To advance understanding of the factors controlling the environmental fate of elements which may be toxic or of other concern (e.g. greenhouse gases). For instance, microbes influence the partitioning of group 15 and 16 elements (Phosphorus, Arsenic, and Antimony; Sulfur, Selenium, and Tellurium) between dissolved and adsorbed phases, strongly affecting the quality of drinking water in aquifers around the world. On another topic, it is well known that methane and nitrous oxide are strong absorbers of IR radiation and act as greenhouse gases near the Earth’s surface. Bacteria in lakes, wetlands, and soils both facilitate and mitigate the flux of these gases and in so doing, shape our world. The primary goal of the research is to determine [...]
