This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology (CFDA 47.074 - Biological Sciences) provides $231,060 over 5 years to Lewis & Clark College to research the long-term dynamics of tropical forest regeneration across sites in Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Panama. The project aims to understand how variations in environmental conditions and climate patterns, including seasonality and multi-year cycles, impact the timing and success of plant reproduction and seedling establishment in tropical forests. Standardized methodology is used across the study sites to collect weekly/biweekly data on flowering, fruiting, and seedling populations in large mapped forest plots. This research will strengthen predictions about the survival and benefits of tropical forests, which are globally important for their high biodiversity and carbon storage. The project also provides training and research opportunities for undergraduate students and early career interns.
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