6/22/2008 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Biogeoche mist r y of W etl an ds Science and Applications June 23 – 26, 2008 Gainesville, Florida Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory Soil and Water Science Department University of Florida Instructors: Mark Clark; Patrick Inglett; James Jawitz; Todd Osborne K. Ramesh Reddy 6/22/2008 WBL 1 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Science and Applications Course Objectives The objective of this course is to provide participants with the basic concepts involved in biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, metals, and toxic organic compounds in wetlands and aquatic systems. The Environmental and ecological significance of biogeochemical processes will be described in relation to elemental cycling, water quality, carbon sequestration, and global climate change 6/22/2008 WBL 2 1 6/22/2008 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Science and Applications Course Modules Course Modules Introduction Sulfur cycling processes Wetland types and communities Iron, manganese, and other Wetland hydrology metals Biogeochemical properties Toxic organic compounds Electrochemical properties Soil-water exchange processes Soil oxygen demand Biogeochemical indicators Adappptation of plants to wetland Novel processes and new tools soil anaerobiosis Carbon cycling processes Nitrogen cycling processes Phosphorus cycling processes 6/22/2008 WBL 3 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Science and Applications Lecture Outline Introduction for lecture topic Learning objectives Basic principles related to the topic Examples of current research Examples of applications to address real world problems Key points learned from the topic 6/22/2008 WBL 4 2 6/22/2008 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Science and Applications Learning Objectives Define biogeochemical features of wetlands Define Hydrologic processes Understand the differences among different wetland soils Describe oxidation-reduction reactions in wetlands Understand the organic matter decomposition processes and long- term storage of nutrients and contaminants Determine the role of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycling processes in regulating water quality Understand the role of metals in regulating nutrient mobility and reactivity Define the role of exchange processes between soil and water column on water quality Identify key biogeochemical indicators for wetland assessment 6/22/2008 WBL 5 BIOGEOCHEMISTRY z The study of exchange or flux of materials between living and non-living components of the biosphere G. E. Hutchinson (1944) 6/22/2008 WBL 6 3 6/22/2008 BIOGEOCHEMISTS Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky G. Evelyn Hutchinson 1863-1945 1901-1991 http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~alroy/lefa/Hutchinson.html http://www.answers.com/topic/biogeochemistry?cat=technology Fertilizers, Animal wastes Biosolids, Wastewater Uplands Sink/source Wetlands Sink/source Aquatic Systems Sink/source 6/22/2008 WBL 8 4 6/22/2008 Biogeochemical Cycles – Organic Matter in a Wetland N C P S 6/22/2008 WBL 9 Biogeochemistry of wetlands Plant biomass P Inflow Periphyton P Litterfall Outflow . PIP DIP POP DOP DIP PeatPeat DIP [Blaccretionac k BoxDIP ] DOP PIP DOP POP [Fe, Al or Ca- Adsorbed bound P] P 6/22/2008 WBL 10 5 6/22/2008 OXYGEN NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS Carbon [Plant detritus, microbial biomass, and soil organic matter] SULFUR METALS XENOBIOTICS 6/22/2008 WBL 11 Biogeochemical Processes zCarbon zPhysical zNitrogen zChemical zPhosphorus zBiological zSulfur zMetals zToxic Organics 6/22/2008 WBL 12 6 6/22/2008 Spatial and Temporal Scales landscapes, global, watersheds regions, states km >1,000 km Time soil m aggregate pedons, clay particle, mm field plots microbes um nm Atoms, molecules Length Plant Community Loading Hydroperiod Organic Matter Carbon(Carbon) (productivity) SulfurSulfur Cycle NitrogenNitrogen Cycle Cycle cycle PhosphorusPhosphorus Cycle Cycle Stable Organic Matter (P(Accretion/Stability) Accretion/Stability) 6/22/2008 WBL 14 7 6/22/2008 Biogeochemical Cycles – Linkages Physical Processes Organic Matter Chemical Biological Processes Processes N C P S Climate Change Carbon Eutrophication Sequestration 6/22/2008 WBL 15 Biogeochemical Cycles – Linkages at Global Scale Increased nutrient loads …high primary productivity ..eutrophication High primary productivity ….increased rates of organic matter accumulation… carbon sequestration High carbon sequestration in soils ..increased rates of microbial activities Increased rates of microbial activities … idllfhincreased levels of greenhouse gases Increased levels of greenhouse gases….climate change 6/22/2008 WBL 16 8 6/22/2008 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands Science and Applications Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to: Unique features of wetland ecosystems Identify role of soils as long-term integrators of elemental storage and ecosystem processes Describe basic concepts on elemental cycling in soil and water column of wetlands Define the role of organic matter decomposition processes and long-term accretion of nutrients and contaminants Assess the nitrogen processing capacity of wetlands Evaluate the ppphosphorus retention cap pyacity of wetlands Define the fate of sulfur, metals, and toxic organic compounds in wetlands Describe the role of exchange processes between soil and water column on internal load Identify key biogeochemical indicators for wetland monitoring and assessment 6/22/2008 WBL 17 Biogeochemistry of Wetlands http://wetlands.ifas.ufl.edu 6/22/2008 http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu WBL 18 9.