Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at Austin received a $129,613 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) effective May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. This award supports years 31-35 of the Kenya Long-Term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE), a controlled replicated research initiative examining the separate and combined effects of livestock, wildlife, and fire on savanna rangeland ecosystems. The research deliverables include scientific data on ecosystem stability and resilience, analysis of interactions between multiple disturbance types (drought, fire, and environmental stressors), and empirical findings on competition and coexistence dynamics between livestock and wildlife herbivores across different size classes.

The research employs advanced methodologies including molecular techniques and remote sensing technology to evaluate impacts of herbivory, drought, and fertilization on rangeland vegetation and ecosystem function. Key products include baseline ecological data applicable to rangeland conservation, management, and restoration efforts in the United States and internationally, along with improved landscape-scale rangeland management practices. The project fosters career development for early-career researchers and graduate students while providing stakeholder outreach and scientific insights regarding ecosystem defaunation effects—findings particularly relevant to North American rangeland restoration efforts involving the reintroduction of large herbivore species.