Life Sciences Commons^™

Prairie Enhancement Of Non-Native Cool-Season Grass Stands, Justin Meissen

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Tallgrass Prairie Center News, Autumn 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Tallgrass Prairie Center Newsletter

Inside This Issue:
--Into the Weeds: The Pollinator Habitat Evaluation Project
--New Equipment for Field, Lab, and Classroom at the Tallgrass Prairie Center
--Coming Soon: Four Sensational Seminars
--Enhancing Roadsides With Milkweeds and Other Prairie Species: Can We Do it Cost-effectively?
--New Brochures Address Common Questions about Roadside Vegetation

Tracing Ancient Healing Practices Through The Hibiscus, Lyn Tackett

McNair Scholars Program Summer Research Symposium

Abstract: By studying traditional healing practices, we can provide new information that may help solve archaeological mysteries as well as offer new perspectives to modern medicine. For example, Hibiscus tea has long been in use throughout Africa and Asia, yet little research has been done into the origins of this medicine and whether early cultures traded that information. Trichomes and plant morphology of three species of Hibiscus native to Africa, China and India ( Hibiscus sabdariffa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and Hibiscus syriacus) were studied using microscopy. The results were compared to known medicinal claims and ancient documents including trade maps and …

Assessing Productivity In Prairie Biomass Feedstocks With Different Levels Of Diversity, Alyssa Williams, Mark E. Sherrard

Research in the Capitol

High-diversity mixtures of tallgrass prairie vegetation provide many ecosystem services and could be effective biomass feedstocks for marginal farmland in Iowa. In this study, we measured productivity in four prairie biomass feedstocks with different diversity: 1, 5, 16, and 32 species. Each feedstock was replicated four times on three soil types (48 research plots, 0.33 – 0.56 ha each). For the past seven years, we have monitored productivity in these feedstocks by harvesting tissue from randomly selected quadrats. In addition to continuing the productivity survey, we examined the efficacy of remote sensing (NDVI) and leaf area index (LAI) imaging for …

Tallgrass Prairie Center: Factors Affecting Cirsium Arvense Density In Eastern Iowa Conservation Reserve Program Fields, Esther Edgerton, Laura Jackson

UNI Conservation Corps Projects

Results of an investigation into the Canada thistle density in prairie restorations.

Tallgrass Prairie Center: Effects Of Planting Time And Grass-Forb Seeding Ration On Establishment In Crp Pollinator Habitat, Kylie Jonas, Laura L. Jackson

UNI Conservation Corps Projects

Results of an investigation on the creation of habitat for insect pollinators in eastern Iowa.

Developmental Analysis Of Leea Guineensis (Leeaceae), Sally Gray

Honors Program Theses

Vitaceae is the grape family of flowering plants that is composed of twelve genera of woody plants (Jones et al., 2013). Vitis has been studied extensively for the commercial value of the fruit in the wine and grape production. However, not a lot of research has been done specifically on its basic biology such as leaf development within the family.

Understanding the basic biology of the plant can help with understanding its growth habit and help with improving the overall health of the plant. For example, analyzing flowers and leaves is a good way to draw inferences about developmental similarities …

Tallgrass Prairie Center: Soil Legacy Effects Of Prairie Biomass Feedstocks With Different Diversity, Alec Glidden, Mark Sherrard

UNI Conservation Corps Projects

An investigation into the use of native prairie vegetation as biomass feedstock for marginal farmland.

Prairie Roadshow, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Students turn a school hallway into a prairie roadside, while learning about the important services provided by prairie roots.

Routes For Infiltration, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Students become a carbon atom and experience the movements of carbon through the environment, including its time sequestered in prairie roots.

Roots - Why So Fine?, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Using root models made of commonly available materials, students explore how the size of roots affects their ability to exchange materials with soil.

Battleship Roots, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Pairs of students play a battleship-style game to show how roots explore the soil to obtain resources.

Root Community, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Pairs of students play a battleship-style game to show how roots explore the soil to obtain resources.

Root Kerplunk, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

With the help of jumps ropes and nerf balls, students explore two ecosystem services provided by prairie roots: nutrient reduction and invasive weed control.

Muddy Waters, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

With the help of jumps ropes and nerf balls, students explore two ecosystem services provided by prairie roots: nutrient reduction and invasive weed control.

Incredible Carbon Journey, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Students become a carbon atom and experience the movements of carbon through the environment, including its time sequestered in prairie roots.

School Of Roots, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Students learn about ecosystem services provided by prairie roots by matching them to services provided by various components of a school.

Regime Shifts And Panarchies In Regional Scale Social-Ecological Water Systems, Lance Gunderson, Barbara A. Cosens, Brian C. Chaffin, Craig A. (Tony) Arnold, Alexander K. Fremier, Ahjond S. Garmestani, Robin Kundis Craig, Hannah Gosnell, Hannah E. Birge, Craig R. Allen, Melinda H. Benson, Ryan R. Morrison, Mark C. Stone, Joseph A. Hamm, Kristine Nemec, Edella Schlager, Dagmar Llewellyn

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

In this article we summarize histories of nonlinear, complex interactions among societal, legal, and ecosystem dynamics in six North American water basins, as they respond to changing climate. These case studies were chosen to explore the conditions for emergence of adaptive governance in heavily regulated and developed social-ecological systems nested within a hierarchical governmental system. We summarize resilience assessments conducted in each system to provide a synthesis and reference by the other articles in this special feature. We also present a general framework used to evaluate the interactions between society and ecosystem regimes and the governance regimes chosen to mediate …

Linking Nutrient Reduction Practices With Biomass Energy, Eric Giddens, Laura Jackson, Kamyar Enshayan

Tallgrass Prairie Publications and Reports

No abstract provided.

Tallgrass Prairie Center: The Weeds Of Crp Polinator Habitat, Molly A. Langhenry, Mark E. Sherrard

UNI Conservation Corps Projects

An investigation of weed species and their impact on pollinator habitat.

Tallgrass Prairie Center: A Floral Resource Index To Assess Pollinator Habitat Quality In Eastern Iowa Prairies, Gabrielle Brown, Laura L. Jackson

UNI Conservation Corps Projects

Report of an investigation on the impact of biodiversity on the habitat for native pollinators and European honey bees.