Meteorology researchers from Duke and UNC-Asheville release a weather balloon from Purchase Knob, Great Smoky Mountains NP.
NPS
Research Needs:
Although most prospective projects offer value to the park's mission, we especially solicit applications that relate to the following topics:
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Assessing risk for habitats potentially endangered by climate change—where are the refugia likely to be located in within the park?
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Emerging wildlife and forest pests and pathogens.
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Ecology and control of non-indigenous species
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Watershed- and landscape-scale analysis of ecosystem functions.
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Long-term ecological monitoring complementing existing monitoring programs.
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The effects of atmospheric pollution, noise, and light pollution—establishing of critical loads for pollutants.
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The effects of human activities and habitat fragmentation in and around the park.
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Documenting and describing species diversity; modeling species distributions and factors controlling it using data now available.
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Wetland classification, function and formation—assessing contaminants.
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Pollination biology—especially for endemic plants and invertebrates.
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Amphibian declines—pathogens and environmental factors.
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Soils and geological studies building on our recently completed soils and geological maps of the park.
Click here for a more detailed research needs catalogue.
Note: research involving significant experimental manipulation or taking of large numbers of organisms may not be appropriate for within a National Park area.
Return to research home page.
