Myroslav, under the mentorship of PhD candidate Damaris Chenoweth, is investigating how soil disturbances from gas development at the Jonah field affect the sagebrush ecosystem in Wyoming. His research focuses on understanding how well pad construction for hydraulic fracturing influences sagebrush regeneration— a key challenge for conservation. The project combines remote sensing and field-based methods. First, Myroslav is conducting a temporal analysis of well pad expansion from 2015 to the present using satellite imagery. Second, he is collecting and analyzing soil samples from both disturbed and undisturbed sites to assess changes in soil organic matter. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of disturbance dynamics and sagebrush recovery potential in the semiarid ecosystems of the Upper Green River Basin, supporting efforts to balance energy infrastructure development with long-term ecosystem health.
COLLABORATOR
PhD candidate Damaris Chenoweth
STUDENT RESEARCHER
Myroslav Bur – Western Resource Fellow | Myroslav Bur is a Yale College undergraduate studying Chemistry, with a focus on soil chemistry and sustainable agriculture. He is particularly interested in agricultural systems that emulate natural ecosystems, and how soil dynamics shape plant communities in arid landscapes. Through studying the sagebrush ecosystem of the American West, he hopes to better understand plant-soil interactions in dry environments and apply this knowledge to both conservation and agricultural resilience. In his free time, Myroslav enjoys reading scientific literature while drinking home-brewed full-leaf tea. See what Myroslav has been up to.