The geographical location in central New England, the range and diversity of the vegetation and the detailed historical records of the Harvard Forest together comprise a unique site for the study of forest ecology, forest microbiology, land management and regional planning for the northeastern US. This project will foster two major areas of effort at the Forest. 1) Forest ecological research at the site is focussed on the effects of major disturbances due to catastrophic wind damage on the structural patterns of vegetation, considered at the species, stand and landscape scales. Techniques will be generated for the analysis and simulation of such events using computer graphics, including the development of a geographical information system for the Forest. Funds will be used to purchase a state-of-the- art microcomputer system and associated software. 2) Forest soil microbiology at the Forest is centered on the optimization of forest tree-soil microorganism symbioses with emphasis on symbiotic dinitrogen fixation by actinomycete-nodulated woody dicots and on inorganic mineral nutrient uptake, especially phosphorus, facilitated by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. Funds will be used to build a small laboratory and to provide refrigerator and freezer facilities needed by the soil microbiology researchers.
