The goal of this project is to analyze factors regulating the abundance, distribution, and species composition of benthic invertebrates along the estuarine gradient of the Rhode River. The intern will have the opportunity to assist in all phases of field and laboratory work. Fieldwork involves benthic core samples, trawling of fish and crabs, plankton sampling, and experiments on predation and larval recruitment. Laboratory work involves feeding experiments with predatory crabs and fish, larval settlement experiments, sorting and processing benthic and planktonic samples, and data management. The intern will also conduct an independent project on some aspect of community ecology.
Projects begin in late spring to early summer.
This project examines the ecology of wetland macrophytes. Field studies are used to examine population structure, biomass allocation patterns, leaf and shoot mortality, root turnover, reproductive ecology, and seed dispersal. The intern will conduct field sampling and help in reduction and analyses of data. Plankton Ecologist Protozoa play a pivotal role in the planktonic food web of marine and freshwater systems. These unicellular organisms mediate the transfer of energy and matter from primary producers to higher trophic levels and act as a major source of nutrient regeneration.