The Big Sky Institute: Accessing and Understanding the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

该奖项支持为大天空研究所制定战略计划，这是一个新成立的跨学科研究和教育组织，位于黄石国家公园附近。在过去的十年里，蒙大拿州立大学和其他机构的研究人员在了解大黄石生态系统(GYE)的多样性和动态方面取得了长足的进步，特别是在三个重要方面：支配生物多样性的过程，特别是与生态系统管理有关的过程；允许在GYE多样化的热特征中生存的适应；以及通过这种变异性和生态系统响应的代理记录来判断过去一千多年来当地气候的变化。目前，在这一进展的基础上再接再厉的努力在范围和整合方面受到限制，因为在Gye的实地地点或附近缺乏现代化的实验室和教育设施。利用通过该奖项提供的资金，BSI将参与一个机构规划过程，这将导致开发一个新的、多用户的研究和教育设施。BSI作为研究和教育设施的发展将增加进入GYE进行生物多样性、热生物学和气候变化领域的实地研究和教学的机会。改善后的基础设施将使公众更多地参与联邦支持的研究活动，并提高公众对联邦支持的研究活动的理解，同时在私营部门旅游业和农村地区的一所土地赠与大学之间建立独特的伙伴关系。

This award supports the development of a strategic plan for the Big Sky Institute, a newly formed interdisciplinary research and education organization located at a site near Yellowstone National Park. Over the past decade researchers at Montana State University and other institutions have made great strides in understanding the diversity and dynamics of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), especially in respect to three important aspects: processes that govern biological diversity, especially as it relates to ecosystem management; adaptations that permit life in the diverse thermal features of GYE; and, variations in the local climate over the last thousand-plus years as judged by proxy records of such variability and of ecosystem response. At present, efforts to build on this progress are limited in scope and integration by lack of modern laboratory and educational facilities at or near field sites in the GYE. Using the funds provided through this award, BSI will engage in an institutional planning process that will lead to development of a new, multi-user research and education facility. The development of BSI as a research and education facility will increase access to the GYE for field research and teaching in the areas of biodiversity, thermal biology, and climate change. The improved infrastructure will allow increased public participation in, and improve public understanding of federally-supported research activities while forging a unique partnership between the private sector tourist industry and a land grant university in a rural area.