Climate Change
Climate change alteration of soils functional biodiversity of the Paramos, Colombia
Páramos are high-altitude tundra ecosystems nested at the heart of the Andes mountains. The Páramos' unique geographic location, at an elevation above 2,800 m above sea level, makes them highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In fact, these ecosystems' surface areas are projected to shrink by half within the next 50 years, possibly causing loss of the essential services they provide. This project aims to characterize the microbial diversity in the Páramos soils in Colombia and investigate how climate change will affect microbes' functions. To study the cascading effect of climate change on Páramos ecosystems, this project fosters collaborations among transdisciplinary experts that integrate the research of below-ground microbial communities with above-ground vegetation functions. The project also engages high school and undergraduate students that will work together to develop and deploy low-cost long-term soil monitoring data loggers in Chingaza National Natural Park, near Bogota.
This project is a collaboration between Estelle Couradeau and Siela Maximova of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), Jose-Luis Machado of Swarthmore College (USA), and Johanna Santamaria Vanegas of Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Colombia). The project is supported by grant from the US National Science Foundation
To learn more, contact project lead Estelle Couradeau (efc5279@psu.edu).
In The News
Penn State-led team to study climate-threatened Colombian Paramos’ soil microbes
Reef Conservation/Restoration
Since 2014, Penn State scientists have studied the turbid reef known as Varadero in the Colombian Caribbean, with is threatened by dredging activities. Research findings, combined with the advocacy of local scientists and activists, played a crucial role in securing the protection of the reef. Current efforts focus on participatory research, conservation initiatives, and reef restoration in the region.
This project is a collaboration between Mónica Medina, Roberto Iglesias Prieto, Joe Pollack, Carter Hunt, Leland Glenna, and Larry Gorenflo of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), and Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber of Oregon State University (USA).
To learn more, contact project lead Monica Medina (mum55@psu.edu).
In The News
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/buried-treasure/
Cacao Agroforestry Systems for Sustainable and Climate Resilient Solutions to Climate Change and Ecosystem Conservation
In 2023, Penn State scientists launched three research projects in Belize in collaboration with the Belizean Foundation for Research and Environmental Education. Focused on sustainable agroforestry systems with an emphasis on cacao production, these projects address social, environmental, and biodiversity factors. The overarching aim is to develop resilient and ecologically beneficial farming systems that can combat climate change, offering both ecosystem services and economic opportunities for local farmers.
This project is led by Siela Maximova and Mark Guiltinan of The Pennsylvania State University (USA) in collaboration faculty and students from The Penn State Cacao and Chocolate Research Network (add link here). The projects are supported by the Hershey Co., Penn State Global, the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and Ag Sciences Global in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
To learn more, contact project leads Siela Maximova (snm104@psu.edu) or Mark Guiltinan (mjg9@psu.edu)
In The News
Grants awarded to Penn State faculty for tropical ecosystems research in Belize
Penn State faculty visit Belize to forge collaborations
Optimization of amphibious aircraft for Amazon Rainforest operations
The project, a collaboration between The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, USA), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil) and Centro Universitário SENAI CIMATEC (Brazil), consists of an international effort to develop and propose improvements in the aerodynamic performance of amphibious aircrafts through computational and experimental investigations of its geometries. The Amazon region plays a key role in global environmental and economic conditions; however, transportation remains a huge issue, as roads are scarce. Turning to air and water approaches provides a vital solution for fast transportation. Two students from each institution are involved in the project, alongside the faculty members.
This project is a collaboration between Tamy Guimarães of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), Eduardo Bauzer of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil), and Luiza Aparecida and Turan Oliveira of Centro Universitário Senai Cimatec (Brazil). The project is funded by 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.
To learn more, contact Dr. Tamy Guimarães (guimaraes@psu.edu).
In The News
Mechanical engineer to lead floatplane optimization project in the Amazon
Climate change alteration of soils functional biodiversity of the Paramos, Colombia
Páramos are high-altitude tundra ecosystems nested at the heart of the Andes mountains. The Páramos' unique geographic location, at an elevation above 2,800 m above sea level, makes them highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In fact, these ecosystems' surface areas are projected to shrink by half within the next 50 years, possibly causing loss of the essential services they provide. This project aims to characterize the microbial diversity in the Páramos soils in Colombia and investigate how climate change will affect microbes' functions. To study the cascading effect of climate change on Páramos ecosystems, this project fosters collaborations among transdisciplinary experts that integrate the research of below-ground microbial communities with above-ground vegetation functions. The project also engages high school and undergraduate students that will work together to develop and deploy low-cost long-term soil monitoring data loggers in Chingaza National Natural Park, near Bogota.
This project is a collaboration between Estelle Couradeau and Siela Maximova of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), Jose-Luis Machado of Swarthmore College (USA), and Johanna Santamaria Vanegas of Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Colombia). The project is supported by grant from the US National Science Foundation
To learn more, contact project lead Estelle Couradeau (efc5279@psu.edu).
In The News
Penn State-led team to study climate-threatened Colombian Paramos’ soil microbes
Reef Conservation/Restoration
Since 2014, Penn State scientists have studied the turbid reef known as Varadero in the Colombian Caribbean, with is threatened by dredging activities. Research findings, combined with the advocacy of local scientists and activists, played a crucial role in securing the protection of the reef. Current efforts focus on participatory research, conservation initiatives, and reef restoration in the region.
This project is a collaboration between Mónica Medina, Roberto Iglesias Prieto, Joe Pollack, Carter Hunt, Leland Glenna, and Larry Gorenflo of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), and Dr. Rebecca Vega Thurber of Oregon State University (USA).
To learn more, contact project lead Monica Medina (mum55@psu.edu).
In The News
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/buried-treasure/
Cacao Agroforestry Systems for Sustainable and Climate Resilient Solutions to Climate Change and Ecosystem Conservation
In 2023, Penn State scientists launched three research projects in Belize in collaboration with the Belizean Foundation for Research and Environmental Education. Focused on sustainable agroforestry systems with an emphasis on cacao production, these projects address social, environmental, and biodiversity factors. The overarching aim is to develop resilient and ecologically beneficial farming systems that can combat climate change, offering both ecosystem services and economic opportunities for local farmers.
This project is led by Siela Maximova and Mark Guiltinan of The Pennsylvania State University (USA) in collaboration faculty and students from The Penn State Cacao and Chocolate Research Network (add link here). The projects are supported by the Hershey Co., Penn State Global, the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and Ag Sciences Global in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
To learn more, contact project leads Siela Maximova (snm104@psu.edu) or Mark Guiltinan (mjg9@psu.edu)
In The News
Grants awarded to Penn State faculty for tropical ecosystems research in Belize
Penn State faculty visit Belize to forge collaborations
Optimization of amphibious aircraft for Amazon Rainforest operations
The project, a collaboration between The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State, USA), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil) and Centro Universitário SENAI CIMATEC (Brazil), consists of an international effort to develop and propose improvements in the aerodynamic performance of amphibious aircrafts through computational and experimental investigations of its geometries. The Amazon region plays a key role in global environmental and economic conditions; however, transportation remains a huge issue, as roads are scarce. Turning to air and water approaches provides a vital solution for fast transportation. Two students from each institution are involved in the project, alongside the faculty members.
This project is a collaboration between Tamy Guimarães of The Pennsylvania State University (USA), Eduardo Bauzer of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil), and Luiza Aparecida and Turan Oliveira of Centro Universitário Senai Cimatec (Brazil). The project is funded by 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.
To learn more, contact Dr. Tamy Guimarães (guimaraes@psu.edu).
In The News
Mechanical engineer to lead floatplane optimization project in the Amazon
