Research Projects
2019 Burping ponds: greenhouse gas emissions from Crow Pond and implications for fish habitat
Period: March 1, 2019 - Present
Contact: Rebecca North
Organization: University of Missouri
Funding Source: Prairie Fork Conservation Trust
Objectives: This innovative proposal directly aligns with the long-term goals of PFCA through the development of an outdoor aquatic laboratory that advances science and engages undergraduate and graduate students in active learning. This proposal is an excellent fit for the mission of PFCA; specifically, to provide educational experiences related to fisheries, wildlife, and environmental conservation for all citizens, with particular emphasis on undergraduate research. It also informs the restoration and maintenance of natural aquatic communities and their processes and functions while developing techniques that promote both wise use and sustainability of our natural aquatic resources. The renewal of aquatic research at PFCA would ensure the implementation of the above objectives and provide students cross-disciplinary experiences in research and educational programs. The natural preserved and restored prairie landscape at PFCA makes it the ideal location to identify baseline conditions related to organic matter decomposition and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We need to establish realistic rates of GHG emissions from aquatic sediments in natural systems in order to develop an understanding of how changing land use and climatic conditions are impacting emission rates. The conditions conducive to the production of GHGs in the bottom of ponds also have implications for fish habitat and health. Low oxygen conditions as a result of decomposition of organic matter, combined with warming water temperatures, can restrict fish habitat to the upper waters, facilitating a “fish squeeze”. The results of this project could be used to assess the risks to fish health in Crow Pond.
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