U.S.-Georgia: Ecological Facilitation by Rhododendron Caucasicum Extends the Betula Litwinowii Alpine Treeline, Caucasus Mountains of Georgia

这个国际博士论文增强项目将为一名美国研究生和一名本科生研究助理提供在格鲁吉亚共和国工作的机会。他们研究的总体重点是决定森林树木观测到的海拔上限的环境因素。主要研究者是维克森林大学的William K. Smith和乔治亚州第比利斯植物研究所的Maia Akhalkatski。以往关于维持林木线的生态或生理因素的研究大多集中在老树苗或成熟树木上。最近的研究表明，到目前为止，在所有生命阶段中，年轻的、新出的幼苗可能遭受最大的死亡率。高山植物一直受到格鲁吉亚植物学研究所的特别关注，因为这个国家的大部分地区都是山区。植物研究所生态学系最近重新定位，强调极端环境下植物的生殖生态学。本研究特别关注了格鲁吉亚大高加索山脉白桦（Betula litwinowii）与高加索杜鹃（Rhododendron caucasicum）是否有关联的幼苗建立。这个环境生物学项目将为一名美国研究生和一名本科生研究助理提供在美国无法获得的独特研究专业的机会，因为许多关于树木线问题的研究起源于欧洲和欧亚大陆。该项目还实现了将美国、中欧和欧亚大陆的顶尖专家聚集在一起的计划目标，在平等、互惠和互利的基础上，在具有强烈共同利益和能力的领域结合互补的努力和能力。

This international doctoral dissertation enhancement project will provide a U.S. graduate student and an undergraduate research assistant an opportunity to work in the Republic of Georgia. The general focus of their research is on environmental factors determining the upper elevation limit observed for forest trees. The principal investigators are William K. Smith from Wake Forest University and Maia Akhalkatski from the Institute of Botany in Tbilsi, Georgia. Most previous research on the ecological or physiological factors responsible for maintaining tree lines has focused on older saplings or mature trees. Recent studies have shown that young, newly emerged seedlings may suffer the greatest mortality, by far, of all life stages. High mountain plants have always received special attention at the Institute of Botany in Georgia because mountainous regions dominate the country. The Department of Ecology of the Institute of Botany has recently been re-oriented to emphasize the reproductive ecology of plants in extreme environments. This research specifically focuses on seedling establishment in Betula litwinowii, with and without association with Rhododendron caucasicum in the Greater Caucasus mountain range of Georgia.This project in environmental biology will provide a U.S. graduate student and an undergraduate research assistant access to unique research specialties that are not available in the U.S. - as much of the research on tree line questions originated in Europe and Eurasia. This project also fulfills the program objectives of bringing together leading experts in the U.S. and Central Europe and Eurasia to combine complementary efforts and capabilities in areas of strong mutual interest and competence on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutuality of benefit.