Dr. Sarah Ivory

Associate Professor

Department: Geosciences
College:  Earth and Mineral Sciences
Address: 511 Deike Building
E-mail: sji15@psu.edu
Website: https://sarahivorypollen.wordpress.com/

 

 

Human and Climate Impacts Over the last 5000 Years on Environments of the Andes Mountains using fossil rodent middens

Humans and climate have had important impacts on sensitive environments in mountains around the world. In the Andes, changes in temperature and rainfall over the last 5000 years caused forests to move up and down slopes as well as whole communities to reassemble in response to climate change. Additionally, indigenous people used the land in specific ways, including for agriculture and llama/alpaca herding for thousands of years prior to the European arrival. We aim to better understand natural and human controls on Andean ecosystems, how these factors influence ecology and biodiversity, and how these may influence the Andes in the future. One way to study this is by using fossilized poop. Yes, that’s right, poop. So much information about animals and environments are preserved in poop. Don’t worry, it doesn’t really stink anymore, its too old!