The Ecological Society of America would like to remind you of the upcoming 2008 SEEDS Spring Field Trip to Alaska.
The SEEDS Spring Field Trip will take place from May 25 31 at the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research site (LTER) in the interior of Alaska (http://www.lter.uaf.edu/). The theme of this field trip is ecology on the edge: polar ecosystems and their response to a changing climate. Taking place during the International Polar Year (IPY) (http://www.ipy.org/), this field trip provides a unique opportunity to learn from, and perhaps contribute to, the scientific research programs taking place at the Earths poles. The Bonanza Creek LTER program is supported and hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station in the city of Fairbanks, Alaska, with major funding provided by the National Science Foundation. Bonanza Creek research focuses on improving understanding of the long-term consequences of climate change and disturbance in the Alaskan boreal forest. The forests of Alaska are part of a worldwide circumpolar band of boreal forest. Boreal forest consists of a mosaic of forest, grassland, shrubs, bogs, and alpine tundra, that have formed primarily as a result of slope, aspect, elevation, parent material, and succession following disturbance. During the field trip, students will tour Alaskan boreal forests, muskegs and wetlands, and the floodplains of the Tanana River. Students will conduct an ecological investigation, and present results on the effects of fires in Alaska. In addition, students will participate in Athabascan cultural activities and learn about the effects of climate change on Alaskan Natives. A career panel discussion will also give students some ideas of the diverse career paths in ecology. Opportunities for undergraduate and graduate opportunities at Bonanza Creek and the University of Alaska will be presented. Students are expected to maintain journals on their experience, both individually and as a group. Group journals will create a comprehensive field trip document that students are then encouraged to publish in the ESA Bulletin. For more information on this trip, please visit http://esa.org/seeds/fieldtrips/upcoming.php. The SEEDS program welcomes your participation in this opportunity. Applications are available at http://esa.org/seeds/fieldtrips/fieldtrip_application2008.php. Please contact Jui Shrestha with any questions at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
