Carbon characterization as an ecological monitoring tool
Project Overview
Wetlands provide several key ecological services, one of which being carbon sequestration which facilitates nutrient uptake. Wetlands act as a sink for CO2 from the atmosphere and is stored as soil organic carbon (SOC). Carbon also accumulates from the organic matter from the surrounding vegetation over time. Wetland restorations have the potential to reverse anthropogenic harm such like flooding and increasing climates. Since wetlands were once a common feature in the Great Lakes basin prior to agricultural intensification, they may be an important restoration option to address water quality concerns in the Great Lakes. Little is known about the functioning and potential impact of wetlands in this region therefore this research will initiate a study to better understand them, and their effectiveness at storing organic carbon.
This project seeks to characterize the ecological status of agricultural waterbodies in Essex County, SW Ontario. Two wetlands and two agricultural drains are located on the same agricultural property located in the Marianne Girling Nature Reserve (MGNR) a property owned by Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC). This agricultural property is mainly composed of wetlands, woods, and meadows, and otherwise surrounded by agricultural land use (Senyi, 2019). As NCC is interested in helping implement wetlands and other natural heritage features across the region, this research will be important to their efforts.
