The goals of my research are to characterize the spatial and temporal patterns of Thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) population structure and plant growth across a broad reach of the Tanana River floodplain, and to assess the implications of these patterns for ecosystem nitrogen balance. Alnus tenuifolia is extremely important in the floodplain ecosystems of interior Alaska because of its ability to form actinhorizal symbioses and thereby fix large quantities of nitrogen, greatly enriching floodplain soils. My advisors are Roger Ruess and Teresa Hollingsworth.