ARCHIVED CONTENT: In December 2020, the CZO program was succeeded by the Critical Zone Collaborative Network (CZ Net) ×

Biogeochemistry Research Group

Xing Hao digging a soil pit in the Luquillo Mountains June 2010. Photo: Miguel Leon (University of Pennsylvania)

Biogeochemical studies in the Luquillo CZO are closely linked to all aspects of the CZO and are designed to increase our understanding of the role of lithology and weathering in the maintaining the biogeochemical processes of the earth surface.

Image: Xing Hao digging a soil pit in the Luquillo Mountains June 2010. Photo: Miguel Leon (University of Pennsylvania)

This group is tagged with:

Biogeochemistry

Activities & Findings
People
Featured Publications
  • Macronutrients, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Atmospheric Inputs and Landuse 

     Previous work on the Luquillo surface soils has shown that: (1) pools of plant available macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K, and P) are much larger in the upper horizons (< 60 cm) than they are at depth (Zarin & Johnson 1995a); (2) soil nutrient pools are strongly dependent on SOM (Zarin & Johnson 1995b); (3) atmospheric inputs of macronutrients are substantial and nutritionally important to forest re-growth (Zarin 1995b, Frizano etal. 2002); and (4) macronutrient pools differ by landscape position, vegetation, season and land use (Silver etal.1994, Scatena etal. 1995, Cox etal. 2002). The gross stocks of SOM have also been quantified in forests and landslides (Silver etal. 1994, Scatena etal. 1995, Zarin etal 1995ab, McGroddy etal 2000). Unfortunately, most of these studies were focused on shallow surface soils in the VC. The physical and chemical quality of SOM has not been fully assessed in areas underlain by either lithology and SOM and nutrient stocks at depths greater than 0.5 m are virtually unknown. Nevertheless, studies elsewhere suggest that bedrock lithology can significantly modify SOM stabilization and storage, including studies on Hawaiian basalts and Sierra Nevadan granites, basalts and andesites (Torn etal. 1997, Rasmussen etal. 2005; 2006). Soil architecture, mineralogy, and chemistry also influence SOM incorporation into the subsurface (Mayer, 1994, Baldock and Skjemstad, 2000, Mikutta etal. 2006) such that we hypothesize that SOM incorporation in the GD soils will be dominated by physical occlusion while SOM stabilization in VC soils will be dominated by sorption on reactive mineral surfaces. These differences are expected to influence the depth of weathering (H2), riparian processes (H5) and the fate of atmospheric inputs (H7). To address these basic questions the LCZO is quantifying soil nutrients and stream exports by lithology, hillslope position, and forest type. Process based experiments are also underway to quantify the role of microbial communities and soil oxygen on nutrient availability. Available infrastructure include monitored watersheds, long-term vegetation plots, and legacy information on vegetation nutrient use.

    For additional information regarding ongoing Biogeochemical research please see LCZO data website.

     

  • Contacts

    22 People

    Heather Buss

    INVESTIGATOR



    Low-temperature aqueous geochemistry and biogeochemistry with a focus on modern terrestrial systems

    Maria Chapela Lara

    INVESTIGATOR, PostDoc

    Postdoctoral researcher

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Biogeochemistry, weathering

    Elizabeth Coward

    GRAD STUDENT

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Carbon cycling

    Grizelle González

    INVESTIGATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Soil Ecology

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    Scott Hynek

    Cross-CZO INVESTIGATOR, PostDoc

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Geology, Geochemistry, Isotope Geochemistry

    Rafael Jimenez

    COLLABORATOR


    Hydrogeology

    Matthew McClintock

    GRAD STUDENT

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    Isotopic and trace element geochemistry

    William McDowell

    INVESTIGATOR, Lead-PI

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    biogeochemistry, Hydrology

    Oliver Moore

    GRAD STUDENT

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    Trace-metal interactions at mineral surfaces

    Julie Pett-Ridge

    INVESTIGATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Isotopic and trace element geochemistry

    Alain Plante

    Cross-CZO INVESTIGATOR, COLLABORATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Penn
    Biogeochemistry

    James Shanley

    INVESTIGATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Mercury and Carbon Biogeochemistry

    Whendee Silver

    INVESTIGATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Soil Trace Gases


    Frolking Steve

    INVESTIGATOR

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    Conor Sullivan

    UNDERGRAD



    Nitrogen and Phosphorus limitation

    Cooper Tamayo

    UNDERGRAD



    nutrient cycling

    Aaron Thompson

    Cross-CZO INVESTIGATOR, COLLABORATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    UGA
    Soil biogeochemistry

    Jared Wilmoth

    GRAD STUDENT

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Nutrient Cycling

    Tana Wood

    COLLABORATOR


    Ecosystem Ecologist and Biogeochemist

    Adam Wymore

    INVESTIGATOR, PostDoc

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    Stream Ecology, Stream biogeochemistry

    Alumni-Former

    Diego Barcellos

    Cross-CZO GRAD STUDENT

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    UGA
    Soil Chemistry

    Kathryn Clark

    INVESTIGATOR, PostDoc

    Post Doc

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
    River Biogeochemistry

    Arthur Johnson

    INVESTIGATOR

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Soil Science

    Cindy Nawal

    GRAD STUDENT


    Applied Geosciences; Environmental Geology



    Geoff Schwaner

    STAFF

    Field Technician

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    Field Technician, Biogeochemistry

    Maddie Stone

    GRAD STUDENT


    Interactions between soil microbes and soil organic matter

  • Featured Publications

    1993

    Biomass and Nutrient Content of the Bisley Experimental Watersheds, Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico, Before and After Hurricane Hugo. Scatena, F.N.; Silver, W.; Siccama, T.; Johnson, A., and Sánchez, M.J. (1993): Biotropica

    1999

    A nitrogen budget for late-successional hill slope tabonuco forest, Puerto Rico. Chestnut, T.J., D.J. Zarin, W.H. McDowell and M. Keller (1999): Biogeochemistry

    1999

    Soil oxygen availability and biogeochemistry along rainfall and topographic gradients in upland wet tropical forest soils. Silver, W.L., A.E. Lugo and M. Keller (1999): Biogeochemistry

    2010

    phosphorus cycling in deep saprolite, Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico. Buss H.L., Mathur R., White A.F., and Brantley S.L. (2010): Chemical Geology