Volume 82, No. 10, March 6, 2001

Biocomplexity in the Environment: Opportunities for Biogeosciences Research and Education

Eric T. Sundquist, U.S. Geological Survey, and Enriqueta Barrera, National Science Foundation

Copyright 2001 American Geophysical Union

The term "biocomplexity" has not been commonly encountered in the traditional Earth sciences. It is one of many concepts that are finding new significance in the growing efforts of Earth scientists to understand the role of organisms (including humans) in Earth processes.

Important opportunities for Earth science research are embodied in the recent National Science Foundation (NSF) program announcement, "Biocomplexity in the Environment: Integrated Research and Education in Environmental Systems." (See http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2001/nsf0134/nsf0134.htm).

The announcement solicits proposals in four topical areas, all of which are subjects of active interest in biogeoscience research. Under the topic, "Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems" (CNH), emphasis is placed on support of interdisciplinary teams from the natural and social sciences to focus on subjects such as land use, vulnerability to environmental change, and "natural capital" (including fuel, water, and soil).

Proposals are also invited on the cycling of carbon and other biolimiting elements in a wide range of Earth systems, ranging from systems in the geologic past to present-day systems subject to human influence; this is under the topic, "Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles" (CBC) . This area also includes research on the water cycle and geomicrobiology.

Proposals are invited under the topic area "Genome-Enabled Environmental Sciences and Engineering" (GEN-EN) to better understand the interplay of genes in the environment, phylogenetic relationships, and the co-evolution of life and Earth.

Finally, the topic area "Instrumentation Development for Environmental Activities" (IDEA) recognizes the need for further improvement of environmental sensing technologies. Proposals in this area are also solicited. All proposals are required to integrate quantitative approaches, education, and a global perspective. Funds available for the initiative total $55 milion for grants of 3 to 5 years.

The deadline for submissions of proposals for CNH and IDEA is March 16, 2001. The deadline for submissions of proposals for CBC and GEN-EN is March 29, 2001.

The Biocomplexity in the Environment program alleviates a long-standing concern of the biogeoscience community -- the difficulty of navigating NSF's various pathways for funding research on the terrestrial components of the carbon cycle and related biogeochemical cycles and processes. To initiate improvement of its focus and integration in these areas, NSF sponsored a one-day workshop on the terrestrial carbon cycle in June 2000. The report of this workshop [http://www.geo.nsf.gov/ear/programs/gepage.html] identifies challenges and opportunities for research into these complex environmental questions. The report emphasizes the importance of NSF's unique role in supporting investigator-initiated and discovery-based research to probe the complex workings of the terrestrial cycles of the bioactive elements, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and oxygen.

The Biocomplexity in the Environment program is intended to continue evolving in response to new insights and research opportunities, such as those identified in the terrestrial carbon cycle workshop report.