New Findings from Trent Faculty on the Effect of Climatic Factors on River-based Ecosystems
Over 153 researchers from 40 countries have come together to better address how organic carbon is decomposed in rivers across the world. Trent’s own Dr. Maggie Xenopoulos, a Biology faculty member, was part of the important research, recently published in a prestigious research paper, Science Advances, discussing carbon-cycling rates of river-based ecosystems.
Professor Xenopoulos contributed data from 12 streams in southern Ontario and the Peterborough region to the study.
“Rivers are hotspots that play an important role in the global carbon cycle; they can transform carbon before it is emitted to the atmosphere or transported to the oceans. Our study shows variation in decomposition rates of organic carbon in rivers across the world” explains Prof. Xenopoulos.
The research paper also explored the climactic factors governing decomposition rates and how they are increasingly impacted by human activities. These findings will prove beneficial in future research of environmental impacts to the functioning of ecosystems on a global scale.
Learn more about the impressive Biology faculty members at #TrentU and their recent research.
Posted on January 11, 2019