Research

Restoration Ecology:

My academic training is in the fields of terrestrial and soil microbial ecology.  Research in my laboratory is directed towards applied ecological studies relating to land remediation/ reclamation and ecosystem management as well as basic ecological studies of structure and function of microbial communities in soil.

Three key areas we focus research on include:

  1. How soil microbial communities and the ecosystem processes they drive are impacted by disturbance
  2. How do microbial communities in soil and the ecosystem processes they drive recover from disturbance
  3. Can management practices influence the impacts of disturbance, alter recovery of microbial communities and ecosystem processes and hasten site remediation    

Current Funding:

Influence of plant community structure and topsoil handling method on soil structural development and microbial community recovery in reclaimed soil.  P.D. Stahl, L.J. Ingram, and A.F. Wick.  Funded by Office of Surface Mining, $114,874. 2006-2007.

Mechanisms for stabilization and accumulation of organic carbon in reclaimed mineland soils.  P.D. Stahl, G.F. Vance and S.V. Huzubazar.  Funded by the the Abandoned Mine Land Research Program, $222,220,  2005-2008.

Recovery of Belowground Ecosystem Components Under Different Plant Communities on Reclaimed Coal Mine Lands, P.D. Stahl, L.J. Ingram, S.V. Huzubazar and C. J. Bilbrough.  Funded by the Abandoned Mineland Research Program, $217,696.  2004-2007.  (Stahl - $205,000)

Other Funded Grants