Epscor research fellows: NSF: the role of vegetation phenology in grassland sensitivity to extreme drought

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Montana State University $235,639 on September 1, 2027, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to support an EPSCOR Research Fellows project on vegetation phenology in grassland drought sensitivity.

The award provides a fellowship to an assistant professor and training for a graduate student at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, conducting collaborative research with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The project develops earth system models to simulate how vegetation growth patterns and phenology respond to drought stress across Montana grasslands, with the goal of improving predictions of plant availability for livestock feed under drought conditions. Research activities include empirical analysis using remote sensing datasets and parameter optimization for earth system model simulations, with specific focus on testing the spring compensation hypothesis—the proposition that warmer spring temperatures during droughts enhance spring vegetation productivity and offset summer productivity losses. The work will advance understanding of vegetation phenology's role in driving variation in drought impacts across the Northern Great Plains.

The award supports STEM workforce development in Montana through graduate student support and curriculum development in earth system modeling. The project runs through August 31, 2029.

Abstract

This research infrastructure improvement (RII) epscor research fellows project provides a fellowship to an assistant professor and training for a graduate student. This work is conducted with collaborators at OAK ridge national laboratory. Through this fellowship, the PI will learn how use big data to improve computer models that simulate the growth patterns of edible plants for grazing animals across montana grasslands. The project will improve the ability to understand when during the year plants are most available for use as feed to better predict how drought influences the timing, duration, and amount of plant growth across montana?s livestock systems. The benefits include an improved ability to mitigate the impacts of drought across western USA grasslands and ensure the supply of food for grazing animals. The award will develop the stem workforce in montana through supporting a graduate student and through earth system modeling curriculum development at montana state university. This project will improve earth system model capabilities to simulate grassland responses to drought by focusing on model representation of grassland vegetation phenology under water stress. The research will advance understanding of the role of vegetation phenology in driving variation in drought impacts across the northern great plains of north america. This project will test the spring compensation hypothesis, which states that warmer spring temperatures during droughts frequently enhance spring vegetation productivity, thus compensating for losses in summer productivity. This project will first conduct an empirical analysis using remote sensing datasets and will then use these observations to conduct empirical benchmarking and parameter optimization for simulations of an earth system model. This project will support professional advancement of faculty in earth system modeling and training for graduate students, curriculum development in earth system modeling, and the transfer of model components to montana state university to expand research capabilities and opportunities in montana. This project is supported by the epscor research infrastructure improvement program: epscor research fellows (ERF). The ERF program supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation?s private, government, or academic research institutions this award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.