MS Assistantship: Red Oak and Poplar Whole-Plant and Molecular Responses to Flooding - Monticello Arkansas

Red oak species are key components of bottomland hardwood ecosystems that are facing management challenges. This M.S. student’s thesis will include two components. The first study will determine the effects of fully submerging red oak seedlings on growth and biomass allocation. The second study will investigate how different winter soil temperatures affect root growth of poplar and red oak seedlings, and key biochemical and molecular responses to cold soil temperatures. The knowledge from these studies will aid conservation and management decisions, especially for afforestation and artificial regeneration in bottomland hardwood forests of naturally flooded forests and GreenTree reservoirs. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to learn relevant greenhouse and laboratory techniques, participate in related fieldwork, and work with scientists and representatives from state and federal conservation agencies to develop scientifically informed management recommendations for the conservation and restoration of bottomland hardwood forests.