Doctoral Dissertation Research: Glacier Recession and Implications for High-Elevation Peatlands

这个博士论文研究项目将研究热带高海拔泥炭地的时空动态变化。 作为一种独特的湿地，泥炭地储存了大量的水和碳。 由于这些生态系统功能，了解泥炭地在全球环境变化中的作用越来越重要。 在南美洲的安第斯山脉，高海拔泥炭地正在经历由气候引起的冰川退缩引起的水文变化。 这篇博士论文的研究项目旨在解决两个研究目标在秘鲁的科迪勒拉布兰卡。 首先，博士生将描述1987年至2011年泥炭地时空变化的程度。 其次，她将确定解释泥炭地植被组成模式的环境变量。 该项目将通过将实地植被取样与遥感和地理信息科学技术相结合来完成。 这些方法将展示冰川退缩对热带山区生态系统的关系和影响。 通过描述解释泥炭地植被的生态学和关键环境变量，该项目将响应科学呼吁，填补有关直接经历全球环境变化影响的生态系统类型的知识空白。该项目的智力价值在于，它将整合山地地理学和湿地科学，研究热带高压的生态和时空动态，海拔泥炭地，从而推进科学知识的独特和重要的生态系统。 该项目使用以前未用于研究高海拔泥炭地的混合方法，将产生与全球泥炭地相关的发现，并将展示全球环境变化如何影响高山景观。 这项研究的预期重大科学发现将与许多其他湿地生态系统有关，这些生态系统在空间和时间上与冰川有关，例如东非山区、喜马拉雅山和北半球的泥炭地。 该项目将促进美国和秘鲁研究人员之间的合作，以英语和西班牙语分发研究结果，并与利益相关者举行研讨会。 湿地测绘结果将与秘鲁环境部分享，以纳入国家湿地清单。 研究产品，并将永久存储和访问通过得克萨斯州图书馆数字存储库的大学公众。 作为博士论文研究改进奖，该项目将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个独立的研究生涯。

This doctoral dissertation research project will examine the changing spatial and temporal dynamics of tropical high-elevation peatlands. A unique type of wetland, peatlands store large volumes of water and carbon. Because of these ecosystem functions, understanding the role of peatlands in the context of global environmental change is increasingly important. In the Andes Mountains of South America, high-elevation peatlands are experiencing hydrological change caused by climate-induced glacier recession. This doctoral dissertation research project aims to address two research objectives in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. First, the doctoral student will characterize the extent of temporal and spatial peatland change from 1987 to 2011. Second, she will identify the environmental variables that explain patterns of peatland vegetation composition. The project will be accomplished by bridging in situ vegetation sampling with remote sensing and geographical information science techniques. These methods will demonstrate the relationship and impact of glacier recession on a tropical mountain ecosystem. By describing the ecology and critical environmental variables that explain peatland vegetation, the project will answer scientific calls to fill a knowledge gap regarding an ecosystem type that is directly experiencing the effects of global environmental change.The intellectual merit of this project is that it will integrate mountain geography and wetland science to investigate the ecology and spatio-temporal dynamics of tropical high-elevation peatlands thereby advancing scientific knowledge about a unique and important ecosystem. Using a mixed-methods approach not previously used to study high-elevation peatlands, this project will produce findings relevant to peatlands globally, and it will demonstrate how high mountain landscapes can be impacted by global environmental change. The expected significant scientific findings of this study will be relevant to many other wetland ecosystems that are spatially and temporally linked to glaciers, such as peatlands in the mountains of east Africa, the Himalayas, and in boreal latitudes. The project will facilitate collaborations between U.S. and Peruvian researchers, distribution of findings in English and Spanish, and workshops with stakeholders. Wetland mapping results will be shared with Peru's environmental ministry for inclusion in the national wetland inventory. Research products and will be permanently stored and accessible to the public through the University of Texas Library Digital Repository. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this project will provide support to enable a promising student to establish an independent research career.