Jianing is investigating how aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and plant functional type composition recover over time on reclaimed gas well pads and in adjacent undisturbed areas in Jonah Field. The Jonah Field, located in the Upper Green River Basin of southwestern Wyoming, is a major site of natural gas development within dryland ecosystems, where energy infrastructure has led to long-lasting ecological disturbances that alter ecosystem carbon dynamics. Although reclamation is required to restore these lands, the extent of recovery varies widely depending on environmental conditions and management practices. Jianing is using the Monteith model to estimate herbaceous ANPP by combining biomass harvest data with estimates of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, and is assessing plant functional type composition using field data on species presence and abundance. In addition, Jianing is identifying long-term trends in herbaceous plant recovery following well pads reclamation. The research will enhance understanding of dryland ecosystem resilience and carbon dynamics in disturbed landscapes under a changing climate.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
Jianing Tian – Western Resource Fellow | Jianing is a Master of Environmental Science candidate at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE), where she specializes in dryland ecology and ecosystem recovery. She is particularly interested in the carbon cycle, including carbon emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem carbon balance. Before YSE, Jianing earned a dual B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Duke Kunshan University and Duke University. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research on agricultural carbon emissions, and she now aims to apply geospatial analysis and remote sensing to study vegetation recovery and carbon dynamics in semi-arid landscapes. In her free time, Jianing enjoys jogging, hiking, and playing musical instruments. See what Jianing has been up to.