Data Access Policy

Introduction
The Konza Prairie Biological Station LTER (KNZ) is dedicated to having all long-term data sets and key short-term data on-line and available to the scientific community and general public. Our goal is to have data on-line within two years of collection, processing and the completion of appropriate quality control procedures. We recognized that KNZ LTER researchers have an obligation to make available all LTER funded data to the KNZ LTER database and to publish those data in a timely fashion. We also recognized that investigators must have a reasonable opportunity for first use of data they have collected. KNZ LTER data are defined and processed for online access according to the protocols outlined below.

Type I: Core, long-term data sets (with associated meta-data) that address Konza LTER objectives and hypotheses as outlined in LTER proposals I-IV and that are supported primarily by LTER funds. These data will be available on-line one year after data are generated and quality control is completed. We recognized that some data sets will take longer to get on-line than others due to the time required for adequate quality control or due to the demand for certain data by others.

Type II: Short-term data sets supported primarily by LTER funds, key short- or long-term data sets supported by other funding, graduate student data sets, discontinued long-term data sets, one-time surveys, etc. Data sets in the above categories that are supported primarily by LTER funds must be made available to the data manager/PI’s and may be placed on line within 2 years of completing quality control -- but only at the discretion of the data manager/PIs. Data not supported by LTER funds will be placed on line only if mutually agreed upon by the investigator(s) and the data manager/PIs.

Disclaimer

While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is". The Konza Prairie LTER Program makes no warranty nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information presented as part of this data catalog. Reference to commercial products, trademarks or manufacturers does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

Material published here is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement #DEB-0218210. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

All data users are required to fill the Data Access Form to download data in order to enable data providers to track usage, evaluate its impact in the community, and confirm users’ acceptance.

PLEASE GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!!!

Finally we ask the authors of all publications, reports and proposals who use any data from Konza LTER program for acknowledgement using the following statement: "Data for XXX was supported by the NSF Long Term Ecological Research Program at Konza Prairie Biological Station", where XXX is the list of data sets used in the publications, reports or proposals.