Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU

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The US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center is officer a funding opportunity to conduct research to ask whether (and where in the US) there is a relationship between atmospheric N deposition and vegetation diversity. Available plant diversity (richness plus abundance) data sets along known N deposition gradients will be used to test the hypothesis that diversity and richness decline with increasing N deposition. Specifically, objectives include gather, analyze and assess the existing empirical data on patterns of terrestrial plant diversity across modeled N deposition gradients in the US, identify target areas for supplemental analyses and data collection, determine how to handle factors that co-vary across gradients (e.g., by comparing gradient responses with fertilizer experiments where available, or multivariate statistical approaches), perform statistics and meta-analysis, and consider revisions to estimates of critical loads (CL) for N deposition impacts to terrestrial biodiversity.

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