REU: Research Experiences in Disturbance Impacts and Ecosystem-level Processes

普拉茨堡州立大学(PSU)地球与环境科学中心和W.H.矿工农业研究所将为10名对生态系统研究感兴趣的本科生提供为期6周的暑期研究体验。PSU的夏季研究计划将涉及一项关于冰暴干扰对纽约东北部Altona Flat Rock Jack Pine荒地生态系统水平过程的跨学科调查。松树荒地的自然环境强烈地影响着生态系统的过程，如径流、有机质分解和养分循环，以及水生和陆地生境。1998年1月的冰暴对松树荒地的高度破坏以及随后的“恢复砍伐”为本科生提供了一个独特的机会，让他们研究自然和人为干扰对生态系统过程的影响。自1972年以来，这一特殊的生态系统一直是PSU本科生研究的重点，REU计划将建立在这些持续努力的基础上。主要目标是促进本科生研究人员的专业发展，并灌输对生态系统复杂性、功能和价值的更好认识。REU的参与者，个人和小组，将在地表水和地下水水文地质学、生物地球化学以及陆地植物和无脊椎动物生态学等研究项目上与该项目的八名教师密切合作。该项目将挑战其学生研究人员，以扩大他们的学科重点，并发展跨学科的视角。每周的项目会议将用于评估进展情况，检查各个研究组成部分之间的跨学科联系，并制定新的和扩大的研究计划。学生还将参加环境研讨会，在那里他们将有机会与项目工作人员和受邀的专业人员辩论道德、性别和少数群体以及环境政策问题。

9912288FranziThe center for Earth and Environmental Science at Plattsburgh State University (PSU) and the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute will provide a 6-week summer research experience for 10 highly motivated undergraduate students interested in ecosystem research. The PSU summer research program will involve an interdisciplinary investigation of ice-storm disturbance on ecosystem-level processes in the Altona Flat Rock jack pine barrens of northeastern New York. The physical environment of the pine barrens strongly influences ecosystem processes such as runoff, organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, and aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The high level of damage to the pine barrens by the January, 1998 ice storm and subsequent "restoration cutting" provide a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to investigate the impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem processes. This special ecosystem has been a focus of undergraduate research at PSU since 1972 and the REU program will build upon these ongoing efforts. The principle objectives are to promote the professional development of undergraduate researchers and instill a better appreciation for ecosystem complexity, function and value. The REU participants, individually and in small groups, will work closely with the program's eight faculty mentors on research projects ranging from surface and ground water hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, and terrestrial plant and invertebrate ecology. The program will challenge its student researchers to expand their disciplinary focus and develop an interdisciplinary perspective. Weekly project meetings will be used to evaluate progress, examine interdisciplinary linkages between individual research components, and develop new and expanded research plans. Students will also participate in environmental seminars where they will have an opportunity to debate ethical, gender and minority, and environmental policy issues with the program staff and invited professionals.