The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) has a long history of research and teaching. Ecological studies, limnological in particular, have been in progress since the Station was founded in 1909. Long-term experiments and data bases form a unique background to more detailed experimental studies of nutrient dynamics, plant ecology, soil ecology, ecological genetics, and plant-animal interactions. These areas of study have been hampered in the past by the lack of certain facilities at the UMBS. This project will provide funds for a CHN analyzer, electrobalance and environmental chambers for the station. The availability of a CHN analyzer (and the associated electrobalance) will make possible accurate measurements of the amounts of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in a wide array of biological samples, which is critical for both modern descriptive work as well as experimental studies. In addition, a wide variety of ecological studies which depend upon having access to controlled environmental chambers will be possible with the added facilities. These additions to the Station's facilities will allow a variety of experimental approaches which past researchers simply could not utilize. Combining such improved analytical capabilities with the Station's historical records will greatly improve our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. The role of soil nutrients in affecting plant growth and how plants respond, in particular, to low-nutrient sutuations will be amenable to investigation, as well as studies of the genetics of how plants utilize available nutrients. Simultaneous measurements of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in samples from both terrestrial and aquatic environments will lead to more accurate descriptions of nutrient cycles in those environments. In addition, this will allow experimental studies of the role of such cycles in the growth of algae, higher plants, fungi, and bacteria as well as the effects of such organisms on the population dynamics of animals.
