THE MEASURE OF NEMATODE DIVERSITY IN RESPONSE TO VARYING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND FEATURES IN RESTORED AND REMNANT PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS

Authors

Heaven A. Hulshizer, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 2016

Document Type

Poster

Citation

Hulshizer, Heaven "The Measure of Nematode Diversity in Response to Varying Management Practices and Features in Restored and Remnant Prairie Ecosystems." Senior Thesis Poster. 6 April 2016. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Fair, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 2016.

Comments

Copyright (c) 2016 Heaven A. Hulshizer

Abstract

"Tallgrass prairies are the most endangered ecosystem in North America” (Helen et al 2013). “Surveys suggest that since European settlement, declines in area of native prairie range as high as 99.9%”(Sampson, Fred and Fritz Knopf 1994). Prairie ecosystem services are abundant and range from mitigating floods to promoting biodiversity. (USDA Forest Service).Given these benefits, restoring prairies and maintaining native areas should be an important conservation priority. Nematodes, the most abundant animal species on earth, have been used as bio-indicators of soil quality (Neher; Todd). To better understand the dynamics of nematode diversity in native and restored prairies we examines whether there is a relationship between age of a restored prairie and belowground nematode diversity. We found evidence with this study that there is a relationship between nematode diversity and the age of a restored prairie. Age of restoration, however, may not be the only factor influencing nematode diversity. More research is necessary to disentangle all the interacting factors that influence belowground nematode diversity in prairie restorations.