Graduate Research Assistantship in Forest Ecology I seek a student of ecology to fill a MS GRA position in forest ecology to research the consequences of abrupt canopy tree mortality on forest succession in upland oak forests. Old-growth oak stands suffered unusual total canopy mortality in 2008 that killed nearly 70 ha of forest in several stands surrounded by hundreds of ha of apparently healthy forests. We have extensive measurements of the herbaceous and woody plants in these stands before and after canopy death. Further study and re-measurement is warranted to determine effects on forest succession and biogeochemical cycles. Will these dead stands recover to forest or change to grassland? If the forest recovers, will it have the same composition as the original forest. How will N and C pools and cycles change due to the sudden death. As these stands are frequently prescribe-burned we would like to know the effects of fire on recovery from the sudden canopy death. Increasing drought due to global change may lead to more abrupt forest death and more openings. This study will provide new knowledge about the consequences of sudden forest canopy death. The successful candidate will have considerable leeway to design a high quality project.
The MS Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) stipend will be $15,500 per year. The GRA will begin in August 2012 and will be renewed for two years provided satisfactory progress in the project. GRAs are offered with tuition waivers and health insurance. Please contact: Steve Hallgren, Oklahoma State University, 405-744-6805, steve.hallg...@okstate.edu<mailto:steve.hallg...@okstate.edu> Steve Hallgren 022 Ag Hall Natural Resource Ecology and Management Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK 74078 office: 405-744-6805 FAX: 405-744-3530
