Soil carbon and biodiversity impacts of alternative forest management systems
Faculty mentor/Supervisor:
Gianluca Cerullo
Email Address:
Department Affiliation:
Forest Ecosystems & Society
Project Location:
Peavy Shared Landscape Lab
Project Description:
The project aims to develop a global database that tracks biodiversity and soil carbon across various forest management types, including plantations, secondary forests, old-growth forests, uneven-aged management, ecological forestry, and selectively logged forests. By collecting, curating, and analyzing data from these distinct forest categories, this study will help assess how different management practices impact both biodiversity and soil carbon storage. This research is critical for understanding how forest management impacts global carbon sequestration, and species population sizes, providing insights into sustainable forestry practices from various management systems and ecoregion worldwide.
This project will involve developing foundational coding skills for organizing and wrangling large databases. It will involve gathering, organizing, and analyzing data from multiple sources, potentially applying statistical techniques to interpret the results of different management approaches. The database created will serve as a valuable resource for comparing management strategies and can help guide future decisions in forestry management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation.
Describe the type of work and tasks you anticipate the student will perform:
This project is primarily computer based, with significant time allocated to searching literature for data, inputting data in an organized spreadsheet, and analyses of management effects following data collection. Specifically, the student will have the opportunity to learn R skills in data wrangling, graphical representation, spatial and data analyses.
Hourly rate of pay:
$15/hr
What is the expected timeline of this project?:
Proposed start date for this project is Monday, November 4th. The expected weekly work schedule will be between 9-5pm, Monday through Friday. Based on the flexible nature of the project data procurement, the student can generate their schedule outside scheduled meetings. There will also be a half hour check in weekly to address any questions.
Are special skills or knowledge required to work on this project?:
No
Will training be provided?:
Yes
How many hours per week do you anticipate a student to work?:
6-8 per week
How many hours per week do you anticipate engaging in direct mentorship?:
1hr a week
Detail your mentorship plan:
Overall expectations for the Mentor
Provide instructions and time for questions as mentee proceeds through the literature.
Provide opportunities to be involved with the research process including data curation, spatial representation and analyses, figure prep, writing and editing.
Provide opportunities to network with other researchers. Could include joining the Betts lab meetings in the winter and spring terms.
Invite mentee to join for scientific talks in forestry and other departments
Respond to questions in a timely manner and give mentee time to discuss any issues related to the projects
On a weekly basis, we will meet to discuss general questions about the research project or any questions the student has about being a researcher and the academic career path.