RUI: The Role of Dissolved Organic Material in Regulating Primary Production in Prairie Saline Lakes

草地和改建的草地（即农业用地）覆盖了世界半干旱地区的大面积区域。位于草原的湖泊通常是咸水并且具有高浓度的溶解有机物（DOM）。我们假设 DOM 通过结合营养物质并减少藻类对它们的利用，在调节草原盐湖藻类生产方面发挥着关键作用。为了探索这一假设，我们将调查大平原中部和北部三个地区（ND、SD、NE）湖泊中的一系列化学和生物参数。第二年和第三年将进行一系列实验，以进一步探索实地调查中观察到的模式。这项研究将为一名研究生和六名本科生提供培训。更好地了解藻类生产的控制可以改善草原盐湖的管理实践，并确保这些迁徙水禽栖息地的质量。

Grasslands and converted grasslands (i.e. agricultural land) cover extensive areas in semi-arid regions of the world. Lakes situated in grasslands are usually saline and have high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM). We hypothesize that DOM plays a critical role in regulating algal production in prairie saline lakes by binding nutrients and making them less available to algae. To explore this hypothesis, we will survey a suite of chemical and biological parameters in lakes from three areas in the central and northern Great Plains (ND, SD, NE). A series of experiments will be conducted in Years 2 and 3 to further explore patterns observed in the field surveys. This research will provide training for one graduate and six undergraduate students. A greater understanding of the controls on algal production may improve management practices in prairie saline lakes and ensure the quality of these habitats for migrating waterfowl.