My research concerns the
potential impacts of intensified biomass harvesting on microbial
communities in boreal soil as well as microbial community composition of coarse woody debris (CWD) at different states of decay.
What is Intensified Biomass Harvesting?
Biomass harvesting is the practice of utilizing biomass residues from forestry or agricultural practices for the purpose of producing bioenergy. In a forestry environment, these residues consist mostly of slash. In an intensified biomass harvesting system, additional residues such as stumps are also collected and utilized for bioenergy production. If practiced in an unsustainable manner, these practices can drastically reduce CWD presence on managed sites which can have severe ecological implications.
Why study microorganisms?
Fungi and Bacteria are the main degraders of coarse woody debris. The decomposition of coarse woody debris over time will destabilize woody tissue, the altered tissues provide important ecological functions as habitat and a food source. Microbial degradation of CWD also serves to make compounds stored in CWD bioavailable to other organisms.
Additionally, microorganisms respond rapidly to environmental changes and could prove to serve as valuable indicators of ecosystem stress.
What is Intensified Biomass Harvesting?
Biomass harvesting is the practice of utilizing biomass residues from forestry or agricultural practices for the purpose of producing bioenergy. In a forestry environment, these residues consist mostly of slash. In an intensified biomass harvesting system, additional residues such as stumps are also collected and utilized for bioenergy production. If practiced in an unsustainable manner, these practices can drastically reduce CWD presence on managed sites which can have severe ecological implications.
Why study microorganisms?
Fungi and Bacteria are the main degraders of coarse woody debris. The decomposition of coarse woody debris over time will destabilize woody tissue, the altered tissues provide important ecological functions as habitat and a food source. Microbial degradation of CWD also serves to make compounds stored in CWD bioavailable to other organisms.
Additionally, microorganisms respond rapidly to environmental changes and could prove to serve as valuable indicators of ecosystem stress.