Research

The habitat of beavers in the Arctic is highly dependent on climate. As global temperatures warm, especially in the far North, beavers have expanded their range. My research will be centered around the biogeochemical effect that beaver ponds have on Arctic permafrost. When standing water exists over permafrost soil, as when beavers dam a river, it can lead to an increase in the depth of the soil active layer. This means previously frozen microorganisms can begin to metabolize ancient stores of thawed organic and inorganic carbon. As a result, carbon in the forms of CO₂ and methane is liberated from this once permanently-frozen source. I aim to characterize the microbes found in this unique environmental niche.