Dr. Emma Aronson, Dr. Stephen Hart, Dr. Jerald Ibal, and Micah Unruh, invite applications to an AGU session dedicated to microbial composition and biogeochemical cycles across the critical zone. Please see the info below and use the session link to submit an abstract!
B062. Microorganisms and Biogeochemical Cycles in the Critical Zone
Session Description: The critical zone (CZ) extends from the top of the vegetation canopy down to the circulating groundwater, through a range of habitats occupied by environmental and host-associated microorganisms. This paradigm encourages integrative research across disciplines towards understanding and predicting processes that support life. Microorganisms are found in different environments, including the whole range of the critical zone, from deep subsurface rock fissures to the epiphytes and endophytes of leaves of tall trees. From a microbial perspective, even a seemingly homogeneous forest or grassland contains a wide range of microhabitats, providing a multitude of different ecological niches supporting an astounding degree of microbial diversity. Microorganisms play a range of vital roles in the critical zone, including catalyzing decomposition, nutrient cycles, and mineral weathering. This cross-disciplinary session invites presentations across the range of ecosystem types and research approaches on the diversity patterns, composition, and function of microorganisms in the critical zone.
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Emma Aronson
Professor
Dept. of Microbiology and Plant Pathology
Microbiology Graduate Program Director
3411 Boyce Hall
University of California, Riverside
(She/Her/Hers)
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