仓阁楼上的5000英尺2行为研究设施。对KPRNA的研究在过去十年中有了显着的增长，该网站已经达到了现有设施的承载能力。因此，KPRNA已经开始了三个阶段的发展计划，包括i)制定一个长期总体规划，ii)稳定和翻新现有的设施和设备，iii)为来访的科学家建造一个新的实验室和生活区。这项提议是完成第二阶段-具体地说，建设新的野牛处理设施，提升我们的火灾管理能力，并翻新现有的行为研究空间。新设施将使我们能够有效和安全地处理野牛，而火灾管理设备将增强我们进行规定烧伤和扑灭不必要火灾的能力。行为研究设施将进行翻新，为阁楼和新地板安装新的支撑柱。同时，配套资金将用于升级现场的其他设备和设施，特别是科学家用于办公室、休息室和会议室的石头房子。第二阶段的完成对于提高研究能力，并使之进入下一阶段的开发和生产力至关重要。

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.