Research Experience for Undergraduates in Grassland Ecology at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area

Konza草原研究自然区/长期生态研究REU计划将在未来五年内每年为10名本科生提供研究高草草原生态学的机会。Konza草原研究自然区长期生态研究项目的重点是研究火灾和放牧对本地高草草原的影响。为了便于调查这些变量，流域Konza草原已被分配燃烧制度和本地和国内的食草动物已被引入到一些流域。KPRNA流域级的操作提供了一个独特的机会，草原生态学的许多方面的研究。目前，41名堪萨斯州立大学教师、32名访问科学家、29名研究生和15名本科生研究人员正在进行126个关于KPRNA的研究项目。关于KPRNA的REU项目将包括几个组成部分，包括一个独立的研究项目，草原生态学研讨会/讨论课程，研究伦理学和生态学课程，以及参加国家科学会议。每个REU学生将有一个教师导师，以及与居民研究生和研究助理接触。KPRNA REU学生将与其他本科生互动，他们每年夏天都被其他项目带到KSU，如物理系和夏季本科生研究机会项目，在其他科学学科进行研究。在夏季结束时，学生将口头介绍他们的研究成果，并准备出版的结果。将有一个由学生和教师参与该计划的年度评估，以确保该REU计划继续为所有参与者提供优质的体验。

The Konza Prairie Research Natural Area/Long-Term Ecological Research REU program will offer ten undergraduates per year, over the next five years, the opportunity to study tallgrass prairie ecology. The focus of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project on Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA) is the study of the impact of fire and grazing on native tallgrass prairie. To facilitate investigation of these variables, watersheds on Konza Prairie have been assigned burn regimes and native and domestic grazers have been introduced to some watersheds. The watershed-level manipulations on KPRNA offer a unique opportunity for the study of many aspects of prairie ecology. Currently, 41 Kansas State University faculty, 32 visiting scientists, 29 graduate students, and 15 undergraduate researchers are working on 126 research projects on KPRNA. The REU project on KPRNA will feature several components including an independent research project, a seminar/discussion course in grassland ecology, a course in research ethics and ecology, and a trip to a national scientific meeting. Each REU student will have a faculty mentor as well as contact with resident graduate students and research associates. KPRNA REU students will interact with other undergraduates, who are brought to KSU each summer by other programs such as the Physics Department and the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, to conduct research in other scientific disciplines. At the conclusion of the summer, students will make an oral presentation of their research results and prepare the results for publication. There will be a yearly assessment of the program by student and faculty participants in order to insure that the REU program continues to provide a quality experience for all participants.