The main focus of the Watershed Biogeochemistry Group is to investigate major elemental cycles in streams and their watersheds, particularly carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pools and fluxes. We are especially interested in quantifying and characterizing the rich array of organic molecules that exist in stream ecosystems, and serve as the main food source to microorganisms and consequently to all biological communities. Throughout the watershed, water is found in many places beyond stream channels, including aquifers, soils, and sediments. Our biogeochemistry laboratory has the capabilities to perform a wide range of chemistry analyses in water samples from all these places.
Watershed Biogeochemistry Staff
Watershed Biogeochemistry News
Spatial variability in streambed microbial community structure across two watersheds
Akinwole, P., J. Kan, L.A. Kaplan, and R.H. Findlay. 2021. Microbiology Spectrum 9(3) e01972-21.
Partitioning inorganic carbon fluxes from paired O2 – CO2 gas measurements in a neotropical headwater stream, Costa Rica
Marzolf, N.S, G.E. Small, D. Oviedo-Vargas, C.N. Ganong, J.H. Duff, A. Ramírez, C.M. Pringle, D.P. Genereux, and M. Ardón. 2021. Biogeochemistry, early online access.
National Park Service Taps Stroud Center Team to Review Water Quality Data
“We are really leaning on Stroud to provide the aquatic ecology piece, to help us put data into context and advance our understanding of watershed health.”
Saving Streams With Good Science
Building trust in the scientific process starts with communicating our research to non-scientists. To that end, our scientists share snapshots of three long-term experiments.
Meet Our 2021 Summer Interns
Our summer internship program, now in its 49th year, has ushered through hundreds of interns seeking meaningful learning experiences.
Use Of Biosolids as Soil Amendments May Be a Pathway for PFAS Contamination of Soil, Water, and Ultimately, Our Food
To help understand the extent of this problem in Pennsylvania, scientists are looking at the occurrence and migration of biosolid-derived PFASs into soil and water on agricultural fields.
