Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Dr. Buchkowski studies climate change in terrestrial ecosystems and focuses on developing new methods for sampling and modelling the movement of carbon and nitrogen among the biotic components of ecosystems and soils. Focusing especially on soil carbon and nitrogen is important because current methods are unable to explain why soil carbon and nitrogen levels are so variable across space. This is concerning because soil carbon is a major part of the global carbon budget and inaccuracies in its accounting could mean that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are over- or under-estimated. Soil carbon, nitrogen, and biodiversity are also critical aspects of productive and sustainable agriculture and forest ecosystems. Dr. Buchkowski’s research is focused on understanding the ways that living organisms, especially microorganisms and animals, affect how ecosystems respond to change. This is especially relevant for helping to understand soil processes because the actions of microorganisms and animals is one of the critical uncertainties limiting our current ability to accurately predict soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Dr. Buchkowski achieves the goal of greater understanding and predictive accuracy using a combination of data collection, laboratory experiments, and mathematical models. He has already demonstrated how using models that represent the effects of microorganisms and animals can be used to guide the way we sample ecosystems. Dr. Buchkowski will develop targeted laboratory experiments to further resolve how animals contribute to soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. This integrated approach will make models, which are otherwise too complex, feasible and can help explain the variable response of soils and ecosystems to climate change and how to better manage these changes. As a Canada Research Chair, Dr. Buchkowski will advance this model and data collection approach to further improve our understanding of soil carbon sequestration in ecosystems being managed for forestry, agriculture, or other human-uses.