Why ecosystem science research?

Water quality
Through the Center for Limnology, CIRES scientists research nutrient dynamics and food webs in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Our work assists water managers in preserving natural aquatic ecosystems and maintaining safe drinking water supplies for Colorado communities. From estimating the effects of fertilizers on watershed nitrogen yield to identifying the processes involved in denitrification—the removal of nitrogen compounds from a system—our research is helping build a greater understanding of biogeochemical cycles in freshwater environments.

Regional and global disturbances
Natural processes, such as wildfires and windstorms, and human activities, such as deforestation and changes in land use, alter ecosystems and landscapes. At CIRES, we explore the effects these disturbances have on the structure and function of ecosystems. Toward this goal, we're developing quantitative methods that link spatial patterns and ecological processes over time. Our investigations have spanned the biogeochemical dynamics of woody plant encroachment in the U.S. Southwest, the ecological effects of habitat fragmentation due to urbanization, and ecological response to multiple disturbances in forest ecosystems. We're working to understand the scale and pace of these changes in terms of their influence on ecosystem health and sustainability.

Land–atmosphere exchanges
The biosphere, which extends from the bedrock of our planet up to the last breathable layer of air, determines the chemical makeup of Earth's atmosphere. Living organisms, for instance, regulate atmospheric concentrations of oxygen and trace gases. Vegetation and soils, which are rich in microbes, are a reservoir for carbon. And plants also emit reactive volatile organic compounds, which contribute to ground-level ozone pollution. Through field campaigns, remote sensing, and laboratory experiments, CIRES scientists research global biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem controls over biophysical fluxes. We're especially interested in understanding the nutrient balance of ecosystems and the influence of trace gas emissions from vegetation on global climate.

Research Snapshot
Biodegradation of toxic pollutants