Two Symposia for US/ European Collaborative Initiatives in Freshwater Ostracode Research

该奖项支持为美国和欧洲非海洋介形虫专家举办的两个为期一天的研讨会，重点是北半球第四纪和现代类群，以制定与气候变化影响、生物多样性变化、水质变化以及含水层和地表水供应等紧迫社会问题相关的合作研究倡议。第一期讲习班由Alison Smith博士(肯特州立大学)、David Horne博士(伦敦大学)和Martin Gross博士(奥地利Joannum世界博物馆)组织，将在2011年7月在奥地利格拉茨举行的欧洲介形虫学家会议之后立即举行。第二期讲习班将在2012年11月在北卡罗来纳州夏洛特举行的美国地质学会会议之后立即举行。预计将有大约45名科学家和学生参加每个研讨会，大约15名美国科学家和学生由这笔赠款资助。非海洋介形虫是一种微小的甲壳类动物，常见于几乎所有非海洋水生栖息地，是气候和环境变化的重要指标。这些生物容易产生方解石壳化石，是用于生态、地球化学和分子系统发育研究的丰富记录。以前的结果表明，在更大的空间尺度上的分析应该使研究人员能够在生态学、分子遗传学、古气候学和水文学领域提出基本问题、检验假设和获得新的见解。这些研讨会将1)建立合作研究的国际对话；2)探索相关数据集的开发、研究生的交叉培训和建立分类学统一程序；3)制定研究议程和成果传播计划。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室和地球科学部联合支持。

This award supports two one-day workshops for US and European non-marine ostracode specialists, with a focus on northern hemisphere Quaternary and modern taxa, to develop collaborative research initiatives relevant to urgent societal questions concerning climate change impacts, changes in biodiversity, changes in water quality and supply in aquifers and surface waters. The first workshop, organized by Dr. Alison Smith (Kent State University), Dr. David Horne (University of London) and Dr. Martin Gross (Universal Museum Joanneum in Austria), will be held immediately following the European Ostracodologists Meeting (EOM) in Graz, Austria in July 2011. The second workshop will take place immediately following the Geological Society of America meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina in November 2012. Approximately 45 scientists and students are expected to attend each of these workshops, with approximately 15 U.S. scientists and students funded by this grant.Non-marine ostracodes are microscopic crustaceans commonly found in almost all non-marine aquatic habitats and are important proxies of climatic and environmental change. These organisms produce easily fossilized calcite shells, and are an abundant record used for ecological, geochemical, and molecular phylogenetic research. Previous results suggest that analyses at larger spatial scales should enable researchers to ask fundamental questions, test hypotheses, and gain new insights in the fields of ecology, molecular genetics, paleoclimatology, and hydrology. These workshops will 1) establish an international dialogue for collaborative research; 2) explore the development of linked datasets, cross-training of graduate students, and establishment of taxonomic harmonization procedures; and 3) produce a research agenda and results dissemination plan.This award is jointly supported by NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering and Division of Earth Sciences.