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B.S. Degree in Environmental Sciences Option: Environmental Biology
A well-studied hot spring in Yellowstone National Park with green and orange microbial communities
Microenvironmental analysis of a hot spring microbial mat community
The green-colored photic zone of the mat is less than 1mm thick
Microelectodes show that photosynthesis (bars) is confined to a 300 micrometer depth at mid-day
Microscopy suggests that microorganisms of only two shapes build the mat
Molecular analysis reveals genetically diverse mat-building microorganisms (thick lines) of both types
Genetic mapping suggests that these microbes are adapted to different microenvironments within the top 1mm of the mat
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B.S. Degree in Environmental Sciences Option: Soil and Water Science
How do you monitor water and chemistry of soils when you can’t see these parameters directly?
Water and chemistry measurements are relatively easy to make in soil columns in the laboratory
Installation of monitoring equipment directly in the field
Computers transmit data fed from a matrix of monitoring stations to a laboratory at MSU
Real-time measurements are available minutes after their collection
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B.S. Degree in Land Rehabilitation
Plant growth test plots on phytotoxic wastes located in a floodplain
Constructed wetland to remove metal contaminants from mine drainage water
Placement of topsoil on phytotoxic mine wastes to enable tree and grass growth
Same slope 2 years later showing grass cover that has controlled erosion
Lime application on a steep slope to neutralize soil acidity and enable plant growth
The United States needs minerals from the Earth AND good reclamation practices
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B.S. Degree in Land Resource Science Option: Agroecology
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has three components - satellites (space), users, and control (U.S. Department of Defense)
The GPS receiver this student holds receives signals from satellites that allow her to determine her location anywhere on Earth, 24 hours a day.
Being able to determine your location precisely makes GPS helpful in mapping within a single field
GPS receivers on farm equipment allow mapping at the same time as planting, fertilizing or harvesting
These producers are learning how to use GPS data collected on their farms. They are working with the data in a Geographic Information System (GIS).
These within-field maps are the result of combining GPS and other data in a GIS
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B.S. Degree in Land Resource Sciences Option: Land Resources Analysis and Management
Sprawl development impacts agricultural, ecological and recreational values
Keeping land in agricultural production reduces sprawl development
Increased tourism in Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha) National Park is straining the land resource base in Nepal
Communities in Sagarmatha Park face degradation from woodcutting and overgrazing
Forest plantations below Mt. Everest provide seedlings for reforestation
A shift from socialism to capitalism is causing financial difficulty for Reindeer People in northern Mongolia
Overgrazing and soil erosion are increasing as animal numbers increase.
Intercultural exchange of technology is helping Mongolians manage lands for optimum productivity and environmental quality.
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