Article
Environmental Sciences
Jason B. Fellman, Eran Hood, David D'Amore, Richard T. Edwards
Summary: The study found that the export of nitrogen and phosphorus from the perhumid coastal temperate rainforest of northwestern North America is influenced by seasonal and stormflow events, showing a pulsed nature in the magnitude and species of nutrients exported.
Article
Soil Science
Laurel K. ThomasArrigo, Ruben Kretzschmar
Summary: Soils in Iceland have abundant SRO iron minerals and aluminosilicates. Microbial reduction of iron and increased soil solution pH occur under anoxic conditions. Soils with SRO iron minerals undergo more extensive iron reduction. Colloids persist during re-oxidation and new iron mineral phases are formed.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Christian Marz, Felipe S. Freitas, Johan C. Faust, Jasmin A. Godbold, Sian F. Henley, Allyson C. Tessin, Geoffrey D. Abbott, Ruth Airs, Sandra Arndt, David K. A. Barnes, Laura J. Grange, Neil D. Gray, Ian M. Head, Katharine R. Hendry, Robert G. Hilton, Adam J. Reed, Saskia Ruhl, Martin Solan, Terri A. Souster, Mark A. Stevenson, Karen Tait, James Ward, Stephen Widdicombe
Summary: The Arctic is undergoing unprecedented and dramatic transformations in response to climate change, with a disproportionate focus on visible aspects like sea ice melt and the fate of megafauna. However, the importance of the shelf seafloor in regulating nutrients and sequestering carbon is often overlooked. Climate change and regional adjustments to human activities may alter the biogeochemical and ecological dynamics of the Arctic shelf seafloor, impacting ecosystem function, carbon burial, and nutrient recycling. Mitigating climatic and anthropogenic change requires recognizing the vital role of the Arctic benthic system.
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Dayal, A. J. Hodson, M. Sabacka, A. L. Smalley
Summary: Snowpack ecosystem studies have mainly focused on snow-on-soil ecosystems, leaving a knowledge gap in understanding glacial snowpack ecosystems. This study conducted a comprehensive investigation on the seasonal microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of a melting glacial snowpack on a High Arctic ice cap in Svalbard. It found that nutrient availability in the snowpack was highest during the peak of summer, but the absence of autotrophs resulted in the nutrients remaining in situ until transported downstream by meltwater runoff. Bacterial cells dominated the microbial abundance, making the glacial snowpack ecosystem net-heterotrophic.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Justin B. Richardson
Summary: This study found that nutrient storage, soil water transport, and watershed export of nutrients were higher in the Fluvial Agriculture subwatershed compared to the Supra-glacial Till subwatershed. Area-normalized basis showed that the Fluvial Agriculture soils exported 3x to 6x higher nutrients compared to the Supra-glacial Till soils. There were no significant differences in aluminum concentrations among geologic deposits and land covers, while iron concentrations did not significantly differ between hydric and forest soils.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Justin B. Richardson
Summary: This study found that soil concentrations were only a significant predictor for dissolved iron export. Human development was associated with higher soil trace metal concentrations, while forest abundance was a strong predictor for lower soil trace metal concentrations and lower dissolved trace element exports. Further research is needed to evaluate subsurface/hyporheic controls and soil-surface water interfaces for better understanding of exchange and transport processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea J. Pain, Jonathan B. Martin, Caitlin R. Young
Summary: Submarine groundwater discharge to coastal zones can contribute to harmful algal blooms through the input of terrestrial freshwater and nutrients. The magnitude of nutrient exports via SGD depends on the chemical composition of groundwater and biogeochemical processes within subterranean estuaries. Variability in nutrient concentrations and transformations within subterranean estuaries can lead to heterogeneous nutrient contributions via SGD, complicating assessments of regional and global solute cycles.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Bhupinder S. Farmaha, Pritpal-Singh, Bijay-Singh
Summary: The research combined a water balance model, a nitrate leaching model and geographic information system to assess the nitrate leaching from fields under rice-wheat cropping system in the riparian wetlands in Punjab, India. The results showed that the nitrate concentration in groundwater exceeded the WHO drinking water safety standard during December-January. The modeling approach provided an efficient quantitative assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater, indicating that current fertilizer-N management practices will not significantly impact nitrate concentrations in the long-term.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Luigi Alessandrino, Maria Pia Gervasio, Fabio Vincenzi, Nicolo Colombani, Giuseppe Castaldelli, Micol Mastrocicco
Summary: The study found that the effects of compost application combined with minimum tillage and traditional fertilization in two agricultural soils in the Po River plain are transient, with nutrient leaching diminishing over time if new incorporations do not occur. Nutrient leaching in shallow groundwater was minimal and followed a decreasing order of nitrate > ammonium > nitrite > phosphate. The distribution of nutrients also depended on groundwater fluxes and boundary conditions, and soil organic carbon increase was temporary and ceased after three years.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Ponting, Anne Verhoef, Michael J. Watts, Tom Sizmur
Summary: During flooding, contaminated sediments deposit onto floodplain topsoil. This study found that flooding generally decreased the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil pore water, with the precipitation of sulphides being the main process responsible for PTE removal. Changes in pH were associated with decreased copper concentration. Understanding the dominant processes that drive PTE mobility in floodplain soils is important for predicting the impact of future floods on legacy contaminants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Ewan Couic, Gerard Gruau, Sen Gu, Antoine Casquin
Summary: The existing method for assessing phosphorus release risk from well-drained soils underestimates the risk in poorly-drained soils, indicating the need for specific risk assessment tools.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Andie Nugent, Steven D. Allison
Summary: This synthesis reviews research on the urban soil microbiome and develops a framework to integrate soil microbial communities with urban ecosystem function. The study identifies disturbance, altered resources, and heterogeneity as key drivers through which human activities affect urban soils and their resident microorganisms. Integration across disturbance ecology, urban ecology, and microbial ecology is crucial for managing ecosystem benefits in cities and understanding the consequences for environmental and human health.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Remelli, Alessandro Scibona, Daniele Nizzoli, Luciana Mantovani, Mario Tribaudino, Fulvio Celico, Cristina Menta
Summary: This study investigated the feasibility of using earthworms and plants for the decontamination of soil polluted with PCDD/Fs and PCBs. The results showed that this method significantly reduced the concentrations of pollutants in the soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ashley A. Coble, Brooke E. Penaluna, Laura J. Six, Jake Verschuyl
Summary: The study reveals that wildfires play an important role in stream ecosystems and the recruitment of large wood into streams. Fire severity has a stronger impact on riparian vegetation, riparian coarse wood, and in-stream physical, chemical, and biological factors than watershed stand age. High fire severities result in increased light, dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations, and macroinvertebrate densities, while decreasing canopy cover, LW diameter, macroinvertebrate diversity, and fish densities.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhan Wang, Wenke Wang, Zaiyong Zhang, Xinyue Hou, Lei Duan, Dongjie Yao
Summary: The distribution of plant species in the Manasi riparian zone is largely influenced by the depth of the water table, with appropriate depths for herbaceous plants being 1-1.5 meters and for shrubs being 2-4 meters. Water table depths less than 6 meters can satisfy the growth requirements of major species. Suitable water table depths can increase species diversity, and the grass herb Phragmites communis and deciduous shrub Tamarix chinensis are not sensitive to water table depth, allowing for planting in various depth ranges.
HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amanda K. Suchy, Peter M. Groffman, Lawrence E. Band, Jonathan M. Duncan, Arthur J. Gold, J. Morgan Grove, Dexter H. Locke, Laura Templeton
Summary: This study found that topographic gradients play a significant role in influencing the hydrobiogeochemistry of lawns, with effects varying among different lawn types. Fertilizer application did not affect the properties of lawns, but rather suburban front yards were identified as being at greatest risk of nitrogen mobilization due to a combination of landscape characteristics and human behaviors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Phoebe L. Zarnetske, Jessica Gurevitch, Janet Franklin, Peter M. Groffman, Cheryl S. Harrison, Jessica J. Hellmann, Forrest M. Hoffman, Shan Kothari, Alan Robock, Simone Tilmes, Daniele Visioni, Jin Wu, Lili Xia, Cheng-En Yang
Summary: Various approaches for climate intervention have been proposed as anthropogenic climate change worsens, with solar radiation modification (SRM) being one potential method. However, there is limited research on the impacts of SRM on ecological systems, which would vary based on implementation scenarios, geographic regions, and ecosystems. Collaboration between ecologists and climate scientists is essential to better understand and communicate the potential impacts and risks of SRM on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily Stephan, Peter Groffman, Philippe Vidon, John C. Stella, Theodore Endreny
Summary: This study successfully developed a model that predicts landscape-level denitrification potential by measuring denitrification potential, soil variables, and landscape properties in urban, suburban, and forested environments. The model indicates that soil moisture, soil respiration, and total soil nitrogen are the best predictors of denitrification potential.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julie N. Weitzman, Peter M. Groffman, Paul R. Adler, Curtis J. Dell, Frank E. Johnson, Robert N. Lerch, Timothy C. Strickland
Summary: This study utilized sites within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network to investigate the importance and potential drivers of denitrification in agricultural systems. By directly measuring nitrogen and N2O production, the study identified different potential drivers of denitrification at different sites and scales, highlighting the significance of denitrification as a sink for excess agricultural nitrogen that may inform future management decisions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Gisselle A. Mejia, Peter M. Groffman, Alisen E. Downey, Elizabeth M. Cook, Sanpisa Sritrairat, Richard Karty, Matthew Palmer, Timon McPhearson
Summary: This study examined the carbon and nitrogen cycling processes in afforestation sites in New York City's parks. The results showed that successful afforestation sites had higher rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling, with no significant differences between low and high diversity treatments. Low success sites were characterized by disturbed soil profiles and human-derived debris.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Soil Science
Xiangyin Ni, Shu Liao, Fuzhong Wu, Peter M. Groffman
Summary: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of elevated and reduced soil moisture on microbial biomass C (MBC) and microbial biomass N (MBN) in forest soils across dry and wet regions. It was found that the influence of altered soil moisture on MBC and MBN concentrations was greater in dry regions. The intensity of manipulation and length of experimental period were significant factors affecting the response of microbial biomass to altered moisture.
SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alisen E. Downey, Peter M. Groffman, Gisselle A. Mejia, Elizabeth M. Cook, Sanpisa Sritrairat, Richard Karty, Matthew Palmer, Timon McPhearson
Summary: This study analyzed soil carbon in experimental restoration sites of the MillionTreesNYC Afforestation Project in New York City and found that successful afforestation sites had larger carbon pools. Diversity treatments did not affect soil carbon levels. These results suggest that afforestation may enhance urban soil carbon storage capacity.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruoyu Zhang, David Newburn, Andrew Rosenberg, Laurence Lin, Peter Groffman, Jonathan Duncan, Lawrence Band
Summary: Spatial asynchrony of environmental and economic benefits in stream restoration was found, with higher willingness to pay but lower nitrate load reduction in urban poor neighborhoods, and the opposite trend in affluent neighborhoods. This presents challenges for decision makers to balance economic efficiency, social equity, and specific environmental goals.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kelli L. Larson, Susannah B. Lerman, Kristen C. Nelson, Desiree L. Narango, Megan M. Wheeler, Peter M. Groffman, Sharon J. Hall, J. Morgan Grove
Summary: Research shows that residential yards play a crucial role in providing habitat for urban wildlife. However, little research has focused on understanding people's decisions to adopt wildlife-supporting yards. The study found potential to increase yard complexity and vegetation diversity by adding shrubs and native plants. Hobby gardening was a significant motivator for those who have adopted wildlife yard features, while the desire for low maintenance yards was a constraint among non-adopters. Neighborhood and homeowner associations were found to promote the adoption of wildlife-supporting yards.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel E. Mason, Joseph M. Craine, Nina K. Lany, Mathieu Jonard, Scott Ollinger, Peter M. Groffman, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Jay Angerer, Quentin D. Read, Peter B. Reich, Pamela H. Templer, Andrew J. Elmore
Summary: The productivity and life-supporting capacity of ecosystems depend on access to reactive nitrogen. However, long-term records show that nitrogen availability is declining in many regions of the world. Global changes, such as elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures, are affecting the balance between ecosystem nitrogen supply and demand. This decline in nitrogen availability is limiting primary productivity and reducing the quality of herbivore diets in many ecosystems. We outline the current state of knowledge about declining nitrogen availability and propose actions to address this emerging challenge.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nirmela Govinda, Peter M. Groffman, Sarah E. Durand, Chester B. Zarnoch, Willis Elkins
Summary: This study found that constructed salt marsh wetlands can support denitrification potential equivalent to rates of natural marshes. There were significant positive correlations between microbial biomass C and N content and organic matter content and denitrification potential.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noortje H. Grijseels, Elizaveta Litvak, Meghan L. Avolio, Anika R. Bratt, Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Peter M. Groffman, Sharon J. Hall, Sarah E. Hobbie, Susannah B. Lerman, Jennifer L. Morse, Desiree L. Narango, Christopher Neill, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Josep Padulles Cubino, Tara L. E. Trammell, Diane E. Pataki
Summary: This study measured the evapotranspiration (ET) of residential lawns in six metropolitan areas in the United States and found that there is high uncertainty in the spatial and temporal variability of lawn ET across large scales. The study also showed that lawn management practices did not significantly affect ET, but smaller lawn areas in water-conserving and wildlife-friendly yards resulted in lower ET.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Peter M. Groffman, A. Marissa Matsler, Zbigniew J. Grabowski
Summary: The concept of green infrastructure (GI) has attracted significant interest and innovation in addressing complex environmental challenges, such as coastal resilience and control of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). GI offers cost savings compared to traditional gray infrastructure and provides multiple benefits, including biodiversity, aesthetics, and carbon sequestration. However, GI lacks detailed design and reliability specifications, hindering its widespread adoption. This paper reviews the potential applications of GI in modern environmental science and emphasizes the need to address reliability and associated uncertainties to fully realize its potential.
AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ruoyu Zhang, Lawrence E. Band, Peter M. Groffman
Summary: Urban watersheds can experience ecosystem degradation, but can be restored through terrestrial and aquatic low impact development practices. Finding the optimal balance between green and grey infrastructure is crucial for achieving ecohydrological behavior similar to pre-urbanization conditions. Urban reforestation has been found to be the most effective in reducing stormflow and nutrient export, while bioswales and permeable pavement can unexpectedly increase in-stream nitrate loads.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter M. Groffman, Amanda K. Suchy, Dexter H. Locke, Robert J. Johnston, David A. Newburn, Arthur J. Gold, Lawrence E. Band, Jonathan Duncan, J. Morgan Grove, Jenny Kao-Kniffin, Hallee Meltzer, Tom Ndebele, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Colin Polsky, Grant L. Thompson, Haoluan Wang, Ewa Zawojska
Summary: Residential landscapes are crucial for the sustainability of large areas in the US, but their balance is complicated by spatial and temporal variations across multiple domains. A multidisciplinary study in Baltimore, MD, USA, revealed variations in the vulnerability of individual parcels to cause environmental damage and in the practices of managers. Improvement strategies depend on whether hotspots are caused by homeowners' choices or the characteristics of parcels and neighborhoods.