REU Site: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of a Temperate Grassland

堪萨斯州立大学（KSU）的REU网站上的温带草原生态学和进化生物学每年夏天提供8名本科生一个令人兴奋的机会，进行独立的，基于实地的研究项目，在保护生物学和生态学的主题。为期10周的课程有三个组成部分，有助于本科生参与者的专业发展：i）每周一次的研究研讨会，教育学生有关草原生态系统的保护问题，ii）一个独立的研究项目，培养学生在现场方法和实验设计，iii）一个研究研讨会，培养学生的演讲技巧。这个REU站点的研究活动集中在Konza Prairie生物站，一个3487公顷的高草草原保护区。Konza Prairie是长期生态研究（LTER）计划的关键研究地点，并因保护独特的生物资源而受到国际认可，包括保护物种。该网站被细分为60个实验单位，不同的放牧（本地野牛或国内牛）和火灾处理（每年到20年）。该REU网站的其他资源包括使用大学设施，一系列用于专业生态研究的实验室和现场设备，以及从经验丰富的研究科学家中挑选的导师，他们是保护和草原生态学领域的领导者。REU网站与LTER计划的整合使学生能够参与新的和正在进行的实地实验，并利用长期数据集为夏季项目提供背景。该计划的主题强调生态知识的应用，以保护高草草原的生物群，并努力预测不断变化的土地利用模式，入侵物种和全球变化对经济价值的草原的影响。这个REU网站欢迎来自代表性不足的群体（少数民族，第一代或非传统）的学生的申请，以及研究机会可能有限的较小学院的学生。请有意申请者从计划协调员（Gail Wilson，PH：785-532-2892，EM：gwtw@ksu.edu）或访问计划网站（http：//www.ksu.edu/bsanderc/reu）获取更多信息和申请表。

The Kansas State University's (KSU) REU Site on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of a Temperate Grassland provides 8 undergraduate students each summer an exciting opportunity to conduct independent, field-based research projects on topics in conservation biology and ecology. The 10-week program has three components that contribute to the professional development of undergraduate participants: i) a weekly research seminar that educates students about the conservation issues related to grassland ecosystems, ii) an independent research project that trains students in field methods and experimental design, and iii) a research symposium that develops student presentation skills. Research activities of this REU Site are centered on the Konza Prairie Biological Station, a 3487 ha tallgrass prairie preserve. Konza Prairie is a key research site in the Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Program and is internationally recognized for preserving unique biological resources, including species of conservation concern. The site is subdivided into 60 experimental units with different grazing (native bison or domestic cattle) and fire treatments (annual to 20 years). Additional resources for this REU site includes access to university facilities, a range of laboratory and field equipment for specialized ecological research, and mentors selected from a pool of experienced research scientists who are leaders in the fields of conservation and grassland ecology. Integration of the REU Site with the LTER program allows students to participate in new and ongoing field experiments and to utilize long-term data sets that provide context for summer projects. The theme of the program emphasizes applications of ecological knowledge to the preservation of the biota of the tallgrass prairie, and efforts that predict the effects of changing land-use patterns, invasive species and global change on economically valuable grasslands. This REU site welcomes applications from students of underrepresented groups (minority, first-generation or non-traditional), and students at smaller colleges where research opportunities may be limited. Prospective applicants are invited to obtain further information and application forms from the Program Coordinator (Gail Wilson, PH: 785-532-2892, EM: gwtw@ksu.edu) or by visiting the program website (http://www.ksu.edu/bsanderc/reu).