long-term Research Projects

We study the ecological impact of global environmental change on grassland ecosystems

Monsoon Rainfall Manipulation Experiment (MRME)

MRME (started in 2006) is located in black grama grassland and addresses two key ecological theories about the structure and functioning of dryland ecosystems: pulse dynamics and the bucket model.

Drought and delayed monsoon experiments (EDGE)

Drought and Delayed Monsoon experiments (EDGE: started in 2012) are located in both blue grama and black grama grassland. In one experiment we are monitoring recovery from seven years of extreme, experimental drought. In another we are investigating the effects of a two month delay in the start of the summer monsoon. This work is part of a larger international collaboration including EDGE sites in the US and China.

Fire and grazing impacts on savanna grasslands

The Konza-Kruger savanna grassland experiment started in 2005 to assess the effects of fire, grazing and climate variability on savanna grasslands in North America and South Africa

Other projects include long-term ecological dynamics in desert grassland as part of the Sevilleta LTER Program, in tallgrass prairie in collaboration with the Konza Prairie LTER Program, and in Sonoran Desert winter annual communities with the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER Program.

For a complete list of publications go to Google Scholar:
scholar.google.com/citations?user=qCMFRpoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

Fire, Grazing and climate interactions

Konza Prairie LTER

Nutrient addition effects on Sonoran desert annual plant communities

Central Arizona Phoenix LTER