It wouldn't be a huge science project if it didn't have an acronym. The most recent science lecture was about the LTER - Long Term Ecological Research project. This is a very cool program whereby different groups study a certain ecosystem for longer than the typical NSF grant period of three years. There are over 20 sites around the US and 2 in Antarctica. Among all of the sites, there are projects which study just about every ecosystem represented in the US.
The group here is attempting to fully understand the interactions within the ecosytem in the Dry Valleys - a short helicopter ride away from here and a very, extremely cool place to go (but not many people get there). The area is very dry (you are not even allowed to spit there because any added moisture would change things) but does have some lakes and streams at certain times of the year. In the Dry Valleys there are 80 species of algae and 50 species of diatoms. All of this life is very, very small - microscopic. Many of the species are endemic to this area - that is they only exist here. Others are found throughout the world. They have basically found that life flourishes when the temperatures rise and the water melts, otherwise it is pretty dormant.
1 comment:
Ah, but peekchures, peekchures... ve vant peekchures!
Him
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