What is the role of lake and river ecosystems in global carbon cycling?
Lakes are connected to their surrounding landscapes, and these linkages can be understood by measuring the movements of carbon into and out of ecosystems. For example, aquatic systems transport, store, and convert carbon between different forms such as carbon dioxide and methane. How are these processes altered by changing climate, land use, and other human activities, and in turn, how do changes in lakes and rivers affect the role of lakes in the global carbon cycle? Through field campaigns, simulation modeling, and geospatial analyses, our work illuminates the important role of lakes and rivers in global carbon budgets.
Recent publications:
Rocher-Ros, G., E.H. Stanley, L.C. Loken, N.J. Casson, P.A. Raymond, S. Liu, G. Amatulli, and R.A. Sponseller. 2023. Global methane emissions from rivers and streams. Nature 621. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06344-6
Carey C., P.C. Hanson, R. Q. Thomas, A.B. Gerling, A.G. Hounshell, A. S. L. Lewis, M. E. Lofton, R. P. McClure, H.L. Wander, W.M. Woelmer, B. R. Niederlehner, M.E. Schreiber . 2022. Anoxia decreases the magnitude of the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus sink in freshwaters. Global Change Biology. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16228