Researchers introduce macrosystems approach to study 1xbet online games login ecology
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University scientists and collaborators have developed a new method for studying a variety of 1xbet online games login — including tropical, prairie or forested 1xbet online games login — across continents.
Walter Dodds, university distinguished professor of Divisionin the College of Arts & Sciences, has led the researchers in creating the Stream Biome Gradient Concept, which is a way to compare 1xbet online games login in different climates and different continents. The concept can improve how researchers study 1xbet online games login worldwide.
"This model will help us understand how to regulate and conserve 1xbet online games login and protect water quality," Dodds said. "It's important to think in broad terms and in the context that people, plants and animals interact with 1xbet online games login . Understanding biodiversity is crucial."
The researchers have introduced the 1xbet online games login Biome Gradient Concept in the Freshwater Science article "The 1xbet online games login Biome Gradient Concept: factors controlling lotic systems across broad biogeographic scales."
Other Kansas State University researchers involved include Keith Gido, professor of biology, and Bartosz Grudzinski, visiting assistant professor of geography. Other researchers include Melinda Daniels, an adjunct professor of geography at Kansas State University and associate research scientist at the Stroud Water Research Center in Pennsylvania; and Matt Whiles, professor of zoology at Southern Illinois University.
All of the researchers have studied grassland 1xbet online games login , which share characteristics with other desert and forested 1xbet online games login . They developed the Stream Biome Gradient Concept to take a macrosystems ecology approach, which involves viewing systems on a continental or national scale.
"This concept is important because most previous research has involved temperate, forested 1xbet online games login ," Dodds said. "We don't know exactly how that applies to 1xbet online games login in other areas, such as tropical, desert, prairie or tundra 1xbet online games login ."
The 1xbet online games login Biome Gradient Concept can help develop hypotheses to test at STREON sites. STREON — or 1xbet online games login Experimental Observatory Network — is a 10-year experiment at 10 different aquatic 1xbet online games login sites in a variety of ecosystems. STREON is part of the National Science Foundation-funded National Ecological Observatory Network, or NEON.
"We're hopeful that this work will help people develop a broader and more comprehensive view of the way that 1xbet online games login ecosystems function," Dodds said. "1xbet online games login research is getting more mature and focused on large-scale questions. It's a natural progression to think in the largest possible terms and link our conceptual research to a scale where people interact with aquatic habitats."
The researchers received funding support from the National Science Foundation, the Konza Long-Term Ecological Research program and the International Grasslands Center.