IN DESERT ECOLOGY
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is an NSF-sponsored program that provides students a summer stipend to conduct independent research projects under the mentorship of senior investigators.
Who is eligible? Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
What is expected? Students will develop an independent research project in conjunction with an ongoing collaborative research project with Dr. Greg Okin (UCLA) and Dr. Steve Archer (University of Arizona). Students will summarize their findings in a written report and an oral or poster presentation.
What is the starting date? Flexible, but mid- to late-May 2018 is preferred.
How much is the stipend? $500 per week for 1 to 12 weeks.
How do I apply? For application forms go to: https://goo.gl/VKXyhG Submit the required material to: jornada.reu@gmail.com.
When is the application deadline? April 15, 2018 or until suitable candidate found.
What is the research about? Water is typically thought to control community dynamics and nutrient distribution in deserts. However, recent research has shown that aeolian processes can alter land surfaces and produce resource islands that are key in the state change from grassland to shrubland. Mounting evidence also suggests that the direct impact of wind-blown sediment on plants (i.e. sandblasting and wind erosion) can also contribute to state changes in
deserts, but little is known of its impact on native desert vegetation or how plant species establishment might be differentially affected on wind-eroded sites. Our research is testing the hypothesis that positive feedbacks associated with sandblasting and wind erosion promote dominance of shrubs over grasses. The proposed research is potentially transformative in changing the scientific community’s understanding of the role of transport processes in catastrophic vegetation changes known to occur in deserts.
The field research will be conducted at the Jornada Basin LTER site: http://jornada.nmsu.edu/lter