Research

Oak Lake Field Station provides laboratory and computing facilities and field areas for research studies of northern prairie environments. In addition, the station provides 2-3 seed grants each year to support student and faculty research (see links below). Much of the research activity at the Oak Lake Field Station focuses on ecology, management and environmental issues related to prairie environments. Oak Lake has been the subject of over twenty years of comparative limnological research (Stream and Lake Research ). Current efforts focus on the ecological effects of disturbance to littoral zone communities (Disturbance Ecology ), studies of intermittent prairie stream communities, life-history and human utilization of native prairie forbs (Ethnobotany Research), insect-plant interactions (Native Forb Studies) and studies of prairie fire and browser effects on vegetation. The station also hosts research scientists interested in broader landscape-level questions. These efforts are contributing to greater understanding and sustainable management of natural resources within the Great Plains region.


Student researcher sampling spiders at Oak Lake.	Goat browsing experimental plot.	Student researcher measuring trees at Oak Lake.

Monitoring efforts at the Field Station provide data to support instruction and research efforts (Oak Lake Monitoring). Information on station climate and lake monitoring programs can be obtained through the Field Station Director . Climate and lake monitoring data are available for use by state agencies, researchers and educators from this site. In addition, a geographic information system of the Oak Lake watershed has been developed to facilitate instruction, research and management activities on the site. GIS coverages are available directly from the field station director.

The station hosts an annual research retreat in October. Students, faculty and visiting researchers are invited to deliver presentations of their efforts and discuss future directions for their projects. A feedback session toward the end of the retreat provides information to field station staff regarding researcher needs and suitability of facilities.

Oak Lake Field Station administers three competitively awarded grants to support faculty and undergraduate research. These grant funds are intended to help support initial research efforts. These grants support efforts extending over one calendar year and must be conducted at the station. Faculty or students interested in applying for one of the incentives grants should explore the hyperlinks below to gain access to forms and deadlines.

Faculty Seed Grant

Undergraduate Research Grant

Recently Funded Research Activity at Oak Lake

Letheiser, K. and J. Krueger. 2007. A comparison of tree communities in areas historically harvested and unharvested at Oak Lake Field Station.

Neuhart, C. and N.H. Troelstrup, Jr. 2007. The influence of prescribed burning on the incidence of native and exotic thistles at Oak lake Field Station.

Kinicki, D. and P. Johnson. 2006. The relationship between insect diversity and smooth brome cover at Oak Lake Field Station.

Kopp, A. and C. Dieter. 2006. Nesting success of ducks and pheasants at Oak Lake Field Station.

Carroll, D., C. Goldspink and N.H. Troelstrup, Jr. 2005. The effects of sedimentation on the invertebrate assemblage in a semi-permanent prairie pothole basin.

Hayes, M. and L. Xu. 2005. Effects of different management practices on soil seedbank composition in the Northern Great Plains.

Smith, K., L. Lace and N.H. Troelstrup, Jr. 2005. Investigating the effects of prairie management techniques on butterfly biodiversity.

Use of Oak Lake Field Station for research activity is restricted to those projects and activities approved by the field station director and Oak Lake Research Committee. Policies related to use of facilities and research activities are provided below. All individuals or groups conducting research at Oak Lake Field Station are expected to follow these policies.

Policies Related to Facility Use

Recent Research Productivity

Smart, A.J., N.H. Troelstrup, Jr., K.W. Bruns, J.A. Daniel, J.E. Held. 2007. Western snowberry response to fire and goat browsing. Sheep & Goat Research Journal 22: 20-25.

Smart, A.J., J. Daniel, K. Bruns, J. Held. 2006. Browsing of western snowberry by goats and sheep. Sheep & Goat Research Journal 21: 1-5.

Cahoe, R.D. and N.H. Troelstrup, Jr. 2005. Habitat, hibernacula and population biology of Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata (Storer) at Oak Lake Field Station, SD. Final Project Completion Report, Haertel Endowment for Undergraduate Research on Vertebrates, Oak Lake Field Station, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. 6p.

Gibson, S.A., K. Boegler, V. Brozel. 2005. Analysis of spatial and temporal shifts in the prokaryotic community in sediments of Oak Lake. Final Project Completion Report, Faculty Research Incentives Grant, Oak Lake Field Station, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. 44p.

Okins, K.E. and P.J. Johnson. 2005. Spider biodiversity at Oak Lake Field Station, Brookings, Co., South Dakota. Final Project Completion Report, Undergraduate Research Incentives Grant, Oak Lake Field Station, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. 13p.

2007 Oak Lake Research Retreat Abstracts and Presentations

Oak Lake Bibliography

(back to Oak Lake Field Station Homepage)

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*Last updated 15-Feb-2008