REU: Ecosystem-level Processes in Oligotrophic Pine Barrens Ecosystems

普拉茨堡州立大学（PSU）地球与环境科学中心和W. H. Miner农业研究所将为12名对生态系统研究感兴趣的高度积极的本科生提供为期八周的暑期研究经历。PSU的夏季研究项目将涉及对纽约东北部砂岩铺路短叶松荒地生态系统水平过程的跨学科调查。松林的自然环境对径流、有机质分解和养分循环以及水生和陆生生境等生态系统过程具有强烈的影响。这个特殊的生态系统是尚普兰-阿迪朗达克生物圈保护区的一个独特组成部分，REU的研究对阿迪朗达克自然保护协会和加拿大自然保护协会等组织有重要意义，它们正在为这些地区制定管理计划。自1972年以来，砂岩路面生态系统一直是PSU本科生研究的重点，REU项目将以这些持续的努力为基础。普拉茨堡REU计划的主要目标是促进本科研究人员的专业发展，并灌输对生态系统复杂性，功能和价值的更好理解。REU参与者将以个人或小组形式，与该计划的教师导师密切合作，研究项目包括地表水和地下水水文地质学、森林生物化学（营养循环）和陆生植物、水生和湿地生态学。

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science at Plattsburgh State University (PSU) and the W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute will provide an eight-week summer research experience for 12 highly motivated undergraduate students interested in ecosystem research. The PSU summer research program will involve an interdisciplinary investigation of ecosystem-level processes in the sandstone-pavement jack pine barrens in 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. This special ecosystem is a distinctive component of the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Resserve and the REU studies will have significance for organizations like the Adirondack Nautre conservancy and Nature Conservancy Canada, which are developing management plans for these areas. The sandstone pavement ecosystems have been a focus of undergraduate research at PSU since 1972 and the REU program will build upon these ongoing efforts.The principal objectives of the Plattsburgh REU program are to promote the professional development of our 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 faculty mentors on research projects ranging from surface and ground water hydrogeology, forest biochemistry (nutrient cycling) and terrestrial plant, aquatic and wetlands ecology.