The Paleoenvironmental Laboratory at Kansas State University is led by Professor Kendra McLauchlan in the Department of Geography. Our research reconstructs the functioning and characteristics of ecosystems in the past. Our research can be organized into three modules: reconstructing material flows through terrestrial ecosystems measuring biotic response to past climate change determining human impacts on ecosystems and recovery after cessation of human activity. Most of our research involves field work supported by laboratory techniques. We study lacustrine sediment stratigraphy and chronology, pollen, tree-rings, charcoal, elemental concentrations, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. We use landscape models, remote sensing data, and GIS techniques in almost everything we do. Soil organic matter content and function is a secondary focus.

The Paleoenvironmental Laboratory at Kansas State University is led by Professor Kendra McLauchlan in the Department of Geography. Our research reconstructs the functioning and characteristics of ecosystems in the past. Our research can be organized into three modules:

1)reconstructing material flows through terrestrial ecosystems
2)measuring biotic response to past climate change
3)determining human impacts on ecosystems and recovery after cessation of human activity.

Most of our research involves field work supported by laboratory techniques. We study lacustrine sediment stratigraphy and chronology, pollen, tree-rings, charcoal, elemental concentrations, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. We use landscape models, remote sensing data, and GIS techniques in almost everything we do. Soil organic matter content and function is a secondary focus.