IRES: Birds, Insects, Forests, and Coffee -- Investigating Ecosystem Services in a Developing Country

该奖项资助洪堡州立大学野生动物系助理教授马修·约翰逊博士和洪堡州立大学生物科学系教授迈克尔·梅斯勒博士，在为期3年的时间里，每年为5名美国本科生提供研究经验，研究热带森林与牙买加农业生境的相互作用。该项目侧重于培训学生进行应用生态学研究，通过为期一年的课堂和国际实地学习经验，调查鸟类和蜜蜂如何为森林保护区附近的咖啡农场提供病虫害防治和授粉服务。在牙买加为期5周的冬季研究体验之前，学生们将参加一堂关于生态学、研究方法和牙买加文化的秋季课程。这之后将有额外的课堂作业，包括大量的数据分析和写作指导。此外，学生将有机会在会议、研讨会和出版物上展示他们的研究成果。该项目包括与西印度群岛大学的德怀特·罗宾逊博士的密切合作，这将涉及教职员工和学生之间的伙伴关系，以及使用实验室空间、设备和协助与当地农民和牙买加机构进行沟通。该项目将有助于增进我们对热带森林生态学与农业相互作用的理解，同时帮助培养新的有能力进行国际合作研究的科学家。

This award provides funding for Dr. Matthew Johnson, Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife, and Dr. Michael Mesler, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, to provide research experiences for 5 U.S. undergraduate students per year for 3 years to study the interaction of tropical forests and agricultural habitats in Jamaica.This project focuses on training students in applied ecological research, investigating how birds and bees provide pest control and pollination services to coffee farms adjacent to forested nature reserves, through a year-long classroom and international field-based learning experience. Students will take a fall class on ecology, research methods and Jamaican culture prior to their 5-week winter research experience in Jamaica. This will be followed by additional class work which includes substantial mentoring in data analysis and writing. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to present their research at conferences, workshops and through publications. The PI's have included a strong collaboration with Dr. Dwight Robinson of the University of the West Indies, that will involve partnerships between faculty and students, as well as use of lab space, equipment, and assistance in communication with local farmers and Jamaican agencies.The project will help advance our understanding of the interaction of tropical forest ecology with agriculture while helping to develop new scientists competent in collaborative international research.