DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Integrating STEM approaches to understand the dispersal of grassland plants

虽然大多数植物在其生命周期的大部分时间里基本上都被困在一个地方，但它们能够以种子的形式移动到新的地方，有时甚至是遥远的地方。了解种子是如何移动或“传播”的，对于确定一个植物物种穿越越来越远的距离找到合适的栖息地的能力是很重要的，因为这些栖息地是自然变化的，或者是由于人类的行为。营养物质的可用性可能会强烈地影响植物能产生的种子数量、种子的质量以及它们能传播多远。为了了解养分的变化如何影响种子的传播，高草草原的种子将沿着从德克萨斯州到明尼苏达州的南北梯度从添加了氮、磷和钾的地块收集。传播模式很难理解，因为大多数草原种子太小，传统的跟踪设备无法追踪。为了克服这一困难，将采用另一种方法：在风洞中研究种子的“飞行”，使用空气动力学工程技术来确定种子可以飞行的距离。这些距离将用于预测不同植物物种在不同栖息地之间移动的能力。该项目将使爱荷华州立大学（ISU）工程系和生物系的本科生沉浸在整合生物学、数学、工程和技术的研究中。这种独特的方法将允许年轻科学家进行更广泛的思考。此外，该项目的跨部门性质将使学生和教师有机会从多个角度扩展他们目前研究种子传播的范围。这项研究的结果将通过研究生开发的本科研讨会纳入国际滑联的课程。此外，还将通过鼓励小学生探索科学的地方项目，通过各种互动活动，向中小学生介绍工学、数学、技术与生物科学相结合的重要性。

Although most plants are essentially stuck in one place for most of their life cycle, they are able to move to new and sometimes distant locations as seeds. Understanding how seeds move or "disperse", is important for determining a plant species' ability to traverse increased distances to find suitable habitats as those habitats change naturally or through the actions of humans. The availability of nutrients might strongly affect the number of seeds a plant can produce, the quality of those seeds, and how far they can disperse. To understand how changes in nutrients might influence seed dispersal, tallgrass prairie seeds will be collected along a north-south gradient from Texas to Minnesota from plots to which nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium have been added. Dispersal patterns are difficult to understand because most prairie seeds are too small for traditional tracking devices. To combat this difficulty an alternative approach will be used: the "flight" of seeds will be studied in wind tunnels, using aerodynamic engineering technology to determine the distances seeds can travel. These distances will be used to make predictions about the ability of different plant species to move between disparate habitats.This project will immerse undergraduate students in both the Engineering and the Biology Departments at Iowa State University (ISU) in research that integrates biology, mathematics, engineering and technology. This unique approach will allow for broader thinking of young scientists. In addition, the cross-departmental nature of this project will give students and faculty the chance to expand the current scope of their research studying seed dispersal from many angles. Results from this research will be incorporated into ISU curriculum through undergraduate seminars developed by graduate students. The importance of integrating engineering, math and technology into the biological sciences will also be presented through various interactive activities to elementary and middle school students through local programs that encourage exploration of science at a young age.