Two Graduate Student Positions Available on the Effects of Permafrost Thaw on Forest Dynamics in the Taiga Plains, Northwest Territories
There are two graduate (MSc or PhD) positions available through Wilfrid Laurier Universitys Cold Regions Research Center (CRRC; http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=2500) as part of an ongoing partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=12612). We are rapidly expanding our integrative research program to better understand coupled ecological and hydrological responses of permafrost-impacted systems to warming. Our region of focus is the Taiga Plains Ecoregion, which spans the length of the MacKenzie River Valley in the Northwest Territories, Canada. This ecoregion covers a wide latitudinal range and therefore a wide range of permafrost ecosystem characteristics, including boreal, taiga and tundra systems. Details of each position follow. 1) Examination of permafrost dynamics using dendrochronology Field Location(s): Scotty Creek and possibly Havikpak Creek/Trail Valley, NWT, Canada. Funding is available for a multi-year project aimed at the quantification of permafrost dynamics. Understanding conditions that promote permafrost aggradation or degradation is critical for predicting warming-related changes in boreal forest distribution and function in the zone of discontinuous permafrost where permafrost provides the physical substrate for tree establishment and growth. As permafrost degrades, forests will become more fragmented and reduced in area. At Scotty, rapid permafrost degradation has been documented but corresponding rates of aggradation are unknown and quantification of this important process has not been attempted elsewhere in the zone of discontinuous permafrost. Although it is clear that permafrost is degrading rapidly, detailed temporal patterns of change are not known and historical aerial images provide evidence that degradation processes are not equally affecting all plateaus. Detailed temporal and spatial records of degradation would thus greatly enhance our understanding of these processes and underlying mechanisms and feedbacks. We will employ dendrochronological methods to help address this important question. Scotty Creek will be home to the first boreal plot within the Smithsonian Institutes Global Earth Observatory (SIGEO) Network in the 2012 field season thus there will also be opportunities to utilize data from this large boreal forest dynamics plot to address these questions. Funding includes a stipend for the graduate student and funds for field assistants, travel expenses, and field supplies. The ideal candidate will possess skills in dendrochronology, strong analytical and writing skills, and strong organizational skills. The ability to lead and implement field-sampling logistics is important. Fieldwork will involve extended periods in remote field locations in the Northwest Territories. 2) Impacts of permafrost, climate and disturbance on vegetation community composition and structure across the Taiga Plains Field locations: Scotty Creek, Havikpak Creek/Trail Valley, NWT, Canada Funding is available for a multi-year project aimed at an improved understanding of the roles of climate, permafrost and disturbance history on the structure and distribution of vegetation communities (canopy and ground cover) across the Taiga Plains in the Northwest Territories. The candidate will address this issue using pre-existing representative permanent sample plot (PSP) data that spans the latitudinal and climatic gradient across the Taiga Plains with the possibility of complementary collection of data at sites at the southern limit (Scotty Creek) of permafrost, south of the tree limit (Havikpak Creek) and at the taiga-tundra interface (Trail Valley Creek). Scotty Creek will be home to the first of the SIGEO Boreal Forest Dynamics Plots and the candidate will have opportunity to utilize this large dataset. Furthermore, the northern plot(s) Havikpak/Trail Valley will be established in 2013/14 affording the candidate the opportunity to contribute to this effort and subsequently utilize these data. Funding includes a stipend for the graduate student and funds for field assistants, travel expenses, and field supplies. The ideal candidate will be well versed in spatial statistics. Further, the candidate should possess strong writing and organizational skills. If the candidate is interested in conducting fieldwork, the ability to lead and implement field-sampling logistics is important. Fieldwork (optional) will involve extended periods in remote field locations in the Northwest Territories. Students will enroll in the graduate program of the Department of Biology at the Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON (http://www.wlu.ca) in Dr. Jennifer Baltzers research group (http://www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=12794&f_id=1). Student must be able to begin work between May and August 2012, and enroll in the university for the Fall 2012 semester. Interested students should contact me directly (jbaltzer at wlu dot ca). Please send a resume, transcript (unofficial is fine) and, if possible, a piece of your own written work. Jennifer Baltzer Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change Cold Regions Research Center and Department of Biology 75 University Ave., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada Phone: (519) 884-0710 ext 4188 Email: jbaltzer at wlu dot ca
