LTREB: Ecosystem Structure and Function in Palouse Grasslands - Nitrogen, Plants, Grasshoppers and Birds

摘要标题：LTREB：帕卢塞草原生态系统结构和功能-氮、植物、蝗虫和鸟类PI：Belovsky，Gary机构：圣母大学这个LTREB项目继续监测和操纵蝗虫种群，这些蝗虫种群分别在蒙大拿州的四个栖息地进行了17年、15年、14年和10年。 监测措施蝗虫，捕食者，植物丰度，沿着营养和植物生产。 操纵不同的蝗虫密度和捕食蝗虫，以评估对营养和植物生产的影响。 蝗虫是主要的食草动物，影响营养和植物生产。 由于蝗虫的数量在不同年份之间变化很大，蝗虫的影响也各不相同。 草食性蝗虫可以通过减少营养物质来影响栖息地，从而减少植物产量，或者通过增加营养物质来增加植物产量。 本研究的目的是了解蝗虫及其捕食者如何影响养分和植物生产。像这项研究这样的长期数据库对于评估生态系统结构（物种丰度）如何影响生态系统功能（营养和生产）至关重要。 这是生态学中的一个中心问题，有几个应用。 首先，蝗虫被广泛认为是必须控制的害虫。 这项研究评估了何时控制可能是有益的，甚至是有害的。 第二，这项研究有助于了解人类对生态系统的影响，以进行保护和恢复。 最后，通过让高中生、本科生和研究生，特别是美洲原住民参与进来，教育效益会不断增加。

ABSTRACTTitle: LTREB: Ecosystem structure and function in Palouse grasslands - nitrogen, plants, grasshoppers and birdsPI: Belovsky, GaryInstitution: University of Notre DameThis LTREB project continues monitoring and manipulations of grasshopper populations that have been conducted in four habitats in Montana for 17, 15, 14 and 10 years, respectively. The monitoring measures grasshopper, predator, and plant abundances, along with nutrients and plant production. The manipulations vary grasshopper density and predation on grasshoppers to assess impacts on nutrients and plant production. Grasshoppers are dominant herbivores and influence nutrients and plant production. Because grasshopper abundance varies dramatically between years, grasshopper influence also varies. Grasshopper herbivory can influence a habitat by either diminishing nutrients, which decreases plant production, or by increasing nutrients, which increases plant production. The purpose of this study is to understand how grasshoppers and their predators affect nutrients and plant production. Long term databases like this study are critical for assessing how ecosystem structure (species abundances) influence ecosystem function (nutrients and production). This is a central question in ecology with several applications. First, grasshoppers are widely considered to be pests that must be controlled. This study assesses when control may be beneficial or even detrimental. Second, the study helps to understand the human impacts on ecosystems for conservation and restoration. Finally, educational benefits accrue by involving high school, undergraduate and graduate students, especially Native Americans.