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物种组成的重要驱动力。 尽管它们在草原中的重要性和普遍性，相当大的不确定性仍然存在关于哺乳动物草食动物在草原生态系统中的相互作用的影响。该项目将利用现有的长期草原恢复与不同年龄的网站，以检查三个主要的草食动物物种-鹿，兔子和田鼠-对植物群落组成和土壤碳和养分循环的速率的相互作用。 将在不同年龄的草原上建立草食动物围栏，以确定草食动物的影响如何随着时间的推移而变化。这项工作将提高我们对草食动物在恢复草原生态系统中的作用的理解。 草原生态系统的重建很少考虑到食草动物的重要性，因此该项目对草原生态系统的管理和恢复具有重要意义。 这项研究将整合研究，推广和教育与本科生，K-12学生和社区。 该项目将从代表性不足的群体中招募学生，为本科生提供夏季研究机会。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以探究为基础的实验室活动来加强生态学本科教育。

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.