01742nas a2200169 4500008004100000245006300041210006300104260009000167300001100257520114600268653000901414653001201423100001601435700001801451700001701469856008601486 1986 eng d00aBirds wintering on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area0 aBirds wintering on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area aFargo, ND,bNorth Dakota State University: Tri-College Center for Environmental Study a91 -943 a

Wintering birds were censused along 16 permanent transects (13 in prairie and 3 in gallery forest) that were established within the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area (KPRNA) 10 km south of Manahttan, Kansas. Each transect was censused once in the first two weeks of January during 1982-1984. The prairie transects were either burned or unburned the previous spring and ungranzed by large herbivores for at least six years. Significantly more individuals per km and more species were observed in the gallery forest than in the prairie. The red headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) was the most abundant species during 1982 and 1984 in the gallery forest, while black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) was the most abundant in 1983. The abundance of red-headed woodpecker was negatively correlated with the abundance of red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), but not correlated with blue jay (Cyanocitia cristaia) abundance. Red-bellied woodpecker abundance was not correlated with blue jay abundance. American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea) was the most abundant species in the prairie during all three winters

10abird10aprairie1 aFinck, E.J.1 aClambey, G.K.1 aPemble, R.H. uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/birds-wintering-konza-prairie-research-natural-area01936nas a2200181 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132260008900201300001200290520123000302653002201532100001901554700001601573700001901589700001801608700001701626856011101643 1986 eng d00aEffects of vegetation, burning and mowing on soil macroarthropods of tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of vegetation burning and mowing on soil macroarthropods aFargo, NDbNorth Dakota State University: Tri-College Center for Environmental Study a99 -1023 a

Tallgrass prairie was burned annually, mowed and raked three times yearly, or left undisturbed for two years, and soil anthropods were censused after the first and second years of treatment. Total arthropod densities increased from about 75 individuals/m2 to 132 individuals /m2 and arthropod biomass increased from about 24 kg/ha to 43 kg/ha from November 1981 to March 1983. These increases were associated with increased productivity of prairie vegetation during the initial year of the study. Annual burning resulted in increased biomass of root xylem feeders (cicada nymphs), mowing and raking resulted in increased biomass of root chewing insects (white grubs). Smaller herivores (mostly chrysomelid larvae), predaceous beetle larvae and insect detritivores were most abundant on unburned plots. Overall, arthropod biomass was highest on burned plots; however, densities of arthropods were not significantly different among treatments. Of the arthropods found to be abundant in tallgrass prairie soil, only the white grubs are known to adversely affect plant productivity. Results from this study suggest that drought or land use practices that stress the vegetation will increase densities of these pest insects

10atallgrass prairie1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aHayes, D.C.1 aPetersen, N.J.1 aClambey, G.K.1 aPemble, R.H. uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/effects-vegetation-burning-and-mowing-soil-macroarthropods-tallgrass-prairie01576nas a2200157 4500008004100000245003800041210003800079260008900117300001300206520105900219653002201278100001801300700001801318700001701336856006501353 1986 eng d00aFire effects on tallgrass prairie0 aFire effects on tallgrass prairie aFargo, NDbNorth Dakota State University: Tri-College Center for Environmental Study a138 -1423 a

Fire has been an important natural part of tallgrass prairie ecosystems, started by both lightning and American Indians. Production of vegetation on burned areas can be double that on unburned, unmowed, and ungrazed areas where the old standing dead vegetation is deep. Burning stimulates earlier plant development than on unburned areas. In tallgrass prairie, burning stimulates flowering of warm-season grasses and increases stem density. Late spring burning results in fewer forbs but greater grass production than fall or early spring burning. Up to at least six years, above ground biomass is positively related to the number of years between burning. In Kansas, at least, burning is effective in keeping out exotic plants where the prairie grasses are vigorous. The few studies of fire effects consistently indicate that neither the ash left from burning nor heat form fires affects production. Warming of the increased growth resulting form burning. The increased light for new growth by removal of the old plants seems to be more important

10atallgrass prairie1 aHulbert, L.C.1 aClambey, G.K.1 aPemble, R.H. uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/fire-effects-tallgrass-prairie