Shortgrass Steppe LTER VI: Examining Ecosystem Persistence and Responses to Global Change

短草草原（SGS）于1982年作为LTER项目启动，并调查了气候，自然地理，放牧，火灾和土地利用对短草生态系统的结构，功能和动态的影响。这项研究有助于预测草地生态系统对持续环境变化的脆弱性，通过整合实验和观测研究，为预测半干旱草地对变化条件的响应提供了机制基础。该项目有助于了解短草草原生态区的结构，功能和动态，因为它变得越来越强烈地影响不断变化的土地利用和人口。 它汇集、整合和提供关于气候、生物、生态、水文、地球化学、自然地理和扰动的宝贵和独特的长期数据集。该项目有助于改善半干旱生态系统的管理，具有广泛的社会价值。其更广泛的价值还包括广泛的研究为基础的培训，教育计划的发展，和公共宣传计划。

The Short-Grass Steppe (SGS) was initiated as an LTER project in 1982 and has investigated the influences of climate, physiography, grazing, fire, and land-use on the structure, function, and dynamics of short-grass ecosystems. This research facilitates prediction of vulnerability of grassland ecosystems to on-going environmental change, through integration of experimental and observational studies to provide a mechanistic basis for forecasting the responses of semi-arid grasslands to changing conditions. This project contributes to understanding of the structure, function, and dynamics of the short-grass steppe ecoregion as it becomes ever more strongly influenced by changing land use and population. It assembles, integrates, and makes available valuable and unique long-term data sets on climate, biology, ecology, hydrology, biogeochemistry, physiography, and disturbances. The project has broad societal value through its contributions to improved management of semi-arid ecosystems. Its broader values also include extensive research-based training, educational program development, and public outreach programs.