6th year of Science on Tap
Thanks to the continued support of UNM, Explora and the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
A time to eat, drink & talk about science!
on Central
Join us Thursday, March 1st at 5:30
2 Presentations from Explora's Science Communication Fellows
Soil fungi may benefit both plants and biocrusts in drylands
Dr. Eva Dettweiler-Robinson
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biology, UNM
Drylands,
such as those across New Mexico, have plants and biological soil crusts
(mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, fungi, bacteria, etc.) living
together. Plants and many components of biocrusts are photosynthetic,
meaning they can use CO2 from the air to produce their
bodies. Many biocrusts can also fix nitrogen from the air which is an
important fertilizer. I am researching how fungi affect the rate of
nitrogen transfer between biocrusts and plants and the overall effect
on the performance of plants and biocrusts. Understanding these
processes can help us understand what leads to erosion and windstorms,
provide habitat for animals, and understand implications of climate
change in drylands.Dr. Eva Dettweiler-Robinson
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biology, UNM
Albuquerque groundwater aquifer & its response to water resource management
Lucas Curry
Hydrologist
New Mexico Water Science Center
US Geological Survey
