NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2020: Defining lineage functional types to improve earth system model predictions via inclusion of phylogeny and physiology

地球上的生命依赖于森林。森林不仅仅为人类提供木材，还在地球的水和碳平衡中发挥着重要作用。森林覆盖了地球上近三分之一的大陆，比任何其他类型的生态系统都支持更多的陆地生物多样性。然而，近几十年来，全球森林经历了大范围的死亡，主要是由于干旱和气温上升。由于其巨大的经济、社会和生态价值，确定森林何时何地受到全球变化的威胁仍然是科学的首要任务。研究期间收集的数据将用于改进称为地球系统模型的最先进模型。通过改进地球系统模型，该项目将提高预测森林在未来气候条件下如何发展的能力。为了扩大这项工作的广泛影响，该研究员将把研究纳入教学和讲习班，并与森林管理人员和其他利益攸关方分享成果。该项目将在西南俄勒冈州/西北加州的克拉马斯山脉生态区采集30多个针叶树种的样本。该研究员将收集现场每个物种的分支材料，并返回实验室进行配对的生理光谱测量。结合先进的成像技术（高光谱，热红外，叶绿素荧光）与植物生态生理学测量（气体交换，水分含量，栓塞的脆弱性），这项研究将调查光谱和生理特性聚集在不同深度的针叶树的生长。这项工作将导致谱系功能类型（LFT）的发展，进化相关性将被纳入针叶树的功能多样性，以改善地球系统的模型。该研究员将使用现有的植物功能类型（基于形式和生物群落）与新开发的不同聚合水平的LFT比较地球系统模型的预测。在项目期间，该研究员将接受新领域的培训，包括地球系统建模和进行系统发育分析。通过在美国林务局太平洋西北研究站举行的年度外联研讨会，该项目将向林农、土地管理者和公民通报研究期间取得的进展。此外，该研究将包括植物生态生理学方法的实践本科生培训，因为该项目的一部分将作为下一代植物科学家的研究经验嵌入课程中。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Life on Earth relies on forests. Providing more than just timber to humans, forests play an important role in the water and carbon balance of the planet. Forests, covering nearly a third of the planet’s continents, support more biodiversity on land than any other type of ecosystem. However, global forests have experienced wide-spread die-off in recent decades, largely in response to drought and increasing temperatures. Due to their tremendous economic, social, and ecological value—identifying where and when forests are threatened by global change remains a top priority for science. Data collected during the research, will be used to improve state-of-the-art models called the Earth System Models. By improving Earth System Models, this project will increase the ability to predict how forests will fare in future climate conditions. To increase the broader impacts of the work, the fellow will incorporate the research into teaching and workshops and share results with forest managers and other stakeholders. This project will sample over 30 conifer species in the Klamath Mountains ecoregion of SW Oregon/NW California. The fellow will collect branch material from each species in the field and return to the laboratory for paired physiological-spectral measurements. Combining advanced imaging techniques (hyperspectral, thermal-infrared, chlorophyll fluorescence) with plant ecophysiology measurements (gas exchange, water content, vulnerability to embolism), this research will investigate spectral and physiological trait aggregation at various depths of conifer phylogenies. This work will result in the development of lineage functional types (LFTs), where evolutionary relatedness will be included in the functional diversity of conifers for improving models of the Earth System. The fellow will compare predictions of Earth System Models using existing plant functional types (based on form and biome), with the newly developed LFTs at different aggregation levels. During the project, the fellow will receive training in new areas, including Earth System Modeling and conducting phylogenetic analyses. Through annual outreach seminars at the US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, this project will inform foresters, land managers, and citizens of advances made during the research. Additionally, this research will include hands-on undergraduate training in methods of plant ecophysiology, as portions of the project will be embedded in courses as research experiences for the next generation of plant scientists.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.