Dissertation Research: Denitrification in Desert Ecosystems of the Southwestern United States

将研究西南沙漠系统中微生物介导的（N2O）和（N2）的Dentrification。将对来自三个沙漠生态系统的土壤芯进行反硝化潜力的测量。这项研究的数据将提高我们对沙漠生态系统氮循环的理解，也将帮助我们解释沙漠生态系统作为N2O（一种主要温室气体）来源的重要性。将对来自三个沙漠生态系统——大盆地、莫哈韦沙漠和奇瓦瓦沙漠——的土壤核心进行反硝化潜力的测量。此外，将进行实验室研究，以确定哪些因素控制沙漠中的反硝化作用，以及哪些生化途径负责这些土壤中N2O的产生。最先进的气相色谱技术（G3Ni电子捕获）将用于N2O分析。这项研究将由杜克大学协调，尽管大部分的实地工作将在新墨西哥州南部的长期生态研究地点——新墨西哥州位于奇瓦瓦沙漠的乔纳达地点完成。杜克大学和新墨西哥州的研究设施都很好，参与这项工作的人员素质也很高。生态系统研究项目建议支持这项拨款申请。

Dentrification, the microbially mediated production of (N2O) and (N2), from desert systems in the Southwest will be studied. Measurements of denitrification potentials will be made on soil cores from three desert ecosystems. Data from this research will improve our understanding of the nitrogen cycle in desert ecosystems and it will also help us to interpret the importance of desert ecosystems as sources of N2O, a major greenhouse gas. Measurements of denitrification potentials will be made on soil cores from three desert ecosystems - the Great Basin, Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts. In addition laboratory studies will be conducted to determine what factors control denitrification in deserts and what biochemical pathways are responsible for N2O production in these soils. A state-of-the-art gas chromatographic technique (G3Ni electron capture) will be used for the N2O analyses. The reserach will be coordinated from Duke University, although much of the field work will be done at the Long-Term Ecological Research site in southern New Mexico - New Mexico State's Jornada site in the Chihuahuan Desert. The facilities available in support of the research at Duke and at the New Mexico State are very good, and the personnel to be involved in the work are of high quality. The Ecosystem Studies Program recommends support of this grant request.