SRM01 ShRaMPs (Shrub Rainout Manipulation Plots): interactive effects of drought and fire on grass and shrub physiology and productivity at Konza Prairie

ShRaMPs (Shrub Rainout Manipulation Plots) is a drought x fire experiment
aimed at understanding the interactive effects of drought and fire frequency on
tallgrass prairie communities experiencing varying degrees of shrub encroachment.
Passive rainout shelters were constructed over existing, mature shrub islands and
co-existing herbaceous communities on neighboring 1-year and 4-year burn watersheds (K1B
and K4A). Shelters were either 'control' (ambient precipitation) or 'drought' (~50%
precipitation reduction). A variety of leaf-level (gas exchange, water potential, turgor
loss point, leaf δ13C) and whole-plant level (herbaceous and shrub biomass, plant water
uptake) variables were measured during the 2019-2022 growing seasons to determine the
physiological responses of a dominant C4 grass (Andropogon gerardii; big bluestem) and
an encroaching clonal shrub (Cornus drummondii; rough-leaf dogwood). Soil volumetric
water content was measured on-site for the duration of the experiment.