As the population grows, human settlements are expanding into more ecologically sensitive areas. Our work at the anthropogenic ecotone addresses: 1) how the juxtaposition of human development and natural areas affects ecological processes and 2) ways in which we can restore existing urban environments, such as water features and riparian areas, to enhance ecological functions for the mutual benefit of humans and the environment. This work relies heavily on collaborations with other disciplines with the ultimate goal of increasing the ecological sustainability of urban/suburban areas.
Current projects include: - Investigating the impact of urban runoff (winter road salt, nutrients, and heavy metals) on soil carbon and nutrient cycling. - Seeking to understand the effects of dams and reservoirs on spatial patterns in biogeochemical cycling and predict the impact of reservoir management techniques on nutrient and metal mobilization. - Quantifying the benefits of green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, on water quality. Relevant Publications: Chambers, L.G., Osborne, T.Z., and K.R. Reddy. (2013) Effect of salinity pulsing events on soil organic carbon loss along an intertidal wetland gradient: A laboratory experiment. Biogeochemistry 115: 363-383. |
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