Publication Date

2003

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Meserve, Peter L.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Biological Sciences

LCSH

Biomass--Illinois; Prairie ecology--Illinois; Microtus pennsylvanicus--Environmental enrichment--Illinois; Nitrogen fertilizers--Environmental aspects--Illinois

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of nitrogen and the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) on the biomass of a restored northern Illinois tallgrass prairie. Small experimental plots were installed in the field and received one of four treatments: untreated control, fertilizer addition, vole exclusion, or fertilizer addition with vole exclusion. Beginning in 1998, live plant and litter biomass were monitored by the point-contact method for two years. Previous work and theory predicted that nitrogen addition should exert greater effects upon the biomass of the experimental plots than vole exclusion; results for live vegetation biomass supported this hypothesis. However, the results for litter biomass refuted it, suggesting that current models for plant-herbivore interaction may need modification to account for seasonal changes in primary productivity.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [80]-85)

Extent

x, 85 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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