Doctoral Dissertation Research in Geography and Regional Science

石头通常沿着土壤中相对水平的平面被发现，在土壤切割中出现线条，因此导致它们被称为石线。长期以来，人们一直认为石头线条的形态是由堆积在先前沉淀的物质上的大量废物或风吹沉积物造成的，但最近的研究表明，在同一土壤中，石头可能通过小型哺乳动物和昆虫的活动而重新排列。本博士论文项目将检验伊利诺斯州中部桑加蒙土层内的石线和其上较粗的物质层是造丘动物分选活动的产物这一假设。通过对石头的位置和方向的分析，以及对材料的生物结构分析，将对麦克多诺县drumlins遗址样本中的石头线进行检查，这将提供有关土壤演变的环境条件的信息。该项目将为有关土壤形态的竞争性假设提供结构良好的测试，揭示研究地点和更广泛地区的条件。该项目还将为有前途的青年学者提供继续发展独立研究技能的绝佳机会。

Stones often are found along relatively horizontal planes within soils, appearing as lines in soil cuts, thereby leading to their designation as stone lines. The morphology of stone lines long has been explained in terms of accumulation of mass-wasted or wind-blown deposits over previously settled materials, but recent studies have indicated that stone may be realigned within the same soils through the actions of small mammals and insects. This doctoral dissertation project will test the hypothesis that both the stone line within the Sangamon soil layer in central Illinois and the overlying layer of coarser material are the products of sorting activities by mound- building animals. Stone lines from a sample of sites among drumlins in McDonough County will be examined through analyses of the location and orientation of stones and through biofabric analysis of the materials, which will provide information on the environmental conditions under which the soils evolved. This project will provide a well-structured test of competing hypotheses regarding soil morphology, shedding light on the conditions at the study site and for a broader range of locales. This project also will provide an excellent opportunity for a promising young scholar to continue to develop independent research skills.