Americas Program: Topography, Elemental Ratios, and Nutrient Limitation in Tropical Montane Ecosystems

0751932SeastedtThis论文的研究将探讨地形和土地利用对养分供应的影响在热带山地生态系统的安博罗国家公园在玻利维亚。 这项研究将在罗伯托·维德斯博士和贝拉维斯塔当地社区的主持下与奇基塔诺森林保护基金会（FCBC）合作进行。 将沿着地形和实验操作的氮和磷有效性梯度，研究地形和土地利用变化对养分循环的相互影响。 拟议的项目将调查土壤、叶片和微生物生物量元素比率（N和P）可用于评估生态系统的养分限制的论点。 这项研究将为科学地了解安博罗地区热带山地生态系统中养分限制的作用作出重大贡献。 这项研究旨在增加对该地区草原和森林生物化学的了解。 土地管理者和当地农民可以利用这些信息作出决定，以提高生产力，并尽可能提高这种生态系统的可持续性。 该提案将支持一名研究生的国际论文研究，并将为两名本科生提供研究经验，一名来自玻利维亚，一名来自美国。

0751932SeastedtThis dissertation research will examine the influence of topography and land use on nutrient availability in the tropical montane ecosystems of Amboró National Park in Bolivia. The research will be conducted in collaboration with the Foundation for the Conservation of the Chiquitano Forest (FCBC) under the auspices of Dr. Roberto Vides and the local community of Bella Vista. The interacting effects of topography and land use change on nutrient cycling will be investigated along topographically and experimentally manipulated gradients of nitrogen and phosphorus availability. The proposed project will investigate the contention that soil, foliar and microbial biomass elemental ratios (N and P) can be used to assess the nutrient limitation of an ecosystem. This study will make a significant contribution to scientific understanding of the role of nutrient limitation in tropical montane ecosystems of the Amboró region. This study aims to increase the understanding of the biochemistry of grasslands and forests of the region. Land managers and local farmers can use this information to make decisions that will extend the productivity and, in so far as possible, sustainability of such ecosystems. This proposal will support international dissertation research for one graduate student and will also provide an research experience for two undergraduate students, one from Bolivia and one from the US.