DISSERTATION ENHANCEMENT: Understanding Andean Diversity at the Mesoscale: Tree-Species Composition and Turnover across Montane Forests

University Of Missouri-Saint Louis, Saint Louis MO

Investigators

Abstract

0236486 Blake This U.S.-Argentina award will support dissertation research of Mr. Lucio R. Malizia working under the direction of Dr. John G. Blake, University of Missouri. Mr. Malizia will work with Dr. Alejandro D. Brown, Universidad Nacional de Tecuman, in Argentina, to conduct a study of the factors that control changes in tree-species composition across space (species turnover). They will do this study in the Andes of northwestern Argentina. This work will address a long-standing issue in ecology that may have profound consequences for conservation and forest management. Specifically, the study will shed light on the spatial structure of Argentina's diversity, and also has the potential to improve the network of Andean reserves through the identification of complementary areas that can maximize the number of protected tree species.