MRI/RUI: Acquisition of Controlled Environment Growth Chambers

博士们已获得一笔赠款。John V.H. Constable, Jerry G. Chmielewski和Dean M. DeNicola在Slippery Rock大学购买四个受控环境植物生长室。所要求的室包括温度和照明控制，并将按照以下描述进行配置，以最大限度地提高所有用户的效用。第一对腔室的配置包括一个高光输出选项，提供大约四分之三的全太阳水平的照明，通过连接的加湿和除湿系统控制湿度，以及使用二氧化碳注入和集成红外气体分析仪控制二氧化碳浓度。第二对腔室的配置与上面的相同，但缺乏高光输出选项和对二氧化碳的控制。这些实验室的收购将扩大John V.H. Constable未来的研究工作；杰瑞·g·奇米莱夫斯基；以及生物系院长M. DeNicola。这些生长室还将扩大滑石大学的主要使命，即在课堂、实验室和独立的教师监督学生研究方面提供卓越的本科教育。这些室将根据研究人员的主要研究兴趣，为各种各样的项目提供研究能力。所有提出的研究目标都是为了增强我们对生物系统中机制关系的理解。康斯特布尔博士的研究解决了二氧化碳浓度升高时硝酸盐和碳同化之间的机制关系，这将增强我们对植被对二氧化碳浓度升高的长期生长反应的预测能力。Chmielewski博士的研究发展了对杂草和非杂草紫菀物种繁殖的进化趋势的理解。德尼科拉博士的研究试图建立一个底栖藻类演替的预测模型，该模型基于生长形式和潜在的殖民分类群；（ii）确定酸性矿井排水（AMD）对底栖藻类群落结构和初级生产的影响，以改善受AMD影响溪流的修复工作。

A grant has been awarded to Drs. John V.H. Constable, Jerry G. Chmielewski, and Dean M. DeNicola at Slippery Rock University to purchase four controlled environment plant growth chambers. The requested chambers include control over temperature and illumination and will be configured as described below to maximize utility for all users. The configuration of the first pair of chambers includes a high light output option that provides illumination to approximately three-fourths of full sun level, control over humidity through linked humidification and dehumidification systems, and the control of CO2 concentration using CO2 injection and an integrated infrared gas analyzer. The configuration of the second pair of chambers are identical to those above, but lack the high light output option and control over CO2. Acquisition of these chambers will expand the future research efforts of John V.H. Constable; Jerry G. Chmielewski; and Dean M. DeNicola in the Department of Biology. The growth chambers will also expand Slippery Rock University's primary mission of excellence in undergraduate education in the classroom, the laboratory and independent faculty-supervised student research. The chambers will provide the capability for a diverse array of projects to be studied according to the primary research interests of the investigators. The goals of all proposed studies are to enhance our understanding of mechanistic relationships in biological systems. Dr. Constable's studies address the mechanistic relationship between nitrate and carbon assimilation at elevated CO2 that will enhance our predictive ability on the long-term growth response of vegetation to elevated CO2. Dr. Chmielewski's studies develop the understanding of evolutionary trends in reproduction between weedy and non-weedy aster species. Dr. DeNicola's investigations seek to build a predictive model of benthic algal succession based on growth form and potential colonizing taxa; and (ii) the determination of the effects of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) on benthic algal community structure and primary production in order to improve remediation efforts in AMD impacted streams.