A. Center/Institute/Program

Earth, Ecosystem and Ecological Sciences/Dartmouth College

6182 Steele Hall

Hanover, NH 03755

Phone: 603-646-2838

Fax: 603-646-1682

E-mail: Ross.A.Virginia@dartmouth.edu

Director/Chairperson: Dr. Andrew J. Friedland

Representative to AERC: Dr. Ross A. Virginia

B. Major objectives of the Center/Institute/Program

Multidisciplinary research and education in ecosystem and related environmental sciences. EEES facilities research and graduate program that bridge the biological and earth sciences.

C. Major ecosystem research emphases

1. Air pollution effects on high elevation northeastern forests; forest community dynamics.

2. Desertification of southwestern grasslands and response of deserts global change.

3. Aquatic ecosystems, response of lakes and streams to human disturbance; river and stream restoration; effects of heavy metals on aquatic systems.

4. Ecosystem fragmentation and effects on plant and animal populations.

5. Polar ecosystems, nutrient cycling and soil ecology.

D. Staff

Permanent scientific staff: PhD: 20

Scientific support staff: Postdocs: 5, Technicians: 5

Other support staff: Clerical: 2

Graduate students: PhD: 20

Undergraduates: 100

E. Approximate annual funding (recent year)

Core funding: $ Source: Dartmouth College

Grants: $1,500,000/yr, Major sources: NSF, NIEHS, DOE, USFS

F. Areas and facilities for ecosystem research studies

1. Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, 4,575 acres.

2. Dartmough College, Fullington Farm, 180 acres. Small student organic farm (2 acres cultivated, 15 acres cover crops) with frontage to Connecticut River and contiguous to 160 acres of mixed hard forest.

3. Second College Grant, northern New Hampshire, 26,800 acres, mixed northern forest.

G. Research staff directly involved in ecosystem research (names and specialty areas)

Ayers, M. – physiological ecology

Barrett, J. – biogeochemistry

Birnie, R.W. – remote sensing

Bolger, D. – animal ecology

Conkey, L. – dendrochronology

Cottingham, K. – aquatic ecology

Feng, X. – isotope geochemistry

Folt, C. – aquatic ecology

Friedland, A. – forest biogeochemistry

Gilbert, J. – aquatic ecology

Heimsath, A. – surface geomorphology

Holmes, R. – avian ecology

Howarth, R. – ecological economics

Magilligan, F. – water resources

McPeek, M. – evolutionary ecology

Miller, E. – forest/atmosphere science

Peart, D. – forest ecology

Renshaw, C. – hydrogeology

Virginia, R. – biogeochemistry

Zhao, M. – organic geochemistry

H. Long-term data sets (code name, number of years of data, computer accessibility)

1. In collaboration with Hubbard Brook, Jornada Basin, and McMurdo Dry Valley LTER sites.

2. Whiteface Mountain. NY.