rangelands
6th Annual RISE Symposium
The 6th Research Insights in Semiarid Environments (RISE) Symposium is coming up soon - Saturday, 3 October 2009, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. We have a great program with a repeat visit from Petey Mesquitey. The poster submission deadline is 18 September, so please submit your latest research results soon. The poster session is always well attended. Please, submit your registration promptly so we can plan the event effectively. The web site is
Decomposition in Drylands: Soil Erosion and UV Interactions

Death is an integral part of the cycle of life. In ecosystems, plants acquire inorganic compounds from their environment (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.) and build them into complex organic compounds that nourish animals either directly (e,g,, herbivores than consume plants) or indirectly (carnivores that consume herbivores). Eventually, all plants and animals in the ecosystem die. What is the fate of the nutrients they have accumulated during their life-time?

