By Elena Rosales, Biology Major, Sustainability Studies, Mentor Alex Webster. Rivers play an essential role in the land to ocean aquatic continuum (LOAC) of the global carbon cycle in the sequestration of carbon. This system is being influenced by human activities and the effects of climate change. This project will elucidate the work being done by Dr. Alex Webster et al. to understand how our changing bosque ecosystem is affecting the carbon cycle. Three main approaches — ground wells, surveys across BEMP sites and an eddy covariance device—will be used to cultivate a deeper understanding of how dissolved organic carbon interacts with the ecosystem. Floodplains are a dynamic component of carbon systems, storing a significant portion of terrestrial carbon acting as semi permanent sediment sinks. Historically, the Rio Grande system is reliant on natural events such as flooding which have been significantly altered via human intervention to control the river channel, the effects of which are being exacerbated by climate change. Despite the importance of understanding the indispensable role of rivers and floodplains in the LOAC, there has been previously little research conducted. To properly convey the complexity of Dr. Webster’s research and educate a wider audience, I will utilize a podcast, a vastly growing media source, as well as a multi-medium cover image that will creatively encapsulate the changing bosque ecosystem.
