Women in prairie with wildflowers

Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research

Our vision: To lead scientific discovery that fosters broad appreciation of the vital interactions between humans and the environment.

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Research and services

People wearing hats working in field

Ecosystems research

Our group of labs focusing on a wide range of ecosystems research in Kansas and beyond
Ecosystems labs
Cone-shaped soil sample with person's hands in plastic gloves holding knife to take smaller sample from cone

INVAM collection

The world's largest living collection of important symbiotic microbes
INVAM website
Monarch butterflies on shrub

Monarch Watch

KU's internationally known research, education and monarch butterfly tracking program
Monarch Watch website

Kansas Biological Survey programs

Researcher wearing gloves sits beside algae-green lake and dips hand into water

Aquatic assessment

Our group of labs focusing on the health of our region's streams and reservoirs
Aquatic assessment labs
Purple prairie clover in meadow with woman walking in background

Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory

The Kansas representative for NatureServe, which tracks North American biodiversity
Heritage Inventory information
Portion of KARS Green Report map showing varying vegetation across Midwest

Kansas Applied Remote Sensing

Environmental and ag applications of remote sensing technology, with interactive maps
KARS website
Aerial view of grid of research plots in prairie

The KU Field Station

In addition to our focus on terrestrial, aquatic and geospatial research, we manage the University's biological field station. Founded in 1947, the KU Field Station has grown to 3,200 acres across three sites and welcomes all researchers. The 1,650-acre core research area, just 20 minutes from main campus, is open to the entire KU community for study in any subject and includes five miles of public trails.

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Our impact in FY2025

Economic
Employment at at the Kansas Biological Survey contributed 192 jobs; $4.7 million in labor income; and $5.5 million in value added to the Kansas economy. This resulted in $1.2 million in tax revenue, including nearly $250,000 in revenue for the state.
Research
Our scientists carried out 65 active research projects totaling $21.5 million in active funding to KU. Their work addresses the long-term viability of natural ecosystems and agricultural land, clean water, reservoir health, emergency preparedness and more.
Outreach
Our researchers and staff led 99 unique outreach events, in addition to 39 community events held through KU Field Station public programming. These events—talks, tours, training, webinars, tabling and more—directly reached at least 5,600 people.
Researcher in brightly colored shirt and straw hat taking measurements at research site; researcher is in background, with blades of big bluestem native grass in focus.

2025 Annual Report

With $21.5 million in funding in 2025, our researchers worked to enhance soil health, understand what drives harmful algal blooms, assist the state with flood emergency preparedness, predict future ecosystems based on current grasslands and forests, and more.

Read the report

Young researchers gathered around a table of plants in greenhouse

Donate

Want to support ecological research, teaching and outreach? Make an unrestricted donation or choose your area of giving. Give online or get in touch.

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Quick links, frequent contacts & service centers

Friday Ecology Seminars

We host weekly seminars, open to the public, during the spring and fall terms. Join the mailing list for notifications and reminders of upcoming seminars. See our current schedule and visit our YouTube channel for video recordings of talks.

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Upcoming & previous talks

News

Person in field holding long metal soil coring drill and scraping soil from the end of it onto a tarp.

I Am Striving: Sharon Billings

Sharon Billings shares, as part of KU's "I Am Striving" series, about her work as an ecosystem scientist. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.
Annalise Guthrie standing in front of large tree smiling and holding a clump of soil with roots

KU doctoral student receives Cobell Fellowship

Annalise Guthrie, a University of Kansas doctoral candidate in ecology & evolutionary biology, has been named a recipient of the Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing-Year Fellowship. The award provides $30,000 in support over 12 months to American Indian and Alaska Native scholars who are completing their doctoral dissertations.
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Group of eight people travel along forest path. One person raises hand and shouts while others smile. The group leader, in the uniform of a forester, with polo shirt, hiking pants and cap, has turned to look toward the group.

Kansas science teachers to take part in immersive program at KU Field Station

Ten secondary school science teachers from Kansas will converge this week at the University of Kansas Field Station, just north of Lawrence. They’ll take part in the Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute, an annual immersive program that gives secondary educators the chance to work with KU scientists to explore resources and gain new ideas for their classrooms.
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Stay up to date with our research & activities

Understanding Our Environment is a quarterly newsletter celebrating the discoveries and activities of the scientists, staff, students and colleagues of the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research—as well as happenings at the University of Kansas Field Station.
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Events

Resources for our researchers, staff & students

The full page of resources includes information on a wide of variety of office procedures, as well as KU contacts. Two direct links are provided here to help you find contact information quickly in urgent situations.

Resources page