Spatial Ecosystem Ecology
Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Welcome to the Spatial Ecosystem Ecology Lab!
Our lab studies landscape-scale human
environment interactions from the
perspective of the environment. In particular, we apply spatial
analytical tools (e.g. GIS, remote sensing) toward understanding the
physiology of forest ecosystems (i.e. the cycling of water and
nutrients like carbon and nitrogen). As discovered by many researchers
in this field, understanding the ecosystem physiology of even
"pristine" forests must explicitly consider the myriad influences of
humans (e.g. via climate change, historic forest disturbance, acidic
deposition). Consequently, our research starts from the premise that
our large impact on this basic functioning of ecosystems implores us to
understand and consider how our actions will affect the vital services
that we obtain from ecosystems (e.g. drinking water, renewable forest
resources, "sinks" for atmospheric CO2). Indeed, it is these "ecosystem
services" which sustain our society.
News
March, 2010
Now recruting NSF REU & MRI undergrad researchers for summer 2010.
June, 2009
Preparing for fieldwork!
June, 2009
We welcome our new NSF REU student, Phil Curtis
May, 2009 We
received a new 4-year grant from NASA
April, 2009
Lindsay Deel was awarded a NASA WV Space Grant Consortium fellowship
for 2009-2010!