M.S. Graduate Student Research Assistantship. We are seeking an individual with experience in soil science, wetlands, geology, or landscape analysis to work on a study focused on applying palynological techniques to elucidate land use effects on riparian zone attributes. Although riparian zones comprise a small proportion of the total landscape, these complex ecosystems provide the most important environmental and ecologic soil services of any component of a watershed. As agricultural lands are pushed to maximize yields, forests are cleared for agricultural land, and these areas are converted to residential land uses, sustaining riparian zone attributes is critical for the maintenance of the important soil-based services these areas provide. Sustaining these attributes is dependent upon understanding the effects of land use change on the soil system. Thus, there is a need for techniques that can be consistently applied over a region to identify layers in riparian soils affected by various land use changes. In this study, we will develop such a technique by establishing a set of baseline stratigraphic markers that can be correlated with past pedologic and vegetation changes related to shifts in land use, cover, or management. Responsibilities of the graduate assistant will be to establish sampling sites on selected riparian zones in southern New England, to sample and describe these soils, to extract and analyze pollen from the soil samples, to document previous land use history in each watershed, and to relate the pollen and morphologic markers to land use history of the watersheds. Please send résumé, college transcripts, and statement of interest to: Dr. Mark Stolt, Department of Natural Resources Science, One Greenhouse Road, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, phone 401-874-2915, fax 401-874-4561, [EMAIL PROTECTED] URIs Department of Natural Resources Science conducts research in pedology, soil ecology, wetland and watershed science, landscape ecology, GIS, and wildlife and environmental management.
Mark H. Stolt Associate Professor of Pedology and Soil-Environmental Science Department of Natural Resources Science 112 Kingston Coastal Institute 1 Greenhouse Road University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881 voice 401-874-2915 fax 401-874-4561 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
