This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) will fund a $199,697 research project at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The project, titled "EMBRACE-EAR-SEED: QUANTIFYING THE HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS OF PLANT INVASIONS IN A PERI-URBAN FOREST," aims to assess the impact of invasive plant species on forest water budgets and the potential for forest rehabilitation to restore water availability.
The researchers will conduct experiments to remove invasive species, exclude deer, and replant native species within a 400-acre secondary-growth forest on Chatham's campus. High-frequency weather data and soil moisture measurements will be collected in the restored and control plots to quantify the hydrologic impacts of the invasive plant species. The project will also provide hands-on research experience for undergraduate students and establish a long-term ecohydrology observatory on Chatham's campus. The findings from this research are expected to provide insights into the significant changes occurring in eastern U.S. forests and the potential implications for water availability.
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