Collaborative Research: Aboveground-Belowground Interactions: Relating Plant Community Composition and Diversity to Methane Cycling in Wetland Ecosystems

由于世界范围内物种的加速消失，理解生物多样性和生态系统功能之间的联系已经成为生态学的一个核心问题。绝大多数研究都是在陆地生态系统中进行的，主要侧重于植物生产力和养分吸收/保留，明显缺乏关于地下过程的资料。该项目的目的是研究淡水湿地植物群落组成和多样性的变化如何改变甲烷循环。这将通过实地观察研究和两个模拟自然植物群落结构的受控中生态实验来完成。拟议的工作将有助于我们了解湿地地上和地下过程之间的联系，并为植物群落如何影响甲烷排放提供证据，对未来的气候变化有明确的影响。这些项目将与俄亥俄州环保局合作，为湿地专业人员提供一个外联项目，以鼓励对目前湿地缓解做法进行重新评估。该项目还将支持两名致力于研究与教育活动相结合的早期职业科学家的研究，并为两名研究生和几名本科生提供培训和研究经验。

Motivated by the accelerated loss of species worldwide, understanding the link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning has emerged as a central question in ecology. An overwhelming majority of studies have been conducted in terrestrial ecosystems and have focused primarily on plant productivity and nutrient uptake/retention, with a notable lack of information available on belowground processes. The objective of this project is to examine how changes in plant community composition and diversity alter the methane cycle in freshwater wetlands. This will be done with an observational field study and two controlled mesocosm experiments designed to mimic the structure of natural plant communities. The proposed work will contribute to our understanding of the links between aboveground and belowground processes in wetlands, and provide evidence for how the plant community impacts methane emissions, having clear implications for future climate change. The PIs will partner with the Ohio EPA to offer an outreach program to wetland professionals to encourage a reevaluation of current practices in wetland mitigation. This project will also support the research of two early-career scientists committed to the integration of their research and education activities and provide training and research experience for two graduate and several undergraduate students.