LTER

Request for Proposals

Posted on February 25, 2011 by jehollow

2011-2012 Grad Grants for Research in Urban Ecology, Spring Competition

In 2011 CAP LTER is continuing its program in support of graduate student research. Grad Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to graduate students conducting research within the CAP LTER study area on some aspect of urban ecology. These projects do not necessarily have to be part of current CAP LTER research activities, but priority will be given to work that compliments and potentially enhances ongoing LTER research or that uses LTER data resources or sites. For more details, see the full Request for Proposals.

CAP Scientists Featured at NSF LTER Mini-Symposium

Posted on March 30, 2010 by jehollow

The National Science Foundation (NSF) held its annual Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Mini-Symposium on March 4, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The mini-symposium, “Ecosystem Services in a Changing World,” featured presentations by CAP LTER scientists Kelli Larson and Christopher Boone. Larson’s presentation, “Ecosystem services in residential landscapes: Perceptions, trade-offs, and cross-site research questions,” drew on residential landscaping work conducted in the Phoenix metropolitan area as well as in the Boston, Baltimore, and Miami areas. Boone’s presentation, “Changing preferences for ecosystem services over time,” showcased research from the Phoenix, Baltimore, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

CAP LTER Scientists Participate in LTER-wide Meeting in Colorado

Posted on November 3, 2009 by jehollow

The LTER All Scientists Meeting brings together scientists from a range of disciplines every three years to share research findings and collaborate on cross-LTER site projects.

In September 2009, CAP LTER scientists, staff, and students traveled to Estes Park, Colorado for this event, which involved plenary sessions, workshops, poster sessions, and ample opportunities for networking.

CAP scientists organized workshops on a range of topics including land fragmentation, integrative science, use of social networking media, and residential landscapes. The program from this meeting details these and other events held during the four-day event.

Urban Heat: An Environmental Justice Issue

Posted on September 20, 2009 by jehollow

Summer heat in the Valley of the Sun is almost legendary with temperatures soaring well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the impact of this heat on people is variable across the Valley. Poor neighborhoods with sparse vegetation and a preponderance of asphalt and concrete surfaces suffer the most while higher-income neighborhoods with lush, mesic vegetation can be several degrees cooler.

CAP scientist Sharon Harlan and a team of faculty and students are investigating human vulnerability to urban heat through a CAP-leveraged and National Science Foundation-funded project, Urban Vulnerability to Climate Change. Building on results from the Phoenix Area Social Survey and a previous grant, this initiative will provide important insights into understanding climate vulnerability at a metropolitan scale. As a recent article in The Arizona Republic indicates, urban heat is a critical public health issue in the Valley.