Research Data Sets: Floral Dynamics
Grasses, shrubs, forbs, and succulents are the major components of the vegetation structure of the SGS. Because of its overwhelming importance to cover and biomass, our past plant population work has focused heavily on the grass B. gracilis (blue grama). Associated with our long-term study of blue grama population dynamics, we also collect data on other species in the same permanent quadrats. We are proposing to initiate long-term studies of population dynamics of Opuntia polyacantha (prickly-pear cactus). Although this species comprises a relatively small proportion of biomass or NPP, its growth form and the consequent protection afforded to other species may have a large effect on ecosystem dynamics under cattle grazing (Bayless 1996). Ecosystems in the SGS have, to date, been little affected by invasive plants (Kotanen et al. 1998, Hazlett 1998). Given the rate at which plant material is being introduced to new habitats (Mooney and Hobbs 2000), there is a strong likelihood that plants that are pre-adapted to SGS will eventually arrive. We are proposing to start long-term sampling specifically to detect the introduction of potential invasive plant species as part of our research. Below, we describe our long-term experiments, simulation modeling, and proposed new work. Our work is organized under six hypotheses (P1 – P6).
Data Sets related to Floral Dynamics
- 1983-2007 Annual Aboveground Net Primary Production
- BOGR Removal Experiment Data: Density
- BOGR Removal Experiment Data: Point of Intercept
- Aboveground NPP on and off US Forest Service Burns
- Nitrogen content of aboveground biomass on and off US Forest Service Burns
- Monthly Nitrogen content of aboveground biomass on and off US Forest Service Burns
- Long Term Nitrogen Harvest
- Long Term Nitrogen Concentration in LTNPP Monitoring
- Effects of water and nitrogen additions to shortgrass ecosystems
- Effects of nitrogen availability on the growth of native grasses and exotic weeds: Plant density
