Limnologische Station
Lehrstuhl für Hydrologie
Masters/Bachelors Project in
Biogeochemistry
Tracing biogeochemical processes in real-time
Redox cycling is the dominant process driving the reversible transformation of ions and molecules such as
nitrate and sulphate in the natural environment. Redox is tightly coupled with organic carbon and water table
dynamics, and as such wetlands are hot-spots for biogeochemistry. This project focusses on using new selfpotential electrodes to follow biogeochemical processes in real time. This will help identify when and where
biogeochemical processes are taking place (in space and time) and what is causing these ‘hot moments’ in
redox activity. The project will first build a ‘sandbox’ in the laboratory where organic material and redox active
species such as sulphate and nitrate will be added. This will characterise how the new sensors respond to the
development of redox gradients. Once this is understood the electrodes will be deployed in a peatland located in
the Waldstein Wetland Research area for field testing. Here we hope to see areas of preferential biogeochemical
reactivity based on peat microtopgraphy. This project will for the first time allow us to follow biogeochemical
processes in the filed in real-time.
If you are interested in this project please see Benjamin Gilfedder or Sven Frei
Dr. Benjamin Gilfedder
Limnology Station