Stable Isotopic Applications to Great Plains Ecology, Paleoecology, Archeology, and Physiology

该奖项提供资金，继续支持下一年， 奥古斯塔纳学院生物系 该计划将 支持本科生参与重点研究项目 它整合了十名研究人员的研究活动， 奥古斯塔纳学院（6），内布拉斯加大学（1），大自然保护协会 (1)、南达科他州州立大学（1）和黑山州立大学（1）。 这些项目在科学层面上是一体化的，因为 草原生态学和古生态学的共同利益，因为 每个项目的各个方面都受益于稳定的 碳和氮同位素的研究方法。 一个有凝聚力的群体 一种独特的方法将被用来继续生态和 考古重建在一个地理区域丰富的 生态资源，并包括对饮食的日益关注， physiology. 10名学生（一半是女性，一半来自校外）将学习野外 和实验室问题有一个共同的焦点。 他们将被期望 掌握一定的理论基础，为他们的研究， 以及实验设计和最终解释。 每周的研讨会和讲习班将审查每个项目的 理论基础和研究设计;提高学生的 图书馆，实验室，数据处理和科学写作技能; 并加深他们对有关项目的了解。 十个- 为期一周的暑期课程和学年独立学习将 在REU研讨会中达到高潮，每个学生都将出席 他/她解释的结果和结论，并帮助制定 为明年夏天的项目做假设和研究设计。 该领域的杰出妇女将被选为研讨会发言人 成为所有学生和教师的榜样。 我们将 邀请20所高中选出一名优秀女学生， 参加REU研讨会，并在夏季返回一天。

This award provides funds to continue support for another year in the Department of Biology at Augustana College. The program will support undergraduate participation in a focused research program which integrates the research activities of ten investigators from Augustana College (6), Univ. Nebraska (1), The Nature Conservancy (1), South Dakota State Univ. (1), and Black Hills State Univ. (1). The projects are integrated at the scientific level because of the common interests in prairie ecology and paleoecology, and because aspects of each project benefit from the applications of the stable isotopes of C and N to the research methodology. A coherent group and a unique methodology will be used to continue ecological and archeological reconstructions in a geographic area of rich ecological resources and to encompass growing interest in diets and physiology. Ten students (half women, half from off-campus) will study field and laboratory problems with a common focus. They will be expected to gain some mastery of the theoretical basis for their study as well as the experimental design and ultimate interpretation. Weekly seminars and workshops will review each project's theoretical basis and research design; enhance the students' library, laboratory, data handling, and scientific writing skills; and broaden their understanding of the related projects. The ten- week summer program and academic year independent study will culminate in an REU Symposium in which each student will present his/her interpreted results and conclusions and help develop the hypotheses and research designs for next summer's projects. Outstanding women in the field will be selected as seminar speakers and serve as role models for all students and faculty. We will invite 20 high schools to select an outstanding woman student to attend the REU Symposium and return for one day in the summer.