Just Watching the Grass Grow

I am being paid by the Smithsonian Institute to watch the grass grow. That is an extremely basic version of what my research this summer at SERC involves.


I spent all day in the field today at the SERC Global Change Research Wetland taking observations and measuring the height of Phragmites australis plants in the experimental chambers at the CO2xN site, which is part of my personal research project here at SERC. At Bryn Mawr, I have propagated the clones of several of the genotypes that are in the chambers here at the CO2xN site as part of the greenhouse part of this experiment. So it is great to be involved with the in situ (in the field) part of this cutting edge research too. 


Up until recently, Phragmites researchers believed that this invasive plant had only a few genotypes, but recent and current research has proven otherwise. There are 12 chambers in this CO2xN experiment, and within these 12 chambers, molecular testing of their genetics has revealed that there are at least 58 different genotypes! Each different genotype must have an slight change in one or more factors of the plant; these factors could be physiological, morphological, etc. My research investigates what role these genotypes play in connection to rising CO2 and N concentrations. Because in the world of rising atmospheric CO2 and increased concentrations of N in the soil from agricultural causes, what genotypes will profit from these changes? Understanding the effect of rising CO2 and N on these different genotypes of Phragmites will lend a light into how the genotypic composition of Phragmites and other plant communities, even outside the wetlands, will change in the future.

After an exhausting, but rewarding full day in the field, I returned to the SERC main campus. Back at the Green Village dormitory housing, I helped to make diner: falafel pita with carrots and salsa. It was a great way to end the day! There was just three other women and myself in the kitchen downstairs because all the other interns were off campus at a baseball game. So the four of us socialized as we cooked, and as we ate delicious food. It is fabulous to be a part of this community we have here at SERC! I am learning so much through research from everyone else in my lab and so much through the kitchen from the other interns.
And it's only my third official day here!