Curriculum Vitae

The Aquatic System Ecology Lab
441 Kottman Hall
2021 Coffey Rd.
Columbus, OH 43210
(614)292-0306

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I work at the interface between plant ecology, soil ecology and biogeochemistry, with a general focus on ecosystem-driven processes in wetland and stream ecosystems and its application for the restoration and design of these ecosystems.

My research is currently focusing on five recently developed projects:
• Outwelling of organic matter between Great Lakes coastal wetlands and the Great Lakes. This project investigates the production and fluxes of organic matter in Great Lakes coastal wetlands, and the interaction between open-water and wetland food webs.
• Relationship between macrophyte diversity, bacterial diversity, and trace gas fluxes in freshwater wetlands. In this project, we are examining whether plant diversity in wetlands impacts sediment microbial diversity and, in turn, whether shifts in microbial diversity significantly impact the fluxes of CO2, CH4, N2 and N2O. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Serita Frey at University of New Hampshire.
• Linking wetland soil maturity, carbon sequestration, and species composition with carbon fluxes. We are looking at production and fluxes of CO2 and CH4 in a newly created wetland constructed at Waterman Farm on Ohio State University campus. Related research (conducted in collaboration with Dr. Fennessy, Kenyon College) investigates the carbon cycle in created and natural wetlands located throughout Ohio.
• Investigate how agricultural ditches can be designed to increase biodiversity and control nutrients and carbon cycles. The research looks at the potential for one-stage and two-stage ditches to remove nitrogen through denitrification. This research is conducted in collaboration with Drs. Ward, Sohngen and Brown at Ohio State University and with Dr. Richards at Heidelberg College.
• Impact of the invasive species Elytrigea aetherica on carbon cycle in European salt marshes. This project is derived directly from my PhD work and is conducted in collaboration with the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France) and the University of Rennes (Rennes, France).

GRADUATE STUDENTS
Current
• Katie Hossler (PhD, Environmental Science, Ohio State University)
• Sonia Bingham (MS., Environmental Science, Ohio State University)
• Constance Rice (MS., Environmental Science, Ohio State University)
• Rachel Schultz (PhD, Natural Resources, Ohio State University)

Completed
• Lauren McGee 2008. Effects of low-head dams on habitat structure, carbon and nitrogen allocation, and microbial activity in urban rivers. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University
• Evelyn Anamaet. 2008. Belowground production in created and natural wetlands: nutrient limitation and functional development. MS, Natural Resources, Ohio State University.
• Kyle Herrman. 2007. Effect of plant species on gas production and emission in a newly constructed wetland. PhD, Natural Resources, Ohio State University,.
• Abby Rokosch. 2007. The use of soil parameters as indicators of quality in forested-depressional wetlands. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Loïc Valery. 2006. Approche systemique de l'impact d'une espece invasive - Le cas d'une espece indigene dans un milieu en voie d'eutrophication. PhD, Ecology, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France.
• Katie Hossler. 2005. Accumulation of carbon created wetland soils and the potential to mitigate loss of natural wetland carbon-mediated functions. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Chad Kettlewell. 2005. An assessment of wetland impacts and compensatory mitigation in the Cuyahoga River Watershed, Ohio, USA. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Erin Rothman. 2005. Phragmites australis in a freshwater coastal wetland: implications for carbon dynamics.  MS, Natural Resources, Ohio State University.
• Kelly Powell. 2004. Denitrification in agricultural headwater ditches. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Janice Gilbert. 2004. Examining the link between macrophyte diversity, bacterial diversity, and denitrification function in wetlands. PhD, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Gregg Sablak. 2004. Link between macroinvertebrate community, riparian vegetation and channel geomorphology in agricultural drainage ditches. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Jamie Smialek. 2003. Effect of plant species on gas production and emission in a newly constructed wetland. MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Rebecca Lippmann. 2002. Plan B MS, Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Sharon Reed. 2002. Impact of macrophyte functional diversity on primary productivity and methane fluxes in wetlands. MS., Environmental Science, Ohio State University.
• Loïc Valery. 2001. Impact of Elytrigia aetherica on salt marsh functioning. MS Ecology, University of Rennes, France.
• Matthew Cochran. 2001. Effect of hydrology on bottomland hardwood forest productivity in Central Ohio (USA). MS, Natural Resources, Ohio State University.