Announcing the Final Examination of Chelsea Nitsch for the degree of Master of Science in Biology
Anthropogenic impacts have increasingly led to profound environmental changes on a global scale. Two of the most widespread and ecologically significant changes are 1) the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems and 2) the shift in global carbon reservoirs due to accelerated greenhouse gas emissions. Soils that experience waterlogged conditions are often better equipped to offset these changes because they can host microbial communities adapted to anaerobic conditions that promote both nitrogen (N) removal and carbon (C) sequestration. My research was designed to (1) quantify and compare denitrification and mineralization activity rates among six native soils with varying organic matter contents plus one engineered media, in situ and after soils have been exposed to simulated stormwater basin conditions for one month and (2) experimentally manipulate wetland soil composition with additives of clay, C substrates of varying lability, and redox conditions to stimulate physical and physicochemical protection of organic matter by mineral associations. The completion of these objectives will jointly contribute to a better understanding of how soil properties and biogeochemical conditions impact the ecosystem services of soils.
Committee in Charge: Lisa G. Chambers (chair), Patrick Bohlen, Melanie Beazley
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