Urbanization and agricultural intensification can transform landscapes. Changes in land-use can lead to increases in storm runoff and nutrient loadings which can impair the health and function of stream ecosystems. Microorganisms are an integral component of stream ecosystems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFreshwater ecosystems are susceptible to biodiversity losses due to land conversion. This is particularly true for the conversion of land from forests for agriculture and urban development. Freshwater sediments harbor microorganisms that provide vital ecosystem services.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn exploratory study was conducted in an urbanizing, mixed-land-use Appalachian watershed. Six study sites, characterized by contrasting land use/land cover, were instrumented to continuously monitor stream stage. Weekly grab samples were collected from each site and analyzed for elemental composition via spectrometric and spectrophotometric methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Claims about the environmental benefits of charring biomass and applying the resulting "biochar" to soil are impressive. If true, they could influence land management worldwide. Alleged benefits include increased crop yields, soil fertility, and water-holding capacity; the most widely discussed idea is that applying biochar to soil will mitigate climate change.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuppression of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil is commonly observed after amendment with biochar. The mechanisms accounting for this suppression are not yet understood. One possible contributing mechanism is N2O sorption to biochar.
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