The chemistry of ocean waters and underlying sediments play a fundamental role in controlling the ecology, species composition and overall health of the marine environment and determine the role of the oceans in larger-scale societal issues such as global climate change. Chemical research at SkIO addresses a broad set of science topics that span the breadth of these research areas. Because carbon plays a central role in the biogeochemical functioning of all ecosystems, it is the focus of numerous research efforts.
The organic biogeochemistry group (Wakeham) investigates the characteristics and reactivity of organic matter in aquatic environments by examining its molecular and isotopic composition. Studies extend to lipid and other compounds that have the potential to provide information about the organisms responsible for synthesizing them. Tracked through time in marine sediments this information can provide insight into how ecosystems have evolved in the past and how present ecosystems may be altered in the future in response to natural cycles and human-induced changes.
Work in the area of global ecology (Brandes) focuses on determining the mechanisms controlling the flow of C, N, and P in ecosystems, from extremely large basin-wide scales to nanoscales. Tackling problems over such wide spatial scales provides a different view of diagenesis. Dr. Brandes is a biogeochemist with expertise in stable isotopes, x-ray microscopy, nutrient cycling and organic geochemistry.
Exotic, human synthesized compounds are also making their way to marine environments and their influences on coastal ecosystems are still largely unknown but are an active focus of research (Peck).
The cycling of inorganic carbon in the oceans is also a major research focus as it plays a dominant role in the mitigation of greenhouse warming by carbon dioxide. Uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide by the oceans also leads to ocean acidification which may alter marine ecosystems and specifically impact organisms that make shells and structures from calcium carbonate such as foraminifera and corals.
Trace metals also play a major role in structuring the composition of marine ecosystems (Mann) and determining the health of coastal environments (Windom). By examining the variations of specific metals captured in coastal sediments, the history of metal pollution and the effectiveness of regulations and policies can be assessed (Alexander, Windom).
|
