Hello

I am not quite sure if this is the appropriate forum for this. If not please let me know.

 I am a first year PhD student at Columbia University in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. I am interested in the following themes with my priority listed first: 1) Farm policy and farming systems, 2) Pest control and 3) Mechanisms driving ecosystem services. I ranked these themes after reviewing the readings posted for each theme. I have included the abstract from my proposed dissertation project. An overarching question I am looking at is whether natives trees have different economic implications than exotic trees species when integrated into agricultural production systems.

Based on my proposed research project, I am looking for feedback from the faculty of the above mentioned themes as to which theme would be most appropriate.

ABSTRACT

Ecological conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots
such as southern Bahia, Brazil
have begun to focus on agriculture practices that can conserve biodiversity and
contribute to sustainable economic development. The key components in these
relationships are the native trees integrated into agriculture systems. Native
trees provide ecological functions and services that contribute to biodiversity
conservation and potentially to the economy of the farms. The role of native
trees in biodiversity conservation has been documented whereas the relationship
between native trees and economic development is less understood. The economic
implications of native trees include not only tree products (timber, fruit,
firewood etc.) but also result from the ecological services they provide that
impact crop productions, agricultural inputs (fertilizer, fungicide etc.) and
overall quality of life. Agriculture practices that increase benefits and
decrease costs of production, including improve quality of life, may reduce the
exploitive pressures on natural resources and forest reserves resulting in
biodiversity conservation.

Meghan,

You might want to directly contact the faculty who are leading the themes you're interested in by logging into the chat area during their office hours and starting a discussion with them and/or after this week's and next week's lecture, consider which of your three choices offer the type of data analysis in which you are most interested.  Glad you're thinking about the selection process!

Ashley