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R e s e a r c h E d u c a t i o n C o n s e r v a t i o n

F A L L 2 0 1 9Sunday, Sept. 22 - Konquer the Konza Race 25k & 10k - Race Time: 7:30a - On-Site Packet Pickup: 6:00am – 7:15am RegistrationatManhattanrunningco.com

Sunday, Sept. 29 4:00 Annual FOKP Meeting ElectionofnewFOKPboardmembers OverviewofKPBSfromKPBSDirector OverviewofKEEPfromKEEPDirector IntroductionofnewKEEPdocents 5:00BBQ/Potluck-StoneHousePatio(membersareencouraged tobringafooditemandtheirownplates/silverware). Please RSVP at 587-0381 ifyouwantaburger 6:00BisonLoopTour-leavesfromStoneHousepatioareawith guide

Friday,Oct.4-Visions of the Flint Hills, AnnualArtBenefitOpeningReception VIP5-6pm,Public6-9pm ButtonwoodArtSpace3013MainSt., KansasCity,MOwww.ButtonwoodArtSpace.com

Since2015,theFriendsofKonzaPrairie(FOKP)haspart-neredwithButtonwoodArtSpaceinKansasCityforthe“VisionsoftheFlintHills”annualartshowbenefit.Allsalesofartworkaresplit50/50betweentheartistandFOKP.Over300originalworksofartaredisplayed. TheFirstFriday,onOct.4,2019at6-9pm,openingreceptionisattendedbyover500visitors,andprovidesahighenergyexperienceforthepublictoconnectwithartists,KonzaleadersandvolunteersandVIPguests.

pg. 2 Sept. 2019

KPBS DirectorDr. John Blair

Dear members of the Friends of Konza

I’mwritingthisafterreturningfromLouisville,Kentucky,whereIwasattendingtheannualmeetingoftheEcologicalSocietyofAmerica(ESA).Ithasbeen34yearssinceIattendedmyfirstESAmeetingasaPhDstudent,andI’vebeenthinkingabouthowthedisciplineandpracticeofecologyhavechanged.Therecontin-uetobesignificantadvancesinecologicalknowledgeandtheory,ofcourse,butwhatIfindmostnoteworthyistheincreasedfocusonclimatechangeandotheranthropo-genic(human-caused)environmentalchanges.Understandinghowpopulations,com-munities,andecosystemsrespondtoenvironmentalchangesiscriticalforsustainablymanagingandconservinggrasslandsandotherecosystemsinanever-changingworld.I’mhappytoreportthatKonzaPrairieresearchwaswellrepresentedattheconferencebyfacultyscientistsandgraduatestudentsfromK-Stateandbyscientistsandstudentsfromcollaboratinginstitutions.Konzaresearchcoveredmanytopics,including:● prairieresponsestoclimatevariabilityandclimatechange,● ecologicalconsequencesofalternativeprescribedfireregimes,● roleoffireandbisongrazingonsoilmicrobialcommunities,● impactsofwoodyplantencroachmentonsoilnutrientpoolsandprocesses,● long-termlegaciesofnitrogenenrichmentonnutrientcycling,and● grasslandrestorationecology.IcanalsoreportthatplanningiswellunderwayforthenextphaseoftheKonzaPrairieLong-TermEcologicalResearch(LTER)project.TheKonzaPrairieLTERprojectisfundedbytheUSNationalScienceFoundationandprovidesessentialsupportformuchoftheecologicalresearchdoneatKonza.TheKonzaLTERprojectwasfirstfundedin1980andmustberenewedeverysixyearsthroughacompetitivepeer-reviewprocess.OurnextKonzaLTERrenewal,dueinMarch2020,isbeingledbyKSUbiologyprofessorJesseNippertincollaborationwithnumerousfacultymembers.AmongthenewresearchactivitiesproposedforLTERVIIIareastudyofhowwoodyplantexpansionrespondstoclimatechangeandanewexperimentthataimstounderstandhowherbivoresofdif-ferentsizes(frominsectstobison)affectplantandsoilprocessesintheprairie. FundingfromtheLTERprogramalsowillcontinuetoprovideresearchexperi-encesandtrainingfornumerousundergraduateandgraduatestudentsandprovidepartialfundingfortheK-12KonzaSchoolyardLTERprogram. InMay,welaunchedanewactivityforFOKPmemberscalled“HikewithRe-searchers.”Thisrecurringeventincludesone-hour,easyhikeswithKonzafacultyandgraduatestudentresearcherswhoshareinformationaboutprairieecologyandongoingresearchattheKonza.Theinauguralhike,ledbymyselfandgraduatestudentCaitlinBroderick,focusedontheBelowgroundPlotExperimentandthelong-termIrrigationTransectclimatechangeexperiment.Lookforannouncementsaboutfuturehikesfea-turingdifferentresearchersandprojects. Finally,Iwanttoprovideanupdateonrecentfacultychanges.DavidHartnett,aplantecologist,KSUuniversitydistinguishedprofessor,andformerKonzaPrairiedirec-tor,recentlyretired.DuringhistimeasKonzadirector,DaveoversawsubstantialgrowthinboththefacilitiesandtheresearchactivitiesatKonza.WeareexcitedthattheDivi-sionofBiologywillsoonbejoinedbyAllisonLouthanandZakRatajczak,bothofwhomwillconductresearchonKonza. Inclosing,Iwouldliketothankeachofyouforyourcontinuedsupport.Yourmembershipsupportstheresearch,educationandconservationmissionofKonza,andhelpsraiseawarenessoftheinherentvalueoftallgrassprairiesandtheneedtoconservethemforfuturegenerations.Asalways,pleasecontactme(jblair@ksu.edu; 785-532-7065)ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsaboutKonzaaswecontinuetodevelopasoneofthefinestbiologicalfieldstationsintheworld. John

ThisnewslettermarksthestartofmysecondyearasDirectoroftheKonzaPrairieBiologicalStation.Ithasbeenabusyfirstyearandabitofalearningcurveforme(!),butalothashappenedthatwillcontributetothecontinuedsuccessandgrowthofKonza. Wemadeseveralimprove-mentstosupporttheresearchandconservationmissionsofthestation.Modificationstothebisoncorralwerecompletedpriortofallroundup,whichgreatlyimprovedourabilitytohandlethebisonefficientlyandwithlessstress.Wecontinuetomakeprogressin replacing and upgrading the 11.5-milebisonperimeterfenceandaddingnewaccesspointstoimprovethesafetyofresearchersworkinginthebisonarea. WithfundingfromtheUSFishandWildlifeprogram,wecompletedwoodyplantremovalfromalargeareaofwatershedK20AandpartsofWhitePasture,whichwillimprovehabitatqualityforgrasslandspecies.Wealsoremovedaconcretestreamcrossingthatactedasabarriertofishmove-mentonKingsCreekandaremonitor-ingtherecoveryofthenaturalstreamcourseandthemovementoffishupstreamastheyrecolonizeareasthatdriedoutduringthedroughtof2018.Finally,webegantheprocessofreroof-ingalloftheheadquarters’buildings,startingthisfallwiththehistoricbarnandstonehouseandecologylab,withtheremainderofthebuildingstobecompletedinthespring. Theseinfrastructureimprove-mentswillensurethatwecancontinuetosupportthemanyresearchandeducationalactivitiesthatareatthecoreofourmissionasabiologicalfieldstation.

Sept. 2019 pg. 3

From the Stone HouseDirector of Education - Jill Haukos

There’s Always Something New to Learn

VisitorstoKonzaPrairieoftenarrivewithquestionsreadyfortheexpertstoanswer.Inmyjob,questionsseemtobeacommonthread,whetherit’samongourstudentoradultvisitors,neworexperienceddocents,membersoftheFriendsofKonzaPrairie,KPBSstafforgraduatestudentsorresearchers.Findingtheanswersisoftenthehardpart.Wetendtovaluethosewhoseemtohavetheanswers.Ittakestimetofindthoseanswers,andoftenthattimeismeasuredinyears,orevenlifetimes.

IrememberthefirstwildflowerIeverlearned.Itwasspringof1985,andIwasa20year-oldjunioratSouthDakotaStateUniversity.Onthewaytoclass,Isawatinyblueflowerontheedgeofthesidewalk.I’mhorrifiedtoadmititnow,butIpickedit.Itwasblue-eyedgrass,awildtypeoflily.Ihadlearnedalesson,thatthereweresuchthingsastinywildliliesandthattheycouldbefoundgrowinginSouthDakotalawns–whoknew?Thescalesweredroppingfrommyeyes. In1985,IseemedtobetheonlypersoninterestedinlearningthewildflowersofeasternSouthDakota.Thatis,withtheexceptionofmyplanttaxonomyprofessor,Dr.GaryLarson,buthewaswayoutofmyleagueforactingasacasualadvisor.AsoneoftheeditorsofFloraoftheGreatPlains,itwouldbelikeaskingWarrenBuffetforalittlehelpwithinvesting.Nope,Iwasaloneinmyinterestinwildflowersand,withouthavingsomeonetobounceideasoffof,IrealizenowthatImadeahugenumberofmistakes. Ipurchasedawildfloweridentificationbookthatwasfullcolor,andIimmediatelybegantolookfortheflowersfoundinside.Ididn’ttakethetimetoreadthedescriptions(stilldon’t)be-causeIwasimpatientandwantedquickanswers(stilldo).Iwantedtofindthatlilyonthecover. Ineverfoundthelilyonthecover,butIdidfindmostoftheflowersinside.Ialsofoundothervaluableresources,mostofthembeingpeople.PeoplewhocouldverifywhatIwasseeing.Icouldthenpayitforwardandbecomeasourceforsome-oneelse.Sometimesittakesyears;bepatientanduseyourresourcesandtakeyourtime. Ifyou’relookingforplacestogotofinddirectionorverification,they’reoutthere!TheKansasNativePlantSocietyisoneofthebestplacestostart.Thehaveawon-derfulwebpage and Facebookpage,bothofwhichcanhelpidentifythosepeskyunknownplants. Youcouldalsobecomeamemberoftheirorganiza-tionandgettoknowpeoplewhoaremorethanhappytosharetheirknowledge.MikeHaddock’sbook,Wildflow-ers&GrassesofKansas,isawonderfulresource.Healso

hasagorgeouswebsitewhereflowersaresearchablenotonlybycolorbutalsobytimeofflower-ing. TheKonzaPrairiedocentshaveregularwalkseveryMondayat9:00amontheNatureTrail.Ifyouwouldliketowalkwiththedocents,makeplanstocomeouttothetrailonMondaymornings!Thepeoplewhoknowwhatthey’retalkingaboutareoutthereandtheylovetosharenotonlytheirknowledgebutalsotheirloveofnature.

FOKP Calendars on sale now for $15! PickupyourcopyatFlintHillsDiscoveryCenter,ClaflinBooksandatanyFOKPevent.

pg. 4 Sept. 2019

KonzawillmissJeanElizabethHulbert,adedicated,generousandcherishedsupporterwhopassedawayonFeb.25,2019,attheageof94.ThewidowofKonzafounderDr.LloydC.Hul-bert(1918-1986)witnessedourbelovedprairiegrowfromadreaminthe1950stobecometheworld’spremiertallgrassprairieresearchsite. ShesharedadesiretoestablishatallgrassresearchsitenearKansasStateUniversitytosupportecologicalscienceefforts.In1971,TheNatureConservancyacquired916acresinGearyCountynorthofI-70whichwasnamedKonzaPrairieResearchNaturalArea.Initialresearchon

KonzaPrairiefocusedontheroleoffire. Toaccommodatearesearchgoalofstudyingtheeffectofnativegrazersonthenaturaltallgrassprairieeco-system,adjoininglandpurchasesbyTheNatureConservancyin1977increasedthesizeofKonzato8,616acres.Thegrowingtallgrassprairieecologicalresearchactivityincreasedpublicinterestineducationalprograms,whichledtotheestablishmentoftheKonzaPrairieDocentprogramin1992,FriendsofKonzaPrairie(FOKP)in1994,andtheKonzaEnvironmentalEducationProgram(KEEP)in1996. JeanwasaFOKPchartermember,anannualcontributorandaparticipantinmanyofitseducationalandsocialactivities.Forseveralyears,shewasanactivememberoftheFOKPHospitalityCommittee.Sherarelymissedanannualmeetingandrelishedvisitingwithhermanyfriendswhilekeepingwarmatwintersocialevents.Inad-ditiontoherinvolvementwithallthingsKonzaPrairie,shewasalsoinvolvedintheactivitiesoftheManhattanFriends(Quaker)Meeting,theLeagueofWomenVoters,theKiwanisClub,HabitatforHumanity,theDomesticScienceClubandWorldFriendship. Jeanissurvivedbyherfoursons,Steve(Louise),Mark(Meredith),Tom(Nancy),andJohn(Pam),tengrand-children,andnumerousnieces,nephews,greatniecesandgreatnephews.HermemorialservicewasheldintheKonzaPrairieBiologicalStationMeetingHallonJune29.

1. What motivated you to become a Konza Prairie docent?IwasmotivatedtobecomeaKonzadocentbecauseIlovetheFlintHillsandtobeabletosharemyknowledgewithschoolchildrensoundedlikesome-thingIwouldenjoy.Also,IwasraisedonafarminChaseCounty,theheartoftheFlintHills,sotheKonzaPrairiefeelslikehome.2. What are some of your hobbies & interests?Myhobbiesincludegardening,mostlyflowersandherbs.Inaddition,Ien-joyattendingKansasStateathleticeventsandIusheratMcCainanddeliver-ingmealstoshut-inseachweek.3. What has been the best part of being a volunteer at Konza Prairie?ThebestpartofbeingavolunteeratKonzaPrairieistakingschoolchildrenonwalksandshowingthemthebeautyandawesomenessofthePrairie.Tobeabletoshowandtellthechildrenthingstheyhaveneverseenorknownissuchanamazingthing.Oneofmybestdaysasadocentoccurredwhenalittlegirltoldmeshelearnedmoreonourwalkthanshehadlearnedinherlife.WOW!

4. What brings you the most joy in your life?Whatbringsmethemostjoyinlifeofcourseisfamilyandtovolunteerinmyretirement.Givingbacktothecom-munityisimportanttome.

Jean Elizabeth Hulbert 1924-2019

Donna McCallum

Docent Spotlight: Donna McCallum HallieHatfield

Sept. 2019 pg. 5

FOKP Board Member Nominees

President: Ken StaffordPresident-elect: Open (needs to be filled)Treasurer: Noah BuschSecretary: Allie LouschHistorian: Joe Gelroth

The FOKP board consists of:

Cydney Alexis (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2019)Chris Bailey (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2020)Josh Brewer(re-election for 3 years Dec.2021)Noah Busch (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2020)Kelly Carmody (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2021)Kelly Yarbrough Frasier (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2020)Joe Gelroth (term expires Dec. 2019)Allie Lousch (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2019)Courtney Masterson (re-election for 3 years Dec. 2021)Donna McCallum (term expires Dec. 2019)Lucas Shivers (term expires Dec. 2021)Ken Stafford (term expires Dec. 2020)

If elected - the following will join the board on January 1, 2020:Jim Koelliker - 3 year term expiring Dec. 31, 2023Jeff Watson - 3 year term expiring Dec. 31, 2023

Jim Koelliker IamretiredtenyearsfromK-StateEngineeringandspendmuchofmytimeasacommunityvolunteer,includingbeingamasterdocentfortheKonzaEnvironmentalEducationProgram(KEEP).Ihavebeeninvolvedformorethan40yearswhenIfirstvisitedKonzatohelptheLTERprograminwaterresourcesaspects.Fromthatmoment,Ihaveenjoyedworking,learningandvolunteeringeversince! Previously,IservedontheFOKPBoardfrom2009-15.Sincethenmywife,Susan,passedawayrecentlyandIhavecompletedmyserviceontheRileyCountySeniorServiceCenterBoardofDirectors,Inowhaveacceptedthisop-portunitytoagainserveontheFOKPBoardshouldIbeelected. KEEPisabrightstaramongsimilarprogramsatLong-termEcologicalRe-searchsitesandagreatprogramlocally.IwanttohelptheFOKPBoardtokeeptheKEEPvibrantandgrowingbyhelpingittoprovidemoresupport.

Jeff Watson IretiredfromacareerineducationaladministrationinOhioandmovedtoKansasfiveyearsagotobeclosetofamily.SoonaftersettlinginWamego,mywife,Patti,andIjoinedthedocentclassof2015andhavebeenactivedo-centsatKonzaPrairiesincethen. AfterspendingmyentirelifeexploringthehardwoodforestsoftheEast,ithasbeenanexcitingchangeformetoembracetheprairieintheFlintHills. ItisajoyfulandrewardingexperienceintroducingstudentsofallagesandsomeadultstothewonderstheKonzaPrairieholds.

Your FOKP Board nominees

FriendsofKonzaPrairieKansasStateUniversityDivisionofBiology,116AckertHallManhattan,KS66506-4901785-587-0441#308

Bison&BluestemispublishedbytheFriendsofKonzaPrairie

Thank you all for your support of the Friends of Konza Prairie! Members who have newly joined or renewed their membership since the last issue of the Bison & Bluestem include:

New and Renewing FOKP Members

MISSIONKonzaPrairieBiologicalStation(KPBS)isanativetallgrassprairiepreserveownedbyTheNatureConservancyandKan-sasStateUniversityandoperatedasaresearchstationbytheDivisionofBiology.TheFriendsofKonzaPrairie(FOKP)promotestheinterestsofKPBSastheypertaintoitsmissionofresearch,educationandconservation.

StudentDr.BrianT.HazlettLoganPayne

Little BluestemGreg&JanAdamsTheresaAlbrechtMaryBarkleyJohnBlocher&KuiYangMaryBrenemanBillCutler&ElisabethSuterMichaelDonnelly&JackieMac-donaldLarry&LaurelEricksonDavid&ConnieFarmerJack&PeggyFlouerKelly&KevinFrasierRichardGardnerDanielGrossBrianHardeman&JaymeMorris-HardemanDan&CarolynHardenDave&JillHaukosJohnHillKathleenHoss-CruzBrittonHortonChristaJahnkeMary&MattJohnsonEricaLeichtMary McInteerDonn&JenniferMerrimanMeghanNemechekYvonneNorbyEdOlson

JanetPippinJanePowell&JonaluJohnstoneBarbaraL.RobertsPaulRosellScottSeirerBob&MaryShoopSarah SidersJohnSpanglerMrs.GladysW.TreichelAngela VarvelStacey&JimWarnerMary&JohnWeigel

Big BluestemDianeBarkerRichardBoydstonMr.&Mrs.LonnieGClarkGreaterManhattanCommunityStacy&LowellKohlmeierPalmer&MartiMeekLoisMerrimanGaryMignanoCharlesPearceCarl&MartyReedSusanK.ReimerGeorginaR.SchwartzKen&KrisStaffordMarianneDWallaceSueWhite

Flint HillsDan&BethBirdJohn&RettaKramerJanMcNeil

Brian&StephaniePetersonDave&BetsyWeigelJayWight

Prairie ChickenTheBluemontHotelMike&ConnieButlerForrestChumley&BarbaraValentCommunityFirstNationalBankDuane&CindiDunnLadybirdDinerJohn&IngelinLeslieBruce&LiaLowrieSue MaesNativeLandsLLCThePathfinderTom&BarbVanSlykeKen&NinaWarrenWTC

Bison AllanFoster&MaryGalliganJoseph&SarahJanzenKonzaVeterinaryClinicMeadowlarkHillsNorthernFlintHillsAudubonPhilHoweDianneShumaker&BobSouthardSiglePhotographyTheTrustCompany