The RRWA board and members have been talking about expanding the knowledge of soil microbes, in order to understand the wider web of life and the processes involved in it. We have enough remnant prairie in the state to get some sort of baseline, even though it will be a disturbed baseline in most cases. Tipton Prairie and perhaps a couple others may be the least disturbed by chemicals, cropping, and introduced microbiota. There already is some scientific study of anaerobic (living without oxygen) organisms in wetlands, especially those involved in the cycling of nitrogen, sulfur, iron, manganese, and carbon. These cycles result in the hydric (wetland) soil characteristics that are associated with wetlands: chemically reduced soil horizons, gleying (production of bluish and greenish colors from reduced forms of iron and manganese), presence of iron and manganese oxides in small masses and in root pores, and other features. Politically, the Iowa plan to create artificial wetlands and the Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) should take into account these cycles and the associated soil microbiology if they are to be as successful as possible. One measurable or observable outcome is the conversion of soils from non-hydric (with blackish manganese oxides and reddish iron oxides) to hydric (grayish parent material because of leaching, reduced manganese and iron, production of hydrogen sulfide or swamp gas, etc.). As we know from water quality, measurement and monitoring are key here, not just the use of conservation practices and artificial ecosystems that may or may not have the desired effects. Ive begun work on a wetland research data collection system that would include field observations and measurements, and laboratory work. As it takes shape, it should be vetted by the experts who already have affiliations with the RRWA. Funding for the intensive work is needed. It would be a means to utilize existing labs and undergraduate (and graduate) students. The system is best employed in the field by teams so that one person does not need to be an expert in all areas. The research would include: hydrology (wetland type, water inputs & outputs, water budget, climate & weather), vascular plant life (species, wetland adaptations, species dominance), macroinvertebrates (species, quality indicators, obligate wetland status), microbiota, vertebrates (aquatic and terrestrial), soils & topography (landform region, bedrock & loose parent material, hydric features, topographic position), and stream channel characteristics (if appropriate), Less is known about upland prairies and savannas in the Raccoon watershed, at least below the surface. A similar research program could be developed for any other major ecosystem type. The more we continue to alter our environment, the more we need to know about our impact on that environment, in order to anticipate corrections and, most importantly, preventive steps in order to avoid disastrous results.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 15:30:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015