Improvements to laboratory facilities at Powdermill Nature Reserve

卡内基研究所获得了一笔赠款，用于建设一个现代化的技术现场实验室，以增强匹兹堡卡内基自然历史博物馆的生态研究现场站Powdermill自然保护区的研究能力。在粉粉厂，目前的研究项目包括候鸟中禽流感的发生，法医昆虫学中分解的非线性边界效应，评估健康和质量的水化学区域采样，陆地毒理学和金属通过花粉和花蜜进入生态系统的流动，以及与森林演代相关的广泛和多样化的项目。现代生态学家比以前更多地使用技术实验室方法，领先的野外台站必须为这些程序提供支持。增加Powdermill现场站的能力将大大加快Powdermill已经执行的各种项目的研究，并在未来导致更多的项目。这些投资将有助于该设施为阿巴拉契亚山脉中部提供一个领先的研究平台，这是地球上最多样化的温带生态系统之一。拟议的新增项目将提供一个标准的湿式实验室，包括通风柜、水槽、离心机、热块、冰箱、冰柜（包括-80℃）、天平、电泳凝胶钻机，以及所有普通实验室用品和基本实验室的典型起始材料，能够进行组织保存、DNA提取、孵育、限制性消化、凝胶电泳和其他此类程序。对现代化实验室的投资将有助于扩大访问研究人员和正规学院和大学课程的使用。2012年和2013年，八个联邦资助的项目部分在Powdermill执行，其中包括四个由NSF资助的pi的工作。大约有40名研究人员和教授使用这个研究站，建设一个支持设施将显著提高本地区及其他地区的研究和教学能力，并在当地社区产生巨大的乘数效应。欲了解更多关于粉碎机自然保护区的信息，请访问网站http://www.carnegiemnh.org/powdermill/。

Carnegie Institute is awarded a grant to build a modern technical field laboratory to augment the research capacity of Powdermill Nature Reserve, the ecological research field station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh. At Powdermill, current research programs include such topics as the occurrence of avian influenza in migratory birds, nonlinear boundary effects on decomposition in forensic entomology, regional sampling of water chemistry to assess health and quality, terrestrial toxicology and flow of metals into the ecosystem via pollen and nectar, as well as extensive and diverse programs related to forest succession. Modern ecologists use technical laboratory methods more than they did formerly, and leading field stations must provide support for such procedures. Increasing the capacity of the Powdermill field station will have strongly accelerate research in the diverse programs already executed at Powdermill, and lead to additional programs in the future. These investments will help the facility to provide a leading research platform for the central Appalachians, one of the most diverse temperate ecosystems on Earth.The proposed addition will provide a standard wet laboratory with hood, sinks, centrifuges, heat blocks, refrigeration, freezers (including -80C), balances, electrophoresis gel rigs, and all the ordinary lab ware and starting materials typical of a basic laboratory capable of tissue preservation, DNA extraction, incubation, restriction digests, gel electrophoresis, and other such procedures. Investment into a modern laboratory will contribute to expanded use by visiting researchers and formal college and university classes. In 2012 and 2013, eight federally funded projects were executed in part at Powdermill, including work by four PIs with NSF funding. About 40 researchers and professors use this station, and building a support facility will significantly improve research and teaching capacity in this region and beyond, and have a great multiplier effect in the local community. For more information about the Powdermill Nature Reserve, visit the website at http://www.carnegiemnh.org/powdermill/.