- Lihini Aluwihare
- 20 - 24 January
Organic geochemistry of aquatic systems
Description:
Carbon in the coastal zone, including estuaries, is composed of a mixture of autochthonous and allochthonous material. In this zone, material can be transformed, removed, and added through abiotic and biotic processes, with consequences for the global carbon and nitrogen cycles.
This course will examine the cycling the dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM) in coastal systems through the lens of elemental composition, isotope composition, and biomarkers. In addition to providing a theoretical perspective on these topics, the course will also cover methods of organic matter isolation and characterization, including a description of instrumentation.
The course will also examine microbial community composition and implications for carbon and nutrient cycling in the coastal environments, likely through a literature review and presentations.
Contents:
1. Introduction to carbon and nitrogen cycling in different coastal systems.
2. What is the anthropogenic impact on carbon, nutrient and oxygen cycling in coastal systems?
3. Dissolved and suspended organic matter in coastal systems.
4. Tracers of organic matter inputs and transformations in coastal environments.
5. Methods to isolate and characterize organic matter.
6. Microbial players important for organic matter cycling in coastal environments.
Methodology:
Teaching methods for this course involve a mixture of lectures, guided exercises (group work), and discussion of scientific articles.