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Shortgrass Steppe-Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/195549
These digital collections contain materials related to the SGS-LTER research site, established in 1980 by researchers at Colorado State University as part of a network of long-term research sites within the US LTER Network, supported by the National Science Foundation. Scientists within the Natural Resource Ecology Lab, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Biology Department at CSU, California State Fullerton, USDA Agricultural Research Service, University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Wyoming, among others, have contributed to our understanding of the structure and functions of the shortgrass steppe and other diverse ecosystems across the network while maintaining a common mission and sharing expertise, data and infrastructure.

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Browsing Shortgrass Steppe-Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) by Subject "arthropods"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Arthropod diversity and abundance on a suburban remnant of the Shortgrass Steppe
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2005) Hartley, Laurel, author; SGS-LTER, Colorado State University, publisher
    Arthropod censuses are recorded on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research site and Pawnee National Grasslands as a part of long term ecological monitoring. As the front range becomes developed, remnants of the shortgrass steppe become surrounded by human habitation. Subsequently there are increased efforts to control "pest" insect species, an increase in water availability, changes in insect food sources, and changes in predator species. These environmental changes are likely to affect arthropod communities. Long term monitoring of arthropod communities on a remnant shortgrass steppe enclosed by development may provide baseline data useful for local agencies creating management plans for natural areas along the front range.
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    Arthropod studies on the Shortgrass Steppe LTER: past, present and future
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2000) Hartley, Laurel M., author; Kaplan, Nicole E., author; Lindquist, Mark D., author; Stapp, Paul, author; SGS-LTER, Colorado State University, publisher
    Arthropods play important roles in the ecology of shortgrass steppe as consumers, prey and detritivores. Here we describe past, ongoing, and future studies of arthropods conducted as part of the Shortgrass Steppe (SGS) LTER project in north-central Colorado. Our goals are to increase awareness of our arthropod research and existing datasets, and to identify opportunities for collaboration and cross-site comparisons with LTER researchers. Arthropods have been the focus of much short-term comparative and experimental research on the site, but we know of only two long-term studies. Since 1995, insects and spiders have been sampled monthly during summer (May- September) in live pitfall traps along a 1-km transect spanning a representative topographical gradient (catena). This project continues research conducted by other SGS-LTER scientists from 1990-1994 to investigate spatial dynamics of darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) populations. A second project initiated in 1998 involves monthly summer sampling of macroarthropods in small pitfall grids in grassland and saltbush vegetation. This study was implemented to track changes in relative abundance of arthropod prey, and grids are located on trapping webs used for rodent population studies. In addition, we maintain on-site a small but growing reference collection of representative arthropods, which is mostly used to train field assistants and support other research projects. Poster presented at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting held in Snowbird, Utah.
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    SGS-LTER live arthropod pitfall trapping across a double catena on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1995-1998
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 1995-1998) Stapp, Paul
    This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Repository (http://hdl.handle.net/10217/100254). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection.
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    SGS-LTER long-term monitoring project: arthropod pitfall trapping on small mammal trapping webs on the Central Plains Experimental Range, Nunn, Colorado, USA 1998-2006, ARS study number 118
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 1998-2006) Stapp, Paul
    This data package was produced by researchers working on the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (SGS-LTER) Project, administered at Colorado State University. Long-term datasets and background information (proposals, reports, photographs, etc.) on the SGS-LTER project are contained in a comprehensive project collection within the Repository (http://hdl.handle.net/10217/100254). The data table and associated metadata document, which is generated in Ecological Metadata Language, may be available through other repositories serving the ecological research community and represent components of the larger SGS-LTER project collection. With the exception of heteromyids, eg kangaroo rats and pocket mice, most small rodents in shortgrass steppe are omnivorous. Depending on season, arthropods (insects and arachnids) make up 40-85% of the diet of grasshopper mice and thirteen-lined ground squirrels, the most widespread rodents in northern shortgrass steppe. Small mammals are among the most important predators of ground-dwelling macroarthropods and herbivorous insects provide a direct resource link between weather and plant production. Understanding temporal variability in the abundance of arthropods is central to determining the mechanisms that drive small rodent populations. At present, there are no long-term studies of arthropods in shortgrass steppe, despite the important role that these taxa play in grassland food webs. Beginning in 1998, we implemented field protocols to track changes in relative abundance of terrestrial macroarthropods in grassland and shrub-dominated habitats of shortgrass steppe. Sampling was conducted on the six trapping webs (three upland prairie, three lowland saltbush) where we studied rodent populations, and was conducted approximately monthly from May-September (4-5 sessions/year). Ground-dwelling macroarthropods were sampled on each web using pitfall traps, set in one four-by-five grid, with 10 m between traps. Traps consisted of plastic cups (90-mm diameter, 120 mm deep), including a plastic funnel (90-mm diameter), buried flush with the ground surface. Traps were shaded with wooden covers held in place with nails; traps could be closed when not operational by nailing the cover flush to the ground. Traps were usually open for 4 consecutive days (ie 80 trap-days) during a trapping session. On the 4th day, captured arthropods were removed from the traps, identified and released. All arthropods were identified to the ordinal level; beetles (Coleoptera), crickets (Orthoptera), true bugs (Hemiptera) and spiders were identified to the familial level; and a few taxa, eg tenebrionid beetles, were identified to species. We also recorded any reptiles and amphibians captured. The number of individuals of each taxa captured per 100 trap-days was used as an index of relative abundance, with adjustments made for traps that were flooded or disturbed by cattle or for changes to the number of days that traps were open (range 4-7 days). We sampled grasshoppers by counting the numbers flushed from 0.78-m2 circular plots (hoops) placed on each web. Hoops were set out on the day that pitfall traps were opened and were surveyed on the day that traps were closed. A technician used a wooden lath to flush and count all grasshoppers from each hoop. Grasshoppers were not identified to species. Surveys were conducted in 1998, then were discontinued until 2002. In 1998 and from 2002-2005, nine hoops were sampled on each web. Beginning in 2006, we sampled a total of 20 hoops on each web.