This month's UVA Science Seminar: The Hidden Part of Plants and Climate Change

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

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.