Dr. Jennifer S. Powers
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University of Minnesota
Depts. of Ecology,
Evolution and Behavior
Plant Biology
Soil, Water and
Climate
The flow of carbon from the atmosphere through terrestrial plants to the soil connects the atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, and ultimately affects climate, soil fertility, and a host of other properties upon which life depends. I use experimental and observational approaches to investigate terrestrial biogeochemical and ecosystem processes across local, regional, and global scales. In particular, my research focuses on understanding:
effects
of anthropogenic environmental changes including land-cover change, climate
change and nitrogen deposition on carbon cycling processes
feedbacks
among soil fertility, plant processes and microbial communities
plant
and microbial species influence on element cycling processes
recovery
of diversity and carbon storage in regenerating tropical dry forests
These interests are linked by the
common theme of understanding the relationships among ecological processes, the
patterns they generate, and the effects of anthropogenic environmental changes
across a range of spatial and temporal scales. I use a diverse set of tools
including microbiological techniques, soil chemistry, stable isotope analysis,
remote sensing, geostatistics, and geographic
information systems (GIS) to extrapolate from fine to coarse spatial scales and
to connect ecological processes to patterns. The bulk of my work is in tropical
ecosystems.
Contact Information
powers@umn.edu
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior
100 Ecology Building
Office Phone: 612-625-5721
Fax: 612-624-6777
Lab: 495 & 496 Biological Sciences
Lab Phone: 612 624-6215
Information for Prospective Graduate Students
Please visit the Websites of the EEB and Plant Biological Sciences
Graduate Programs if you are interested in graduate studies at UMN.
Last revised: November, 2008