A5085193213- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
University of Louisville
2020-2024
Estación Biológica de Doñana
2021
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
2015-2019
University of California, San Diego
2013-2019
University of Georgia
2010-2015
Shippensburg University
2011
Catchment urbanization perturbs the water and sediment budgets of streams, degrades stream health function, causes a constellation flow, quality, ecological symptoms collectively known as urban syndrome. Low-impact development (LID) technologies address hydrologic syndrome by mimicking natural flow paths restoring balance. Over annual time scales, volumes stormwater that should be infiltrated harvested can estimated from catchment-scale water-balance given local climate conditions preurban...
Abstract Because of their abundance and high emissions rates, small reservoirs (< 0.01 km 2 ) can be important emitters the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide methane. However, estimates from have lagged those larger ones, efforts to characterize reservoir largely overlooked variations in pathways, times, locations. We intensively sampled four Georgia, USA, during summer quantify contribution spatiotemporal variability different pathways (CO CH 4 diffusion, ebullition). used these data...
Summary Natural treatment systems such as rain gardens aim to overcome the negative effects of urbanization on water quality, availability, and freshwater marine ecosystem integrity by mimicking natural cycle in urban planning design. While soils these are inhabited a diverse array invertebrates, soil macrofauna is ignored vast majority studies new or existing gardens. Here, we review functional roles invertebrates commonly found within Soil fauna have potential substantially alter plant...
Decomposing organic matter forms a substantial resource base, fueling the biogeochemical function and secondary production of most aquatic ecosystems. However, detrital N (nitrogen) P (phosphorus) dynamics remain relatively unexplored in ecosystems relative to terrestrial ecosystems, despite fundamentally linking microbial processes ecosystem across broad spatial scales. We synthesized 217 published time series carbon (C), N, P, their stoichiometric ratios (C:N, C:P, N:P) from stream analyze...
Current design of bioretention systems is intended to intercept and retain stormwater, enhance infiltration, remove organic particulates, nutrients, pathogens, metals, other contaminants using natural processes that derive from the interactions water, soil, microbes, plants, animals. Most function as isolated patches various shapes sizes surrounded by impervious surface. A significant body ecological theory has been developed addresses relationships among species composition, diversity,...
Summary We assessed the key role of aquatic fungi in modifying coarse particulate organic matter ( CPOM ) by affecting its breakdown rate, nutrient concentration and conversion to fine FPOM ). Overall, we hypothesised that fungal‐mediated conditioning would be accelerated when concentrations are increased tested degree which were critical processing production an invertebrate consumer. manipulated presence absence fungi, exogenous nutrients [nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P)] consumer a...
We examined benthic algal response to nutrient enrichment by nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and N + P in mangrove wetlands of The Bahamas, test the hypothesis that human impacts (fragmentation) on these ecosystems altered limitation, thereby changing frequency and/or magnitude at which ecological synergies occurred. Fragmentation occurred due road construction, resulting reduced hydrological connectivity between marine environment. Strong, persistent, synergistic colimitation both pristine...
Abstract The Little River (LR) in southern Georgia, U.S., has experienced lengthening droughts since monitoring began 1972. We evaluated the impacts of drought on riverine carbon cycling using a 9 year data set dissolved organic (DOC) coupled with laboratory experiments LR, as well long‐term sets three additional rivers within Suwannee basin. Longer periods reduced downstream DOC export but also led to higher concentrations following hydroperiod. Within hydroperiod, concentration was...
One of the goals urban ecology is to link community structure ecosystem function in habitats. Pollution-tolerant wetland invertebrates have been shown enhance greenhouse gas (GHG) flux controlled laboratory experiments, suggesting that they may influence roles as sources or sinks GHG. However, it unclear if their effects can be detected highly variable conditions a field setting. Here we use an extensive data set on carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2 O) sediment cores...
Green infrastructure (also referred to as low impact development, or LID) has the potential transform urban stormwater runoff from an environmental threat a valuable water resource. In this paper we focus on removal of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB, pollutant responsible for runoff-associated inland and coastal beach closures) in biofilters (a common type green infrastructure). Drawing combination previously published new laboratory studies FIB biofilters, find that 66% variance rates can be...
Abstract The urbanization process substantially alters every aspect of the soil environment. In this study, we compared microclimate, chemistry, and physical characteristics unmanaged natural soils with managed three common urban land uses (stormwater treatment systems, ornamentally landscaped areas, lawns) across University California campuses. Over course 1-year, average monthly temperatures among showed fewer than expected differences. Average moisture reflected wet dry seasonal changes,...
Summary Organic matter may sequester nutrients as it decomposes, increasing in total N and P mass via multiple uptake pathways. During leaf litter decomposition, microbial biomass accumulated inorganic materials immobilize retain nutrients, therefore, both biotic abiotic drivers influence detrital nutrient content. We examined the relative importance of these types immobilization compared patterns retention recalcitrant labile litter. Leaf packs water oak ( Quercus nigra ), red maple Acer...
Many North American blackwater rivers exhibit low dissolved O2 (DO) that may be the result of benthic respiration. We examined how tree species affected demand via quantity and quality litter produced. In addition, we compared areal estimates surface leaf-litter microbial respiration to sediment (SOD) ecosystem (ER) in stream swamp reaches a river quantify contributions decomposition demand. Litter inputs averaged 917 678 g m−2 y−1 stream, respectively. Tree differentially Bald cypress...
Abstract Decomposition of coarse detritus (e.g., dead organic matter larger than ~1 mm such as leaf litter or animal carcasses) in freshwater ecosystems is well described terms mass loss, particularly rates that compress loss into one number a first‐order decay coefficient, breakdown rate, “ k ”); less are temporal changes the elemental composition these materials during decomposition, with important implications for cycling from microbes to ecosystems. This stands contrast work terrestrial...
We used in situ and laboratory mesocosm experiments to test the effects of red maple ( Acer rubrum ), white oak Quercus alba northern Q. rubra ) leaf litter on microbial biomass detritivore Limnephilus indivisus growth, survival, organic matter processing temporary forest ponds. Fungal was highest but reduced both by presence, indicating a foraging preference based fungal biomass. Organic fine particulate (FPOM) generation rates were treatments containing detritivores, diets allowed for...
Nitrogen (N) in urban runoff is often treated with green infrastructure including biofilters. However, N fates across biofilters are insufficiently understood because prior studies emphasize low loading under laboratory conditions, or use “steady-state” flow regimes over short time scales. Here, we tested field scale biofilter during simulated storms delivering realistic transient flows high loading. Biofilter outflow ammonium (NH4+-N) was 60.7 to 92.3% lower than that of the inflow. Yet...
Abstract Natural treatment systems (NTS) for stormwater have the potential to provide a myriad of ecosystem services society. Realizing this requires active collaboration among engineers, ecologists and landscape planners begins with paradigm shift in communication whereby these groups are made aware each other's perceptions about NTS presence knowledge gaps that their respective disciplines can bridge. Here we participate first part what hope will be reciprocal exchange: presenting results...
Leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta are widely distributed throughout American tropics and subtropics rival other herbivores in consumption surrounding foliage. Although numerous studies have been conducted on role these insects play herbivory organic matter dynamics, only a handful examined their impacts soil greenhouse gas emissions. Our study investigated fluxes carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) from three nests cephalotes using portable analyzer, measured CO2 CH4 emissions soils...