Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU

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U.S. Geological Survey personnel from all disciplines are actively involved in a variety of climate, ecosystem, remote sensing, hydrology and terrestrial projects in the Yukon River Basin of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Canada. Within this broad research effort, a number of paleolimnological projects focused on reconstruction of past hydro-climate in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (YFNWR). These research efforts are in need of additional analytical and technical support with the goal of improving the interpretations of past environment-ecosystem dynamics from lake and wetland sediments. This cooperative agreement is in support of interactive and collaborative research involving graduate research education, interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales that will assist federal land management involving the direct participation of both USGS and university scientists. University principle investigators (PI) will coordinate with USGS and YFNWR scientists to design specific research objectives and sampling strategies for paleolimnological research by the USGS. In addition to the USGS Agency Representative, the PI will collaborate with other USGS personnel involved in research related to limnology, wetlands and soils. The PI will work with USGS personnel to co-advise a post-doctoral researcher or graduate student, participate in sample collection and analyses, data interpretation and publishing. Research Objectives by the PIs are to include:• Participation in field work (lake/wetland survey) planning.• Collaboration on analyses of lake/wetland-survey limnological data and observations.• Recruitment/employment of post-doctoral researcher or graduate student.• Preparation and analyses of bulk sediments for carbon/nitrogen content (C/N) and isotope ratios (13C and 15N).• Preparation and analyses of biogenic silica (bSiO2) concentrations.

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