SWOSU Ecology Students Conduct Field Research at Konza Prairie Biological Station

SWOSU Ecology students and faculty at the Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas. From left: Dr. Daniel da Rocha, Monserrath Rivera, Austin Buchanan, Dr. Renan Bosque, Rayshon Charles Blatnick, Isaac Alan Nichols, Sam Ardrey, Dr. Rickey Cothran and Grace Adesuwa Aghasedo.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) students spent Sept. 11-13 conducting field research at Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas. As part of their Ecology coursework, they studied how bison wallows affect invertebrate communities and the environmental conditions around them. The project will continue at SWOSU as students analyze the samples and data they collected.

Konza Prairie Biological Station is a native tallgrass prairie preserve in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. Kansas State University and the Nature Conversancy operate the site as a field research station for ecological research, education and prairie conservation.

Bison wallows are shallow depressions created by bison. Students measured environmental conditions in and around the wallows, surveyed vegetation and collected soil samples from the wallows and nearby prairie areas. They will compare invertebrate communities and examine how environmental conditions and vegetation may influence their composition. Following the project from question development and field sampling through analysis gives students experience with several stages of ecological research.

Grace Adesuwa Aghasedo and Austin Buchanan measure water infiltration rates in bison wallows.

Sam Ardrey measures soil compaction in a bison wallow.

Dr. Cothran shows Isaac Alan Nichols how to collect and examine invertebrates found in a bison wallow.

Dr. Daniel da Rocha and Dr. Rickey Cothran work with Monserrath Rivera and Isaac Alan Nichols to document invertebrates observed in the wallows.

Drs. Renan Bosque, Rickey Cothran and Daniel da Rocha accompanied the students and supervised the field activities. Their guidance helped students apply concepts from their Ecology coursework while conducting research in a native tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

For more information about SWOSU's Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, visit swosu.edu/biological-sciences.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.