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not have been able to get off the ground. First, I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Dr. Thomas Lee, for his invaluable insight, guidance, and motivation throughout both this project and my graduate career. It was through Dr. Lee's passion for the environment that I cultivated mine further, and I couldn't be more grateful. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Mark Ducey and Michael Simmons, for the level of effort they provided for this project. Their assistance allowed for me to develop this project into one that I am proud to have completed. There is not enough praise that I could give to my research assistants, Hannah McCarthy and Riley Bibaud, to account for my level of appreciation for them. Their devotion to this research and their drive in the field was unmatched, and I couldn't have asked for a stronger team. It was because of their positive energy that the field season was a success. I would also like to thank Jenna O'del for her assistance in the field and Nick Warren for his generosity in lending drying ovens. I am also grateful to Steve Eisenhaure for his assistance throughout the summer by providing accessibility to my sites. I would like to thank Suzanne Hebert, Thomas Buob, and Hailee Whitesel for their handling of my many soil samples.