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Rachel Gross
Graduate Student Masters Program in Plant Biology and Conservation Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden
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Air-drying Soil
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Research Interest: The effect of prescribed fire history on belowground processes in tallgrass prairie
· Fire is an agent of ecosystem change that has played a critical role in shaping present-day tallgrass prairie. Today, fire is an important management technique in the conservation and restoration of tallgrass prairie. · I am looking at 6 different prairies in the Chicagoland area which have had different fire frequency management histories (either frequent fire, infrequent fire, or no fire) for the last 20 years. · I want to know if there are characteristics of the belowground community that differ significantly as a result of management policy. · At each site, I collected soil in July 2007 and October 2007. I also inserted and replaced (monthly) fungal growth filters from June-November 2007. · I am using these materials to look at nutrient levels in the soil (N, C, P, K, Ca, Mg); microbial diversity, root biomass, and activity level of mycorrhizal fungi · I hope that this information will shed light on whether frequent fire (annual or biennial), which has been recommended to optimize plant diversity and other characteristics of the aboveground community, appears to optimize belowground ecosystem components as well.
My 6 study sites are: Skokie River Nature Preserve…………..Lake Forest, IL Somme Prairie Nature Preserve…...........Northbrook, IL Glenbrook North High School Prairie Nature Preserve……………………...…Northbrook, IL Morton Grove Prairie Nature Preserve...Morton Grove, IL Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve……….Hodgkins, IL RR Prairie (not a preserve)……………...Monee, IL |
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At Shaw Prairie in October
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Morton Grove in October
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