Investigating the ecological controls on methane production in a riparian cottonwood forest and adjacent river

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSmits, Kristian Michael
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorFlanagan, Larry B.
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-08T22:07:15Z
dc.date.available2021-12-08T22:07:15Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.description.abstractThis study explored how the chemical nature of organic matter may drive microbial communities and their metabolic processes of methane production in the Oldman River sediment and adjacent riparian cottonwood tree stems in southern Alberta. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content in tree stems and river sediment environments were measured, while molecular genetic techniques and stable carbon isotope measurements were used to explore the microbial communities and methane production pathways. River sediment organic matter had lower C/N ratios than in tree stems, likely forming different substrates for microbial growth, resulting in contrasting microbial communities and greater microbial diversity observed in river sediments than in tree stems. The microbial communities differed in their metabolic pathways, with methane produced in tree stems occurring primarily through CO2 reduction, while river sediments produced more methane through acetate fermentation. This study highlights distinct microbial communities and metabolic pathways contributing to net ecosystem methane emission.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipAlberta Innovates: Water Innovation Program (WIP) Project Number: #3360-E013 Project Title: Sustaining Healthy River Valleys: Health Assessment Tools for the South Saskatchewan River Basin and other Dryland Rivers of Western North America S.B. Rood and L.B. Flanagan Co-PIs NSERC Discovery Grant Program Grant Number: RGPIN-2019-05195 Title: Comparative Ecosystem Ecology: Acclimation of ecosystem function to warmer temperatures and altered moisture PI: L.B. Flanaganen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6106
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.proquest.subject0306en_US
dc.proquest.subject0410en_US
dc.proquest.subject0329en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.subjectecologyen_US
dc.subjectbiologyen_US
dc.subjectmethane production pathwaysen_US
dc.subjectmicrobial communitiesen_US
dc.subjectriver sedimenten_US
dc.subjectriparian areasen_US
dc.subjectcottonwood tree stemsen_US
dc.subjectecosystem methaneen_US
dc.subjectRiparian ecology--Alberta--Lethbridgeen_US
dc.subjectRiparian forests--Alberta--Lethbridgeen_US
dc.subjectCottonwood--Alberta--Lethbridgeen_US
dc.subjectHumus--Biodegradationen_US
dc.subjectSoil microbial ecologyen_US
dc.subjectMicrobial metabolismen_US
dc.subjectRiver sediments--Alberta--Oldman River--Analysisen_US
dc.subjectRiver sediments--Alberta--Lethbridge--Analysisen_US
dc.subjectTree trunks--Alberta--Lethbridge--Analysisen_US
dc.subjectMethanobacteriaceae--Researchen_US
dc.subjectRiparian areas--Alberta--Lethbridgeen_US
dc.subjectMethane--Metabolism--Researchen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleInvestigating the ecological controls on methane production in a riparian cottonwood forest and adjacent riveren_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
SMITS_KRISTIAN_MSc_2021.pdf
Size:
12.87 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
3.25 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Arts and Science, Faculty of
University of Lethbridge Theses