Glacial Refugia and Soil Development

Study SAREO-001
Initial Field Study
Status: In Development
Initiated: August, 2026

SAREO's first field study will investigate soils and biological communities in landscapes that may have experienced limited glacial disturbance during the last major glacial period.

Research Question

What can soils and living communities tell us about the history of a landscape?

The study will examine relationships among glacial history, soil development, vegetation, and biological communities, with particular interest in whether microbial and fungal communities may provide evidence of ecological continuity.

Initial work will focus on site identification, GIS analysis, field methodology, and sampling design. Potential study locations will be evaluated using geological, glacial, topographic, and ecological information before field sampling begins.

Current Stage

Site selection and research design.