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Tidal Rivers Biofingerprinting Sediment: Resolving Sediment Connectivity Between Rivers and Estuaries by Tracking Particles With Their Microbial Genetic Signature

800 532 Stroud Water Research Center

Sediment flowing from rivers to estuaries is a double-edged sword: too much sediment can harm oyster beds but not enough sediment can starve tidal marshes. Measuring whether a river is providing too much or not enough sediment requires knowing exactly where that sediment comes from and when. This project uses molecular characterization of attached microbes on sediment particles to detect where sediment comes from during different periods of river flow.

Funded by: National Science Foundation

Principal Investigators: Scott H. Ensign and Jinjun Kan

Collaborator:

Project Years: 2021, 2022