This project will aim to understand the short-term effects of nutrient addition in a grassland habitat dominated by long-lived perennial plants. Nutrient limitation is important in determining vegetation composition, productivity and plant quality. Plant cover as well as insect communities will be analyzed and we will explore how the insect community responds to plant quality and productivity changes. The faculty mentor from biology will be Jean Knops.

The field work will be based at Cedar Point Biological Station, owned and operated by the University of Nebraska's School of Biological Sciences. The Stations facilities include computer labs, library, teaching and research classrooms and labs, and student and faculty housing, as well as a dining hall and recreational facilities. It is located north of Ogallala, NE on the shores of Lake Ogallala.

Variation in soil fertility and moisture can have large effects on communities of tropical rain forest tree species. One important feature that may be affected is the structure of the tree canopy, which in turn affects the light regime that filters down to the forest floor. Light is an important determinant of seedling growth and survival, and this effect ultimately feeds back into structuring the rain forest community. The faculty mentor from biology will be Sabrina Russo.

The field work will be based at field station in Borneo at Lambir Hills National Park.