Research Topic
Carbon and Nitrogen Coupling in Streams Across Biomes
The coupling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nitrogen (N) cycling in aquatic ecosystems has been widely studied but mostly in temperate systems. Tropical and arctic systems store large portions of the earths carbon but they differ in the magnitude and timing of DOM exports to streams. In my research I explore the relationship between DOM and N cycling my performing pulse nutrient additions to obtain N uptake metrics and relate these to ambient stream concentrations, DOM composition, and other site physico-chemical parameters in streams within tropical forest and the permafrost dominated landscape of central Siberia. Understanding how DOM and nutrients are linked in streams across globally distinct biomes has important implications for our understanding of how energy and nutrients are retained and exported from watersheds.
Previous Awards and Activities
- National Science Foundation: Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) & French RBV Scholars Program - Nutrient dynamics in volcaniclastic tropical streams
- National Science Foundation: Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) - Cross-biome comparison of nitrogen uptake and carbon dynamics in streams: Luquillo CZO, Puerto Rico and Central Siberian Plateau
- Crowdsource funding competition sponsored by Instrumentl for Arctic Research
Presentations and Publications
Presentations
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., Wymore, A.S., Koenig, L., Coble, A.A., McDowell, W.H. Response of non-added solutes during nutrient addition experiments in streams. (Poster) 2015 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., McDowell, W.H. Influences of DOC on nitrate uptake in suburban streams. (Oral Presentation) 2015 Society for Freshwater Science annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., McDowell, W.H. Nitrate uptake kinetic: Is carbon the driver? (Poster) 2014 Joint Aquatic Science Meeting, Portland, OR
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., Valett, M.H. Dissolved organic carbon quality across diverse aquatic ecosystems during high-flow conditions. (Poster) 2012 Society for Freshwater Science annual Meeting, Louisville, KY
- Albright, E. J., Gustafson, N., Nelson, M. B., Ramirez, J. M., Rodriguez-Cardona, B., Shughrue, C. M., Jones, J. A. Diel fluctuations in summer streamflow depend on stream channel sediment storage and valley-floor vegetation in the forested western Cascades of Oregon, USA. (Poster) 2010 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., Ortiz-Zayas, J.R. Biodegradability of Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Río Piedras watershed, Puerto Rico. (Poster) 2009 NABS Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI
Publications
- Wymore, A.S., Coble, A.A., Rodríguez-Cardona, B., & McDowell, W. H. (2016). Nitrate uptake across biomes and the influence of elemental stoichiometry: A new look at LINX II. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 30, doi:10.1002/2016GB005468
- Wymore, A. S., Rodríguez-Cardona, B., & McDowell, W. H. Understanding dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry through in situ nutrient manipulations in stream ecosystems. Journal of Visualized Experiments (In-Press)
- Rodríguez-Cardona, B., Wymore, A. S., & McDowell, W. H. (2016). DOC:NO3− ratios and NO3− uptake in forested headwater streams. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 121(1), 205-217. doi: 10.1002/2015jg003146
- Wymore, A. S., Rodríguez-Cardona, B., & McDowell, W. H. (2015). Direct response of dissolved organic nitrogen to nitrate availability in headwater streams. Biogeochemistry 126(1),1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10533-015-0153-9
Education
- B.S., Environmental Science, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 2011
- M.S., Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, 2015
