@article {KNZ00179, title = {Hydrologic and riparian influences on the import and storage of coarse particulate organic matter in a prairie stream}, journal = {Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science}, volume = {45}, year = {1988}, pages = {655 -665}, abstract = {

The hydrologic regime and zonation of riparian vegetation influenced the quantity and quality of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM; greater than 1 mm) stored in the channel and upper bank of a prairie stream. In a 5.4 km intermittent reach of the South Branch of Kings Creek on Konza Prairie, Kansas, total annual import was lowest in headwater reaches and increased downstream. Total storage of benthic CPOM in the dry channel on the bank before the flow period was highest in the fourth- and fifth-order gallery forest zone (999 g ash-free dry mass.m-2) and less in upstream reaches (320-341 g.m-2). These longitudinal patterns of CPOM annual import and storage (before the flow period) were opposite those predicted by the river continuum concept for streams draining forested regions. Following flow, headwater channels had more CPOM (291 g.m-2) than downstream reaches. On the bank, storage was always highest in downstream reaches. Composition of CPOM both in the channel and on the bank varied with changes in riparian vegetation; grass tissues dominated in headwater channels, while wood and leaves of trees and shrubs were more abundant downstream. During the flow period, storage of CPOM increased only in headwater channels, where retention was high despite the lack of woody debris. In this intermittent prairie stream, benthic CPOM may not contribute consistently to the terrestrial/aquatic linkages that are suggested in the river continuum concept because of (1) a paucity of large CPOM sources (e.g. trees, shrubs) in the upper reaches and (2) a hydrologic regime that reduces the amount , as well as the predictability, of stored CPOM. The biota of prairie streams must have opportunistic food gathering and reproductive strategies to take advantage of variable food resources in a flow environment that is itself very unpredictable

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, gallery forest}, doi = {10.1139/f88-079}, author = {Gurtz, M.E. and Marzolf, G.R. and Killingbeck, K.T. and Smith, D.L. and McArthur, J.V.} } @article {KNZ00178, title = {Hydrologic influences on leaf decomposition in a channel and adjacent bank of a gallery forest stream}, journal = {The American Midland Naturalist}, volume = {120}, year = {1988}, pages = {11 -21}, abstract = {

Hydrologic extremes of flooding and drought typically occur each year in prairie streams. Two experiments were conducted in a fifth- order, gallery forest reach of King\&$\#$39;s Creek, Kansas, to assess the effect of hydrologic conditions on decomposition of leaves in the stream channel and on the adjacent floodplain. Temporal patterns of weight loss were examined in the first experiment. Leaves of bur oak and hackberry decomposed more rapidly in the channel than on the adjacent bank. A sharp drop in percent remaining for hackberry in the 2nd month (mid- December to mid-January) coincided with a period of high shredder densities on hackberry leaves. On the bank, decomposition of hackberry leaves was fastest during intervals that included one or more inundations of the leaf packs. Bur oak leaves decomposed more slowly than hackberry leaves and were influenced less by the hydrologic history. In the second experiment, spatial variation in decomposition rate of hackberry leaves was examined by placing 20 pairs of leaf packs in a transect extending from the center of the stream channel on the top of the upper bank. Position on the transect affected the frequency and duration of inundations on the floodplain, which ranged from one (minimum of 0.2 hr) to 17 times (272 cumulative hr under water), while three pairs of packs in the channel were always under water. The logarithm of percent remaining after 274 days was significantly correlated with number of hours inundated and number of times inundated, although other factors such as soil moisture or amount of flood-deposited silt may have influenced differences in decomposition rates along the transect. We concluded that flood frequency, during and timing affected both spatial and temporal patterns of decomposition, especially of a fast-decomposing species, in the riparian forest of an intermittent prairie stream

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, gallery forest}, doi = {10.2307/2425882}, author = {Gurtz, M.E. and Tate, C.M.} } @article {KNZ00129, title = {Comparison of mass loss, nutrients, and invertebrates associated with elm leaf litter decomposition in perennial and intermittent reaches of tallgrass prairie streams}, journal = {The Southwestern Naturalist}, volume = {31}, year = {1986}, pages = {511 -520}, abstract = {

Decay rates, nutrient content and invertebrates associated with American elm leaves were examined in an intermittent and a perennial stream draining adjacent tallgrass prairie watersheds (Konza Prairie, Kansas). Both streams were flowing in November 1981 when leaf packs were placed in the channel. Elm leaves decayed faster in the perennial stream than in either of two intermittent sites. Decay rates were not different between the two intermittent sites. There were no significant differences among sites in either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) concentrations or carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios in elm leaves. N concentrations of the leaves increased during decomposition whereas P decreased in concentration for the first two months and then increased; C:N ratios in elm leaves decreased during decomposition. Initial leaching of leaves may provide a nutrient input into prairie streams; but decomposing leaf material may also act as a nutrient sink and compete with other ecosystem processes. Shredder insects were low in abundance or absent from leaf packs

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, doi = {10.2307/3671705}, author = {Tate, C.M. and Gurtz, M.E.} } @inbook {KNZ00113, title = {Development of research data management system: factors to consider}, booktitle = {Research Data Management in the Ecological Science}, year = {1986}, pages = {23 -38}, publisher = {University of South Carolina Press, Belle Baruch Marine Library No. 16}, organization = {University of South Carolina Press, Belle Baruch Marine Library No. 16}, address = {Columbia, SC}, abstract = {

Ecological research sites share some common goals with respect to research data management (RDM). Minimum requirements, regardless of the size of the database or other site-organization and documentation of data sets, and development of procedures for data entry, quality assurance, archival, maintenance, and administration. The RDM budget must balance expenses among personnel, hardware and software, storage, and data exchange. Characteristics of the research program that influence these choices include the purpose of the data collection, the form of the data, size, and complexity of the database, type of analyses planned, dynamics of the database, number and expertise of investigators, and the need for network capabilities. Experiences in RDM at Konza Prairie support the idea that the data manager plays a key role and should be trained in the field of research. The RDM system should be institutionalized so that it can continue after the original staff is gone

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ}, author = {Gurtz, M.E.}, editor = {Michener, W.K.} } @proceedings {KNZ0094, title = {The interaction of biological and hydrologic phenomena that mediate the quality of water draining native prairie on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area}, journal = {Perspectives on Nonpoint Source Pollution}, year = {1985}, pages = {478 -482}, publisher = {U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency}, address = {Washington DC}, abstract = {

The quality of water from native landscapes in the baseline against which the impact of pollutants on surface water resources must be evaluated. The King\&$\#$39;s Creek watershed has been a U.S. Geological Survey benchmark watershed since 1979. It represents the landscape type tyat gave rise to much of the agricultural midwestern United States. Hydrologic, chemical, and biological measurements have been made by ecologists performing long-term ecological research (LTER) in tallgrass prairie. Streamwater chemistry varies seasonally with the amount and movement of groundwater and soil water, with changes in prairie vegetation, and in response to changes in surface water discharge. Concentrations of organic carbon, organ and inorganic nitrogen, and phosphorus increase during storm flows. The particulate fractions in transport and in storage in the stream bed and on the flood plain vary seasonally with recent hydrologic history and changes in vegetation

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {McArthur, J.V. and Gurtz, M.E. and Tate, C.M. and Gilliam, F.S.} } @article {KNZ00101, title = {Long-term research in stream ecology}, journal = {Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {66}, year = {1985}, pages = {346 -353}, abstract = {

Many ecological phenomena occur on time scales of decades or centuries, and the need for long-term ecological research was recently emphasized in Likens\&$\#$39; presidential address to the Ecological Society. In the past it has been difficult to investigate these phenomena with financial support from funding agencies. However, in 1980 the National Science Foundation established the Long-Term Ecological Research Program (LTER). LTER-sponsored studies are now underway in 11 sites representing different ecosystem types. The purpose of this article is to describe briefly the general characteristics of each site involved with stream ecology and to summarize the nature and objectives of stream research at these sites

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, ecology, stream}, doi = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/20166454}, author = {Webster, J.R. and Blood, E.R. and Gregory, S.V. and Gurtz, M.E. and Sparks, R.E. and Thurman, E.M.} } @inbook {KNZ0092, title = {Watershed research at Konza-tallgrass prairie}, booktitle = {Hydraulics and Hydrology in the Small Computer Age Vol.1}, year = {1985}, pages = {862 -867}, publisher = {American Society of Civil Engineers}, organization = {American Society of Civil Engineers}, address = {New York, NY}, abstract = {

The Konza Prairie Research Natural Area is the only tallgrass prairie site in the network of Long-Term Ecological Research sites. Watershed research at Konza is designed to assist in increasing the understanding of water and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem and evaluating the role of fire and grazing on the maintenance of the ecosystem. Brief descriptions of the hydrology, instrumentation, and short- term results are presented

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, tallgrass prairie}, author = {Koelliker, J.K. and Gurtz, M.E. and Marzolf, G.R.}, editor = {Waldrop, W.R.} } @article {KNZ0030, title = {Organic matter loading and processing in a pristine stream draining a tallgrass prairie/riparian forest watershed}, journal = {Kansas Water Resources Research Institute Contribution No}, volume = {230}, year = {1982}, pages = {1 -78}, abstract = {

The means by which organic matter enters and leaves streams and the rates at which it does so are significant determinants of water quality. This report documents the import, storage, decomposition, and export of organic matter in a prairie stream from natural sources in a watershed on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area that contains no human activity other than ecological research. This prairie stream has features that differ from streams in forested watersheds. During this one-year study, the headwater channels were ephemeral and drained watersheds vegetated by grasses rather than trees. They received less organic matter from the watershed but retained a larger fraction of it. Intermittent third and fourth order channels flowed through riparian gallery forest in the lower portions of the watershed and received more organic matter than headwater channels. They retained less of it during the period of flow (i.e., more was exported during storm flows) so in situ decomposition was reduced. These exports represent pulses of organic matter loading downstream

}, keywords = {LTER-KNZ, organic matter, prairie, stream, tallgrass}, author = {Gurtz, M.E. and Marzolf, G.R. and Killingbeck, K.T. and Smith, D.L. and McArthur, J.V.} }