Global Change Research Group

Andrea C. Cook

Email: acook@llnl.gov

Background

Andrea started studying global change as an undergraduate using open-top elevated CO₂ chambers on potted plants at the University of Michigan Biological Field Station with Drs. James Teeri, Peter Curtis, and David Gates. In 1991, she made a transition into arctic ecosystem studies by joining Dr. Walter Oechel's lab and the Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology between San Diego State University and the University of California, Davis.

After one summer on North Slope of Alaska, she developed an interest in determining what the long-term (centuries to millennia) response of arctic ecosystems will be to elevated CO₂. Andrea designed a dissertation research project that proposed to use natural CO₂ springs (geologic degassing of CO₂ at the surface vents or mineral springs) in Iceland as surrogates for long-term elevated CO₂ experiments in the arctic. She obtained funding for the research from the National Science Foundation (Doctoral Enhancement Award) and completed her dissertation in December of 1996.

Andrea is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She is continuing to conduct research on CO₂ springs (sites in California, Iceland and Japan) and is beginning to use radiocarbon (14C) as a tracer in studies of the global carbon cycle.

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Education

B.S. University of Michigan, Honors Biology, May 1991

Ph.D., San Diego State Univ. & Univ. of California at Davis, Ecology, December 1996

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Professional Experience

current: Postdoctoral Research Staff, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Livermore, CA 94551.

1997: Postdoctoral Scientist & Faculty Adjunct, University of California, Irvine, San Diego State University, and Lawrence Livermore National Lab.

1991 - 1996: Ph.D. student, Global Change Research Group, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182.

1991, 1995, 1996: Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, SDSU, San Diego, CA 92812. Introductory Biology Laboratory for Non-majors.

1990: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Biological Field Station, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

1989: Research Assistant, Nature Conservancy, Michigan Field Office, Lansing MI.

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Ecological Field Experience

1998 Japan, temperate forests

1997 California, coniferous forest ecosystems

1996 Antarctica, ocean ecosystems

1992-1995 Iceland, sub-arctic grassland ecosystems

1991 Alaska, arctic tundra ecosystems

1991 California, chaparral ecosystems

1990 Michigan, deciduous forest ecosystems

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Awards & Scholarships

Research Grant, LLNL Environmental Programs Directorate, 1997, Award: $35,000

Doctoral Enhancement Award, National Science Foundation, 1993-1996, Value: $17,500

Achievement Reward for College Scientists, San Diego Chapter, 1992-1996, Value: $20,000

Mini-Grants, various, Joint Doctoral Program, 1991-1996, Value totaling over $10,000

University Scholar, San Diego State University, 1994-1995, Value: $700

Research Award, Sigma Xi, 1992, Value: $600

Henderson House Grad. Education Scholar, Univ. of Mich. Alumni, 1991-1992, Value $1,000

Competitive Undergraduate Awards, various, 1987-1991, Value totaling over $30,000

Valedictorian, Muskegon High School, Muskegon, Michigan (class of 430)

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Community Education & Outreach

1997: Member, San Diego Science Alliance, a partnership to involve the scientific community in K-6 science education.

1997: Participant, Schoolyard Ecology Workshop, facilitates teacher/ecologist pairs to use the schoolyard to teach basic ecological principles.

1997: Science Educator, 'Ask a Scientist' program for teachers, specializing in K-8 science education, Oceanside School District, CA.

1997: Scientist, Science Discovery Days, grades 4-6, Grant Elementary School.

1997: MAST Academy (Mathematics, Science, and Technology) teacher a multi-weekend science program for outstanding 6-8 grade students.

1994: Mentor, Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, SDSU.

1992-1997: Teacher, Science Enrichment Programs, grades K-8, specializing in hands-on science experiments for the classroom, San Diego County school district.

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Publications

Cook, A.C., D.T. Tissue, S.W. Roberts and W.C. Oechel (in press). Effects of elevated CO₂ from natural CO₂ springs on Nardus stricta : photosynthesis, biochemistry, growth and phenology (accepted by Plant, Cell & Environment).

Cook, A.C., W.C. Oechel and B. Sveinbjornsson (1997). Using Icelandic CO₂ springs to understand the long-term effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂. In Plant Responses to Elevated CO₂: Evidence from Natural Springs. Eds. A. Raschi, F. Miglietta, R. Tognetti, and P. van Gardingen. Cambridge University Press, New York. pp. 87-102.

Oechel W.C., A.C. Cook, S.J. Hastings and G.L. Vourlitis (1997).=20 Effects of CO₂ and climate change on arctic ecosystems. In Ecology of Arctic Environments. Eds. S.J. Woodin and M. Marquiss. Blackwell Scientific Publishers, Inc. pp. 255-273.

Cook, A.C. (1996). Doctoral Dissertation. Effects of Long-term Elevated Atmospheric CO₂ on a Subarctic Nardus stricta Grassland in Iceland: Lessons from a Natural CO₂ Spring. The University of California, Davis and San Diego State University.

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Published Abstracts

Cook, A.C., W.C. Oechel, and V.N. Nosov (1996). Effects of elevated CO₂ from natural CO₂ springs on ecosystem carbon balance. 81st Annual Ecological Society of America Meeting. Providence, RI. Vol. 77, No. 3.

Cook, A.C. (1996). Adaptation to high CO₂ in locations naturally enriched with CO₂ ( CO₂ springs and vents). 2nd International IGBP-GCTE Workshop entitled Plant Acclimation to Elevated CO₂. Lake Tahoe, CA.

Cook, Andrea C., W. C. Oechel, S.W. Roberts, D. L. Tissue and B. Sveinbjornsson (1995). Effects of elevated CO₂ from natural CO₂ springs on Nardus stricta. 80th Annual Ecological Society of America Meeting. Snowbird, Utah. Vol. 76, No. 2.

Cook, Andrea C., W.C. Oechel, and B Sveinbjornsson (1993). CO₂ springs in Iceland. International Workshop on the Topic of Carbon Dioxide Springs and Their Use in Biological Research. San Miniato, Italy.

Cook, Andrea C. (1992) CO₂ springs as analogs for global change. 14th Graduate Student Meetings. California Botanical Society and San Francisco State University. San Francisco, CA.

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