Acquisition of a portable gas exchange system for teaching and research in plant physiological ecology

该奖项为购买便携式光合作用系统提供资金，供本学院和附近其他本科院校的教师用于处理植物光合生理学的实地教育和研究活动。该仪器将用于外来入侵物种的生理特征，作为了解使它们成为成功入侵者的特征的一部分。被研究的物种包括那些成功入侵了至少一种生态系统的物种，包括阿巴拉契亚山脉南部的森林林下植被、半干旱西部的牧场和西南部的河岸地带。阿巴拉契亚州立大学和大烟山国家公园的研究人员将使用该仪器评估臭氧暴露对气孔控制叶片气体交换的影响。除了研究用途外，该仪器还将用于资助机构六个班级的教学和培训活动，此外还将用于本科生研究培训。教育用途预计每年将使多达100名学生受益。

This award provides funds for purchase of a portable photosynthesis system to be used by faculty at this and other, nearby undergraduate institutions for field-based educational and research activities dealing with the photosynthetic physiology of plants. The instrument will be used for physiological characterization of invasive exotic species as part of efforts to understand characteristics that allow them to be successful invaders. Species to be studied include those that have successfully invaded at least one of a variety of ecosystems, including the forest understory in the southern Appalachians, the rangelands of the semi-arid West, and the riparian zones of the Southwest. Researchers at Appalachian State University and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will use the instrument to assess the effects of ozone exposure on stomatal control of leaf gas exchange. In addition to its research applications, the instrument will be used in teaching and training activities in six classes taught at the grantee institution and, in addition, will be used in undergraduate research training. Educational use is expected to benefit up to 100 students a year.