Terrestrial Ecology Group

Our studies in terrestrial ecology focus on (1) the role of belowground mechanisms in controlling plant adaptations to environmental change, (2) the carbon sink strength of soils under elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and (3) methods for enhancing natural carbon sequestration by terrestrial ecosystems. The work is sponsored by DOE's Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Global Change Research Division. The overall objective of our studies for the BER Program for Ecosystem Research is to determine (1) the effects of multiple forcing factors on the allocation of photosynthate between the plant shoot and roots and (2) how this allocation affects growth and allocation of biomass of the mycorrhizal fungus. Our studies for the BER Terrestrial Carbon Processes effort are pursuing a better understanding and improved quantitation of the mechanisms controlling soil carbon storage and turnover, information needed for ultimate determination of the potential carbon sink strength of terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, we participate with two other national laboratories in the DOE Consortium for Research on Enhancing Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems (CSiTE), which aims to develop and evaluate strategies for carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems as a near-term method for controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.