Summary1 Small, isolated populations at species' borders have been postulated to be less likely to have specialist pathogens and predators. Field and herbarium surveys were thus used to determine if two pathogens (a smut and a rust) and a pre-dispersal seed predator were less common at the western range limit of the forest sedge Carex blanda in Kansas, USA . 2 Host plant size, reproduction and density did not decline at the western border of the range. In fact, plants at two western sites had unusually large size and seed production. 3 Host populations at the edge of the range were more likely to be disease-free or lack the pre-dispersal seed predator. Where the smut, seed predator and rust were found, the proportion of infected or infested plants was not related to longitude, latitude or percentage forest cover. 4 More of the peripheral populations lacked the smut than the rust, as expected given the more localized nature of smut spore dispersal and the limited period when smut infection can occur. 5 In the adjacent, more highly forested state of Missouri, there were no geographical patterns in the incidence of the smut or seed predator in herbarium data. 6 The smut and rust increased in frequency over the 129-year span of herbarium collections. 7 Although field and herbarium distributional data were not identical (for example, smut infection was found much farther west in the field than in the herbarium data), the qualitative agreement between the two data sets suggests herbarium data can be used more broadly for studies of natural enemy distributions. 8 Limited dispersal by pathogens and seed predators is probably the reason why small, isolated western populations were less likely to have natural enemies. Peripheral host populations may thus have different ecological and evolutionary trajectories compared with more central populations. This conclusion, as well as the considerable variation among peripheral populations, is relevant to geographical studies of co-evolution and to research on climatic effects on plants inhabiting ecotonal regions.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services in academic libraries tend to differ, based on availability of GIS data, software, hardware, and staff expertise. GIS services at the University of Kansas are closely aligned with support for government information, data, maps, and statistics. Thus, our responses to users' needs are often naturally collaborative, optimizing the expertise of multiple staff members and various types of resources. The GIS and Data Specialist assists campus researchers with spatial data and software, as well as facilitating access to GIS data. Lab space for research and coursework involving spatial data is a core component of GIS services. In addition, various levels and types of GIS workshops are offered each semester, and custom training sessions are also available. "Word of mouth" and hands-on workshops are some of the most effective methods of outreach.

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