Past Projects

Biotic Indicators of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition:Principle Investigators - John Dighton, Dennis Gray, Amy Tuininga (Fordham University). This projects aims to assess the use of mycorrhizal fungi as indicators of N deposition. This is a joint project with Fordham University. Funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Emergent properties of fungi exposed to long-term radiation: fungal ecophysiology: Principle Investigator: John Dighton. This is a joint project with the Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Kiev, Ukraine, the Institute for Nuclear Research, Kiev, Ukraine, and the A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Moscow, Russia. Funded by the National Science Foundation.

Biotic and Edaphic Controls of Ectomycorrhizal Community Structure and Function: Principal Investigators - John Dighton, John Lussenhop (University of Illinois at Chicago), Roger Koide (Pennsylvania State University) and Jim Baxter. This project is being run by Post-doctoral Associate, Lena Jonsson. This project examines the influence of leaf litter and fungal grazers on ectomycorrhizal community structure and host performance. We are currently manipulating oak, pine, huckleberry and mixed litter patches over minirhizotron tubes, which are placed horizontally in the organic horizon. Measurements include the dynamics of fine root growth and development of ectomycorrhizae under the influence of these litters. Manipulations are being carried out in the field (under mature trees), in mesocosms (under pine seedlings) and in microcosms. The influence of enhanced soil arthropod grazing pressure on the development of ectomycorrhizal communities under these litters is also being evaluated. This project was funded by USDA Soils program.

An Ecophysiological Approach to Understanding Mycorrhizal Community Functioning: Principal Investigators - John Dighton and Jim Baxter. This project is run by Jim Baxter, who is a Post-doctoral Associate at the Pinelands Field Station. The project examines the role of ectomycorrhizal diversity and composition in governing host plant performance and tests a physiological mechanism by which changes in diversity alter host growth and nutrient uptake. To accomplish this, we are measuring host responses to manipulations of ectomycorrhizal diversity and composition on experimental tree seedlings and characterizing the nutrient uptake capacities of single and mixed species assemblages of ectomycorrhizas on birch and pine. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9904007.

Soil Biodiversity and Risk Assessment: Project leaders - John Dighton, Bob Tate and Max Haggblom. Using molecular and physiological indicators of microbial community structure and activity the effects of different types of stress on pinelands soils are being investigated to assess the potential use of these indicators in ecotoxicology. Project funded by McIntire-Stennis (1997 - 2001).

Managed Fire Frequency and Forest Nutrient Sustainability in the New Jersey Pinelands: Project leader - John Dighton. Using a selection of upland pine dominated community sites of different control burn frequencies, the effect of fire on vegetation community structure, soil nutrients and microbial communities are being studied to evaluate the optimum burn regime for forest sustainability. Project funded by the Victoria Foundation (1997).

Ecosystem Mangement in Urban Settings: Project leader - Fred Grassle with Mike DeLuca, John Dighton, Sybil Seitzinger and John Wiggins. To link instructional programs with active research investigations, to train researchers, stewards and concerned citizens to manage natural areas in an informed manner and to develop a resource management model for areas threatened by population pressure. Project funded by Rutgers SROA grant (1997-1998).

Evaluation of the effects of distance of sewage discharge on stream and ground water chemistry. Directed by Dr M. J. Morgan, with the Pinelands Commission. Funded by the Noyes Foundation.

Sulfur transformations in freshwaters by bacterial process in relation to acid rain. Directed by Dr. M. J. Morgan. Ph.D. students: Susan Watts & Laura Lynch. Funded by NSF.

Forest floor patch dynamics and resource relations in litter: colonization by roots and nutrient cycling. Directed by Dr. John Dighton. Post-doctoral fellow Christine Conn. Funded by the Victoria Foundation.