One component of the ROCA (Research Opportunities for Collaboration in the Appalachians) project is a comparison of 2 small, disturbed watersheds near Frostburg, Maryland.  One watershed (FOR) was selectively cut about 20 years ago and is in the process of regenerating.  The other nearby watershed (RM) was strip-mined and reclaimed about 20 years ago.  Both watersheds are outfitted with stream weirs to monitor stream flow continuously.  Three soil-sampling plots have also been established in each watershed.  A weather station at the RM site monitors temperature and precipitation.

    Cooperators have been studying the effects of these 2 very different disturbances on stream discharge and chemistry, the nitrogen cycle, phosphorus availability, plant communities, litter decomposition, soil/atmosphere gas exchange, and fungal diversity.

    The project involves 5 ecologists from three Appalachian College Association (ACA) institutions (West Virginia Wesleyan, Ferrum and Sewanee) plus researchers from the University of Maryland's Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, MD.   The project has been funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the past 3 years. An expansion grant has allowed us to set up satellite watershed sites near the 3 ACA institutions and provide summer stipends for undergraduate student researchers.

    These sites raise many questions and our team cannot address them all. We would welcome additional investigators from ACA schools on this project to collaborate at the college sites.  It is likely there will be funds available to cover travel expenses, some supplies and perhaps other expenses.  Some additional research opportunities may be available at the Frostburg sites depending on the specialty of the individuals.  Addition of these individuals would be a decision of Appalachian Labs.  Trips for classes to both the Frostburg site and the college sites are encouraged and some funding is available for this.  We anticipate that additional ACA college sites will be added in subsequent years and encourage others to get involved.

    If you are interested and would like to know more about the project please contact any one of the following collaborators.

Faculty

Appalachian Laboratory

 

Mark Castro Assistant Professor Ph.D. 1991, University of Virginia. webcv castro@al.umces.edu phone: 301.689.7163

Environmental science Atmospheric-biosphere interactions Impacts of land use on water quality

 

William S. Currie Assistant Professor Ph.D. 1995, University of Hew Hampshire. wcurrie@umich.edu Now at Univ. of Michigan

Forest ecology and biogeochemistry Nutrient cycling, including use of the stable isotope 15N Modeling and synthesis of carbon, nutrients, and energetics Scaling biogeochemical processes to landscapes using modeling and GIS

 

Keith Eshleman Associate Professor Ph.D. 1985, Masschusetts Institute of Technology (Water Resources). eshleman@al.umces.edu webcv phone: 301.689.7170

Watershed / wetlands hydrology Groundwater / surface water interactions Biogeochemical processes in upland and wetland ecosystems Hydrochemical modeling

 
 

Louis F. Pitelka Professor Ph.D. 1974, Stanford University. pitelka@al.umces.edu webcv phone: 301.689.7101

Plant ecology, ecosystem ecology Global change issues Population ecology of perennial herbs Effects of acid deposition, elevated CO2 and climate change on natural ecosystems

Ferrum College
 

Bob R. Pohlad Professor of Biology and Horticulture Ph.D. 1978, University of Georgia bpohlad@ferrum.edu website phone:540.365.4367

Fungal Morphology and Ecology Plant pathology Microbial ecology of forest and agricultural ecosystems Instructional technology and science education

 

Carolyn L. Thomas Professor of Environmental Science and Biology Ph.D. 1984, Virginia Polytechnic Institute. cthomas@ferrum.edu website phone: 540.365.4368

Lake nutrient dynamics Aquatic microbial ecology Watershed research

David Johnson Professor of Chemistry and Env. Science Ph.D. 1975, University of Michigan. djohnson@ferrum.edu website phone:540.365.2602

NPS pollution reduction GIS-based watershed modeling  Water quality monitoring  Development of polymeric membrane anion selective electrodes

Lindsey Wilson College

(270) 384-8192

Sewanee
 
 

  West Virginia Wesleyan
 
   

Jeffrey Simmons  Associate Professor of Biology and Env. Science Ph.D. 1993, Cornell University. simmons@wvwc.edu website phone: 304.473-8253

Effects of acid mine drainage on aquatic ecosystems Interactions of phosphorus with heavy metals Ecosystem resilience

Research Staff

Appalachian Laboratory

Graduate Students

Cindee Giffen
Mac Sloan

Tel: 301.689.7100 Fax: 301.689.7200

Dr. Robert H. Gardner
Interim Director
Tel: 301.689.7125