Project Number: 1275-11210-001-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 01, 2006
End Date: Dec 31, 2009

Objective:
Provide scientific support for cooperative research conducting studies on soil carbon and soil microbial communities as they are affected by urbanization. The two primary factors of urbanization to be considered will be elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and elevated temperature. Research will include field work in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and may be augmented by greenhouse, growth chamber and laboratory analyses.

Approach:
Urbanization involves a number of environmental changes consistent with projected global climate change including elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and higher temperatures. Biochemical processes, particularly the relationship between soil biota, root growth and carbon sequestion have not been adequately qualified with respect to global climate change. Similiar qualification of other below ground processes including community composition and species diversity of soil organisms and subsequent changes in soil carbon flux have not been fully eleviated. This research will play a critical role in our determining soil biotic processes and potential carbon sequestion aof the content of global climate change.