Temperate forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. This research seeks to identify mechanisms of carbon stabilization in temperate forest ecosystems of the western United States. Metal complexation and mineral adsorption are key processes controlling soil carbon stabilization. Aluminum, in particular, has been implicated as imposing significant control over soil carbon cycling, but the underlying mechanisms of stabilization are not well known. This study combines field-based sampling of soils from temperate forest ecosystems with controlled laboratory experimentation to elucidate how carbon, aluminum, the soil mineral assemblage and microbes interact to control the biodegradation of natural organic matter in forested ecosystems of the western U.S. Part of this research includes the development and refinement of new analytical tools and approaches for characterizing carbon-mineral-microbe interactions.

This research will demonstrate and quantify the linkage between aluminum and soil carbon biogeochemistry in temperate forest ecosystems. This has significant ramifications for soil carbon cycling and its potential feedback to atmospheric CO2 levels and global climate change. In addition, data from this research will provide the information necessary to include soil mineral variables as parameters in models of regional ecosystem soil carbon dynamics, thereby enhancing estimations of regional soil carbon cycles.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Application #
0543130
Program Officer
Matthew Kane
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$456,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721