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Background:
- Ph.D. Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, 2006, North Carolina State University
- B.A. Geology, 2001, Carleton College
Courses:
- GEL 120 - Physical Geology
- GEL 113 - Historical Geology
Academic interests: The biology of dinosaurs and other fossil animals, the biology and physiology of plants (both fossil and modern), climate change, and ecology. In other words, the stories one can read about the past in the rocks.
Dr. Rutzky's graduate research was in the area of paleontology/paleoecology. She exposed modern ginkgo biloba seedlings to levels of atmospheric gasses that are hypothesized to have existed during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous Periods (about 170-65 million years ago; when dinosaurs roamed the earth). This involved a 500% increase in carbon dioxide and a 30% increase in oxygen over present-day levels. The photosynthetic rate responses of the Ginkgo seedlings were measured, and parameters for foliage quality (as a potential food source) were tested. Her results suggested that Cretaceous plants may have had higher photosynthetic rates than similar plants today, and that these increases in rate may have made them more digestible than their modern counterparts.
www.sararutzky.com
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