Rivers tell stories: of where water has been, where it is going, and how it might impact downstream ecosystems. Streams and rivers move more than water and dissolved material — they also carry a complex blend of fine particles, including seston and sediment. I am fundamentally intrigued by these stories, and my group works to interpret the “language” of flowing waters as told by the biogeochemical signals they carry. My research group leverages fundamental tools from stream ecology, biogeochemistry, and watershed science to understand how rivers move and modify materials during their downstream journey. Using these unique and complimentary perspectives, we measure water-mediated biogeochemical transport and transformations across variable temporal and spatial scales. With this talk, I will outline my group’s contributions and progress on three primary research themes: (1) the transport and transformation of particulate material in streams, (2) the effects of dynamic hydrologic expansion and contraction on watershed biogeochemical fluxes, and (3) the impact of concurrent stressors on ecosystem structure and function. 

*Refreshments: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM (Atrium)