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While desertification in purported to be irreversible, there are promising recoveries underway at a handful of long-term livestock exclosures around the world. Perennial grass cover is, slowly but surely, returning to these sites. The purpose of my dissertation is to find out how, and why it has taken nearly half of a century after grazing was removed.
When viewed from above, it is easy to discern the cross-fence differences in grass cover at the recovery site located in southeastern Arizona. The area inside the fence appears much more grey, due to the higher cover of perennial grass plus the build-up of senescent grasses.
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fieldconditions posted this
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I am a biologist.
You can find me in the center of the venn diagram where ecology, conservation and restoration intersect with the socio-economic realities that shape how we interact with & impact the ecosystems around us.
My dissertation research examines the process of desertification. The bulk of this work occurs in the American southwest, but I also spent the summer of 2009 in northern China to learn about desertification in Inner Mongolia. I am funded by the following grants & fellowships:
-National Science Foundation's East Asia Pacific Summer Institute, which seeks to promote international research collaborations between American graduate students and scientists in Asia.
-American Philosophical Society's Lewis & Clark Fund for Exploration
-Ariel Appleton Research Fellowship
-Appleton Whittell Research Ranch Apacheria Fellowship
-Sigma Xi
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