FSML: Enhancement of Support Facilities for Visiting Scientists at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

Konza草原研究自然区(KPRNA)是一个3487公顷的高草草原保护区，由堪萨斯州立大学生物系作为生物研究站进行管理。现场正在进行120多个项目，包括来自14个系和5个学院的KSU研究人员，以及来自其他机构的65个访问研究人员。KSU对KPRNA的研究得到了来自15个政府机构和私人基金会的500万美元外部资金的支持。目前的设施包括一个翻修过的大型石制牧场房屋和谷仓，作为研究和教育总部，一个小实验室，30公里的栅栏，17公里维护的碎石路，火灾管理设备和60个流域处理单元(Avg。0.55平方公里)在不同的长期处方火力和凝视处理组合下保持不变。有蹄类食草动物被管理在一个949公顷的野牛围栏和搬运设施中，以及一个325公顷的牛栏内。重复的分水岭级别的放牧和规定的火灾处理为现场80%以上的研究提供了基础设施。在过去的十年里，对KPRNA的整体研究、访问(非KSU)科学家的数量以及为他们的研究计划维护的小块土地的数量都有了显著的增长。因此，启动了KPRNA的三个阶段的发展计划，包括1)制定一个长期总体规划，2)稳定和改造现有的设施和设备，3)建设新的实验室、支持设施和来访科学家的生活区。第一阶段和第二阶段基本完成。该项目将开始第三阶段，重点是加强对来访科学家的支持设施。具体地说，该项目旨在为来访的科学家增加实验室空间，并支持购买一台特殊用途拖拉机，用于维护长期的分水岭一级的处理，以及通过合作和个人访问研究人员而建立的小块土地的数量大大增加。KPRNA实验区研究的扩大是由于对以下关键问题的日益概念性的关注：1)驱动大规模群落和生态系统格局和变化的潜在过程和机制，以及2)通过跨站点研究评估它们在草原和其他陆地生态系统中的共性。同时，配套资金将用于安装现场计算设施和与昆士兰大学校园的T1计算机线路连接，并建造一座新楼以容纳消防管理设备。这项拟议工作的完成将大大加强KPRNA的研究能力、为来访的科学家和学生提供的实验室和计算支持设施以及数据管理和通信系统。这些改进将有助于进一步开展草原和其他陆地系统的跨学科协作研究。

Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA) is a 3,487 ha tallgrass prairie preserve managed as a biological research station by the Division of Biology, Kansas State University. Over 120 projects, involving KSU researches from 14 Departments and 5 Colleges, and 65 visiting researches from other institutions, are being conducted on the site. KSU research on KPRNA is supported by $5 M in extramural funding from 15 government agencies and private foundations. Current facilities include a large renovated stone ranch house and barn that serve as research and educational headquartes,a small laboratory, 30 km of fencing, 17 km of maintained gravel roads, fire management equipment, and 60 watershed treatment units (avg. size 0.55 km2) maintained under different long-term prescribed fire and gazing treatment combinations. Ungulate grazers are managed within a 949 ha bison enclosure and handling facility, and a 325 ha cattle enclosure. The replicated watershed-level grazing and prescribed fire treatments provide the infrastructure for over 80% of the research on the site. The overall research on KPRNA, the numbers of visiting (non-KSU) scientists, and the number of small plots maintained for their research programs have all grown significantly in the last decade. Therefore, a three phase development plan for KPRNA was initiated including 1) producing a long range Master Plan, II) stabilizing and renovating the existing facilities and equipment, and III) constructing new laboratory, support facilities, and living quarters for visiting scientists. Phases I and II are essentially completed. This project will begin Phase III and focuses on enhancing support facilities for visiting scientists. Specifically, the project to increase laboratory space for visiting scientists and to support the purchase of a special purpose tractor needed for maintenance of both the long-term watershed-level treatments and the greatly increasing numbers of small plots established by co llaborating and individuals visiting researchers. The expansion of experimental plot research on KPRNA has resulted from an increasing conceptual focus on key questions regarding 1) underlying processes and mechanisms driving large-scale community and ecosystems patterns and change, and 2) assessment of their generality across grasslands and other terrestrial ecosystems via cross-site studies. Concurrently, matching funds will be used to install onsite computing facilities and T1 computer line connection to the KU campus, and to construct a new building to house fire management equipment. The completion of this proposed work will significantly enhance the KPRNA research capacity, laboratory and computing support facilities for visiting scientists and students, and data management and communication system. These improvements will facilitate further in collaborative cross-disciplinary research on grasslands and other terrestrial systems.