RIG: Aboveground and belowground effects of multi-species herbivory across a successional gradient in tallgrass prairie

哺乳动物食草动物是高草草原植物种类组成的重要驱动力。尽管哺乳动物草食动物在草原生态系统中的重要性和无处不在，但关于它们在草原生态系统中的相互作用效应仍然存在相当大的不确定性。该项目将利用现有的不同年龄段的长期草原恢复项目，研究三个主要食草动物物种--鹿、兔子和田鼠--对植物群落组成以及土壤碳和养分循环速率的交互影响。将在不同年龄的草原上建立食草动物封育，以确定食草动物的影响如何随时间变化。这项工作将提高我们对草食性动物在恢复的草原生态系统中的作用的理解。草原恢复很少考虑草食动物的重要性，因此该项目对草原生态系统的管理和恢复具有重要影响。这项研究将把研究、推广和教育与本科生、K-12学生和社区结合起来。该项目将从代表性不足的群体中招募学生，为本科生提供暑期研究机会。此外，该项目靠近大学校园，为K-12和社区教育提供了机会。最后，该项目将通过开发新的探究性实验室活动来加强本科生的生态学教育。

Mammalian herbivores are a significant driver of plant species composition in tallgrass prairie. Despite their demonstrated importance and ubiquity in prairies, considerable uncertainty remains concerning the interactive effects of mammalian herbivores in prairie ecosystems. This project will use an existing long-term prairie restoration with sites of different ages to examine the interactive effects of three dominant herbivore species -- deer, rabbits, and voles -- on plant community composition and rates of soil carbon and nutrient cycling. Herbivore exclosures will be established in prairies of different ages to determine how the influence of herbivory changes through time.This work will improve our understanding of the role of herbivory in restored prairie ecosystems. Prairie restorations rarely take into account the importance of herbivores, thus the project has important implications for the management and restoration of grassland ecosystems. This research will integrate research, outreach, and education with undergraduate students, K-12 students, and the community. The project will recruit students from underrepresented groups for summer research opportunities for undergraduates. In addition, the proximity of the project to the college campus provides opportunities for both K-12 and community education. Finally, the project will enhance undergraduate education in ecology through the development of new inquiry-based laboratory activities.