REU: Research Experiences in Disturbance Impacts and Ecosystem-level Processes

普拉茨堡州立大学（PSU）的地球与环境科学中心和W.H. Miner农业研究所将为10名对生态系统研究感兴趣的高度积极的本科生提供为期6周的夏季研究体验。 PSU夏季研究计划将涉及冰暴干扰生态系统水平的过程中的阿尔托纳平岩杰克松贫瘠的纽约东北部的跨学科调查。 松树荒地的物理环境强烈影响生态系统过程，如径流，有机物分解和养分循环，以及水生和陆生生境。 1998年1月的冰风暴和随后的“恢复切割”的高水平的损害松树荒地提供了一个独特的机会，本科生调查自然和人为干扰对生态系统过程的影响。 自1972年以来，这种特殊的生态系统一直是PSU本科生研究的重点，REU计划将建立在这些持续努力的基础上。 主要目标是促进本科研究人员的专业发展，并灌输对生态系统的复杂性，功能和价值更好的欣赏。 REU的参与者，单独和小组，将与该计划的八名教师导师密切合作，研究项目包括地表水和地下水水文地质学，地球化学，陆生植物和无脊椎动物生态学。 该计划将挑战其学生研究人员扩大他们的学科重点，并发展跨学科的观点。 每周的项目会议将用于评估进展情况，审查各个研究组成部分之间的跨学科联系，并制定新的和扩大的研究计划。 学生还将参加环境研讨会，在那里他们将有机会辩论道德，性别和少数民族，环境政策问题与程序的工作人员和邀请的专业人士。

9912288FranziThe center for Earth and Environmental Science at Plattsburgh State University (PSU) and the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute will provide a 6-week summer research experience for 10 highly motivated undergraduate students interested in ecosystem research. The PSU summer research program will involve an interdisciplinary investigation of ice-storm disturbance on ecosystem-level processes in the Altona Flat Rock jack pine barrens of northeastern New York. The physical environment of the pine barrens strongly influences ecosystem processes such as runoff, organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, and aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The high level of damage to the pine barrens by the January, 1998 ice storm and subsequent "restoration cutting" provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to investigate the impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem processes. This special ecosystem has been a focus of undergraduate research at PSU since 1972 and the REU program will build upon these ongoing efforts. The principle objectives are to promote the professional development of undergraduate researchers and instill a better appreciation for ecosystem complexity, function and value. The REU participants, individually and in small groups, will work closely with the program's eight faculty mentors on research projects ranging from surface and ground water hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, and terrestrial plant and invertebrate ecology. The program will challenge its student researchers to expand their disciplinary focus and develop an interdisciplinary perspective. Weekly project meetings will be used to evaluate progress, examine interdisciplinary linkages between individual research components, and develop new and expanded research plans. Students will also participate in environmental seminars where they will have an opportunity to debate ethical, gender and minority, and environmental policy issues with the program staff and invited professionals.