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Kansas Biotic Succession Facility - LTSE

Location:
Kansas University Field Station and Ecological Reserves
Lawrence
United States
Latitude: 39.050000
Longitude: -95.183300
Background
Continent: 
North America
Website: 
Kansas Biological Survey; see link to Kansas Applied Remote Sensing program for additional website containing remote sensing data of the site
Year LTSE Began: 
1984
On-going or Terminated?: 
On-going but no long-term endowment
Comments: 
See: Yao J, Holt D, Rich M et al (1999) Woody plant colonization in an experimentally fragmented landscape. Ecology 22:715-728 and Billings, S., Gaydess, E. 2008. Soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics in a fragmented landscape experiencing forest succession. Landscape Ecology 23:581-593 for complete site descriptions. The site consists of an abandoned agricultural field, permitted to undergo forest succession since 1984 in statistically replicated patches of various sizes (4X8 m, 12X24 m, 50X100 m). Patch interspace consists of a mixture of native and introduced grasses (mixed C4 and C3), mowed annually. Initial studies examined the role of patch size and distance to seed source in determining successional trajectories. More recently, Billings has examined how carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the soil profile differ between patch sizes (as related to successional trajectory). Soils were sampled in 2003, 2004, and 2005 by Billings, and are archived in her lab. Soils were also sampled early in the study (Steve Hamburg at Brown University has those samples) and late 1990s (Bryan Foster at KU has those samples). Billings intends to continue sampling as long as the study continues. The site was formerly funded by the NSF LTREB program (Bob Holt and Bryan Foster) and by NSF EPSCoR (Billings); currently, it receives no funding. It is maintained by annual mowing by the Kansas Biological Survey.
Environment
Annual Precipitation (mm): 
800-1200
Is temperature regime isothermic? ie, do mean monthly temperatures deviate by <6C?: 
No
Is atmospheric deposition chemistry monitored?: 
Yes
Dominant plant species (latin genus and species): 
Bromus inermis (in interspaces), Cornus drummondii, Ulmus rubra, Juniperus virginiana
Landuse: 
Other
Experimental Design
Design (short description): 
See above. Plot size varies.
Soil Classification
soilorder: 
Mollisol
Soil/Data Archive
Data Archive: 
Yes
Vegetative samples archived: 
Yes
Soil solid samples archived: 
Yes
Samples from multiple depths: 
Yes
Sample frequency: 
>Every 5 years
Year of first sampling for archive: 
1980
Year of last sampling for archive: 
2005
Soil Solid Data
pH and acidity: 
Yes
Organic Carbon: 
Yes
Nitrogen: 
Yes
Other macronutrients: 
Yes
Micronutrients: 
No
Chemical Contaminents: 
No
Water holding capacity: 
Yes
Bulk Density: 
Yes
Mineralogy: 
No
Soil Gas Data
Surface Fluxes: 
Yes
Concentrations belowground: 
No
Vegetation Data
Biomass above ground: 
Yes
Biomass below ground: 
Yes
Macronutrient contents: 
Yes
Micronutrient contents: 
No
Harvest mass: 
No
Harvest nutrient contents: 
No