Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

To understand how the terrestrial-atmospheric carbon balance may shift in the face of climate change, it is critical to evaluate soil organic matter response to changes in the physical and biologic environment. Laboratory incubations are frequently used to quantify optimal organic matter decomposition in response to driving factors (typically temperature), but many other factors contribute to the real-world response to climate, vegetation and land use changes. Of particular importance are the limiting physical factors related to oxygen diffusion rates and soil moisture, which help to protect soil carbon from aerobic decomposition at high latitudes. Other limiting factors may include compaction, particle aggregation and leaching of labile carbon. Physically-based field approaches are sorely needed to help establish real-world (rather than theoretical) responses to climate change. Methodology is an important dimension in field research. The proponent has a proven track record in research and development, with existing patents, and new R&D projects that continue to attract external funding and collaborative interest. These technologies will provide essential contributions to the proposed research. The research program will tackle the following objectives: 1. Quantify the relative importance of various limiting factors in real-world decomposition dynamics with the help of experimental field plots where controlling / limiting variables can be manipulated. 2. Quantify the relative roles of factors limiting and driving decomposition in real ecosystems, both locally and across different forest types in Atlantic Canada. 3. Continue to integrate new methods and technologies into pure research, with a focus on generating meaningful, unique and novel data products.