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The University of Kansas Field Station is dedicated to field-based environmental research and education. The Field Station is located within the transition zone (ecotone) between the eastern deciduous forest and tallgrass prairie biomes. Faculty, students, and others use the 1,375 ha (3,400 acres) of diverse native and managed habitats, experimental systems, support facilities, and longterm databases to undertake an outstanding array of scholarly activities. The Field Station is available to any qualified person or group whose research, teaching, or conservation interests are compatible with our mission. Please contact us!
Station Highlights
Topeka Shiner Project
Since
2002 aquatic ecologists at KU have been studying captive-bred populations
of the endangered Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) at the KU Field
Station to learn more about the causes of this small minnow’s drastic
decline in wild populations throughout its range. Originally found widely
from Minnesota south to Kansas and Missouri, over the past 50 years this species
has been lost from nearly 95% of its former range and occurs today mostly
in isolated populations in small headwater streams that have not been dammed.
New information is being learned about the Topeka shiner’s specific
habitat and highly unusual spawning requirements, its tolerance to siltation
and other forms of pollution, vulnerability to predation, and other ecological
concerns that may help in curbing the current trend and assist combined multi-state
and federal efforts to recover the species.
Learn more about the Topeka shiner at: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/fish/shiner/
News and Events
KU Field Station
Newsletter
The current
issue of the Field Station newsletter, News and Notes, can be viewed
here.
To view archived copies, click
here.
New Weather Station
A new automated weather station has been installed at the Field Station
as part of both national and state climatological networks. The data serve
broad needs, in addition to supporting the many researchers at the Field Station.
Read more about this initiative in the Kansas Water Office newsletter, HydroGram.
Nature Trails
There are a number of self-guided nature trails available at the
Field Station. Please see the
attached map for more information.
Small Grants
Program
Since 2003, the University of Kansas Field Station has made available a number
of small grants ($300-$500) each year to help support undergraduate and graduate
student research at the field station during the summer. We encourage
a diversity of research projects--not only ecological studies but projects
in history, engineering, geology, geography, and other areas may be funded. Details
of the 2012 Program will be posted here when available.
Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology Department
Weekly seminars are held on Tuesdays with
special seminars at other times.
