Applied ecology
Applied biogeochemistry
Biogeochemistry is the cycling of elements (e.g. N, C) and water. It is the study of mineral cycling and
transfer, water cycling, and of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
The traditional ‘trail and error’ approach in applied ecology:
- Often has no clear goals/targets; evaluation very difficult
- Correlations rather than causal relations (change has direct effect when you change one
parameter)
- Level of success highly variable
- Difficult to reproduce; unpredictable
- Difficult to extrapolate to other areas/systems/climates
It is important to look at possibilities, but also realize there are impossibilities for rehabilitation.
In the phosphorus cycle, no phosphor is lost to the atmosphere, because phosphor attaches very
strongly to the soil.
Oxidation: the process wherein a substance gives up electrons (becomes oxidized).
Reduction: the process wherein a substance receives electrons (becomes reduced).
Electron acceptor: a substance that can accept electrons via transfer from another substance
(electron donor), thereby becoming reduced in the process.
Fermentation: an anaerobic microbial pathway that derives energy from degradation of organic
matter, using organic compounds as both the primary electron donor and the ultimate electron
acceptor.
Applied biogeochemistry
Biogeochemistry is the cycling of elements (e.g. N, C) and water. It is the study of mineral cycling and
transfer, water cycling, and of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
The traditional ‘trail and error’ approach in applied ecology:
- Often has no clear goals/targets; evaluation very difficult
- Correlations rather than causal relations (change has direct effect when you change one
parameter)
- Level of success highly variable
- Difficult to reproduce; unpredictable
- Difficult to extrapolate to other areas/systems/climates
It is important to look at possibilities, but also realize there are impossibilities for rehabilitation.
In the phosphorus cycle, no phosphor is lost to the atmosphere, because phosphor attaches very
strongly to the soil.
Oxidation: the process wherein a substance gives up electrons (becomes oxidized).
Reduction: the process wherein a substance receives electrons (becomes reduced).
Electron acceptor: a substance that can accept electrons via transfer from another substance
(electron donor), thereby becoming reduced in the process.
Fermentation: an anaerobic microbial pathway that derives energy from degradation of organic
matter, using organic compounds as both the primary electron donor and the ultimate electron
acceptor.
