Research, Dale H. Vitt

FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION

Biogeochemistry and Paleoecology of Peatlands

Biosystematics and Taxonomy (emphasizing Bryophytes)

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

My current research interests include ecosystem processes, biogeochemistry, community changes, and development of peatlands, particularly as related to disturbance. I also have continuing interests in all aspects of research related to bryophytes including ecological and systematic studies of mosses in tropical, temperate, and boreal areas. I am especially interested in biodiversity, habitat preferences, and population structure of moss taxa.

Current research projects that my lab is involved in are:

1. Planning a coordinated Russian-American peatland research program

2. Setting up and maintaining a organization of the website PEATNET (to promote globalization of northern peatland ecosystem research.

3. A research program in northern Alberta to measure carbon accumulation in the fens of boreal western Canada.

4. A research program in northern Alberta to quantify the post-fire carbon balance in boreal peatland ecosystems

5. A study with three forest companies to quantify the effects of varying rates of thinning on lichen growth.

6. A project to discover the initiation of peatlands in NE Alberta, Canada in the oil sands area.

7. A project to study N and S deposition in the Athabasca oil sands region.

MAJOR FIELD RESEARCH (1968-2006)

Abisko Area, Sweden; Japan; Alaska; Lord Howe Island; Arizona; Mexico; Auckland Islands; Michigan; Australia; Minnesota; Brazil (Sao Paulo region); New Zealand; Campbell Island; Peru; Canary Islands; Scotland; China; Southern Missouri; Devon Island; Tasmania; Eastern Australia; Vanuatu; Eastern Canada; Western Canada; Eastern Europe; European Alps; Fiji; Hawaii; Jamaica; Siberia, Russia.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATES.

C. LaFarge	1999-Present	Bryophyte Systematics
C. Campbell	1998-99	Carbon In Peatlands
K. Wieder	1998-99	Biogeochemistry
E. Pharo	1997-99	Biodiversity
L. Söderström	1997	Biodiversity
L. Halsey	1994-Present	Peatland Ecology
T. Cao	1995	Bryophyte Flora of China
C. Gao	1994	Bryophyte Flora of China
R. Belland	1993-95	Phytogeography
T. Cao	1993, 1999	Bryophyte Flora of China
Y. Li	1992-94	Bryophyte Ecology
M. Sargent	1992	Bryophyte Classification
L.D. Gignac	1991	Bryophyte Ecology
P. Kuhry	1989-94	Paleoecology
Tailong Jin	1988-89	Visiting Scholar - China, Geochemistry
J.-P. Frahm	1988	Systematics of Bryopsida
N. Nishimura	1986-87	Taxonomy of Ectropothecium
T. Cao	1984-86	Visiting Scholar - China, Taxonomy of Grimmia
J. Pickard	1985	Vegetation Dynamics of Keele Peak, Yukon
J. Glime	1984	Stream Ecology
J.K. Bartlett	1980-81	Taxonomy of Blindia
G.W. Douglas	1975-76	Floristics of S.W. Yukon Territory
A.L. Skorepa	1973-74	Lichens as air-pollution Monitors

RESEARCH GRANT SUPPORT (for past six years)

NSF (Vitt)

USEPA STAR Fellowship, 3 yr, 2004-2007

NSF (Vitt, Wieder, Vile, Yu, Turetsky)

OISE: Planning a Russian-American Peatland Research Program: A Coordinated Approach, 1 yr, 2005-2006

NSF (Vitt, Wieder, Vile, Bubier, Turetsky, Harden)

RCN. PEATNET: Globalization of Northern Peatland Ecosystem Research , 5 yrs, 2005-2010

NSF (Wieder, Vitt, Yu)

Carbon Accumulation in the Fens of Boreal Western Canada , 4 yrs, 2002-2006
Post-fire Carbon Balance in Boreal, Peatland Ecosystems, 4 yrs, 2002-2006

Weyerhaeuser, ANC, and Weldwood (Vitt)

Lichen Study, 1997-2006
CONRAD (Vitt)
Initiation of peatlands in NE Alberta, Canada, 2 yrs, 2005-2007

Cumulative Environmental Management Association of Alberta (Vitt, Wieder)

N and S Deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, 3 yrs, 2005-2007

AXYS Environmental Consulting (Vitt)

Effects of Oil Sand Mining on the Wetlands of NE Alberta, 2 yrs, 2001-2003

NSF (Vitt, Wieder)

Tracjectories of Post-fire Carbon Balance in Boreal, Continental, Western Canadian Peatland Ecosystems, 3 yrs

NSERC (Vitt)

Bryophytes: Phylogeny, Rarity, and Species Patterning, 5 yrs, 2000-2005
Bryophytes-Ecology, Biogeography, and Systematics, 30 yrs, 1970-1999

NSERC Collaborative Special Project (to Peltier, U. of Toronto)

Climate System, History & Dynamics, 6 yr, 1995-2000

Alberta Environmental Protection Agency (Vitt)

Critical Loads of Acid Deposition in Peatlands, 1 yr, 2000-2001

CCAF (Vitt)

Modelling Carbon Dynamics to Climate Changes in Forested Wetlands of Western Canada), 2 yrs, 1999-2000.

SIUC / Plant Biology / Faculty/ Dale Vitt
URL: http://plantbiology/Faculty/Vitt/research.html/
Last updated: 25-Sept-06 / dln