As always the UVA LTER Science Seminar this month looks to be a provocative discussion of an interesting topic. If you can fit it in to your schedule, this is a great way to learn about the really cool science that is being conducted every day right here on the Eastern Shore.
Public
Seminar
Thursday, March 15th, 7pm
Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster
757-331-1246
Free and open to the public
Thursday, March 15th, 7pm
Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster
757-331-1246
Free and open to the public
The Hidden Part of Plants and Climate Change: Getting to the Root of the Matter
Frank Day, Biology Department,
Old Dominion University
In coastal ecosystems, as well as
most other systems, the greatest portion of plant growth,
biomass, and carbon
storage is below ground in the roots. This important part of the
ecosystem is
hidden by the surrounding soil matrix and therefor can’t be
easily seen or
measured without destructive sampling. Fully evaluating global
concerns such as
climate change depends upon accurate measurements of all major
pieces of an
ecosystem. Two new technologies offer a way to observe and
measure roots in a
non-destructive manner. Minirhizotrons are clear plastic tubes
installed in the
ground that use a special camera to film roots over time.
Ground-penetrating
radar provides a means to scan the soil surface and “see” the
roots below.
These technologies have been used at the Virginia Coast Reserve
on Hog Island
and in a long-term study of the effects of elevated atmospheric
carbon dioxide
on Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Application of
these
technologies and results from the Florida study will be
emphasized.
