Characterizing biological structure and ecological function of Kansas playas


Start Date: 2017

End Date: 2020

Full Citation:

Kansas Water Office and Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, 2017-2020, $285,205. Characterizing biological structure and ecological function of Kansas playas. PI: J. Kastens, Co-PI: D. Huggins.

Category:

  • Aquatic

Associated with the KU Field Station: No

Research Summary:

We will apply information and methodologies acquired in our initial 2014 playa project to a different large playa complex located in northwestern Kansas where there are some distinct physiographic differences. Within this new study area, we will apply our developed methodologies to locate and map potential playas and their catchments using recently acquired LiDAR elevation data not available at the time of our initial study. 

Email Debbie Baker at dbaker@ku.edu for these resulting products:

  • Google Earth file to see the 30 playas and associated water chemistry data, or a pdf to see the data without mapping.
  • The list of plants found at each playa. Look for the playa ID number in the Google Earth file above.
  • The list of macroinvertebrates at playas 780, 3411, and 3923 (the remainder were dry at time of sampling).