Project Info
Water quality impacts of ecosytem disruption
Jonathan Sharp | jsharp@mines.edu
Our goal is to better understand the water quality implications of large scale forest disruption – specifically bark beetle tree mortality – on water quality as it relates to carcinogenic disinfection byproduct formation. It is both a local and global problem and investigates a water quality implication associated with climate change.
More Information
See my website for more:
3. Mikkelson, Brouillard, Bokman, Sharp. (2017) Ecosystem resilience and limitations revealed by soil bacterial community dynamics in a bark beetle-impacted forest. MBio 8:6 e01305-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01305-17.
4. Brouillard, Bokman, Mikkelson, Sharp. (2017) Extent of tree mortality influences compensatory biogeochemical responses in bark beetle infested mountain pine forests. Soil Biol Biogeochem 114:309-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.06.016
11. Brouillard B, Dickenson ERV, Mikkelson KM, Sharp JO (2016) Water quality following extensive beetle-induced tree mortality: Interplay of aromatic carbon loading, disinfection byproducts, and hydrologic drivers. Sci Total Environ. 572 649-59 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.106
27. Mikkelson KM, Bearup LA, Maxwell RM, Stednick JD, McCray JE, Sharp JO. (2013) Bark beetle infestation impacts on nutrient cycling, water quality and interdependent hydrological effects. Biogeochemistry 115: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9875-8
32. Mikkelson K, Dickenson E, McCray J, Maxwell R, Sharp JO (2013) Adverse water quality impacts from climate-induced forest die-off. Nature Clim Change. 3: 218–222. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1724
Grand Engineering Challenge: Provide access to clean water
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Interest in field and lab research
Interest in water quality and water resources as they relate to env. engineering and hydrology
Curiosity and work ethic
GIS
Ability to communicate with municipal water providors
Time Commitment
20-40 hours/month
Skills/Techniques Gained
Hydrology, water quality chemistry, field work, lab work, nucleic acid extraction and sequencing, geochemical and chemical water analyses,,disinfection byproduct formation potential
Mentoring Plan
Meet regularly as well as pair with a graduate student in the lab working actively on elements of this project.