Catchment and Soil Biogeochemistry
Mountain environments are warming at a rate that is approximately twice that of their low elevation valley counterparts. Not only are soils subjected to warmer peak air temperatures, but they are also experiencing longer growing seasons and greater cumulative exposure to higher temperatures. Because mountain soils have historically been subjected to cooler and wetter climes, organic matter decomposition rates are slower, and thus, soil organic matter stocks often increase upslope. However, the higher temperatures that now occur in these mountain landscapes can accelerate the microbial decomposition of organic material leading to greater pools of water-soluble organic carbon and possibly bioavailable P. Our lab is investigating how warming mountain environments, combined with changes in moisture, may influence the delivery of soil sources of P to mountain lake systems. To date, results have shown that while warming can increase the release of bioavailable P from soils, the seasonality of moisture availability will dictate the timing of the response.
Plastics now make up a sizeable portion of all planetary reservoirs (air, water, soil, biota). We are working to try an understand the physical, chemical, and biological ramifications.
Hydrograph and river separation methods
Publications and Thesis
**Brahney student/postdoc
*Student
**Gianniny, G., Stark, J., Abbott, B., Lee, R., Brahney, J., (2024) Soil temperature and moisture as key controls of phosphorus export in mountain watersheds. Science of the Total Environment.
**Gianniny, G. (2023). Getting the dirt on phosphorus pollution in mountain lakes: are rising soil temperatures contributing to eutrophication in mountain watersheds? (Master’s Thesis, Utah State University).
Wang, J.F., Guo, X., Brahney, J., Xu, Z.W., Hu, Y., Sheng. W.Y., Chen, Y-N., Li, M-Y., Guo, W-H. (2023) Growth of grasses and forbs, nutrient concentration, and microbial activity in soil treated with microbeads. Environmental Pollution
Lukens, E., Neilson, B. T., Williams, K. H., & Brahney, J. (2022). Evaluation of hydrograph separation techniques with uncertain end‐member composition. Hydrological Processes, 36(9), e14693.
Xu, Z., Belmont, P., Brahney, J., & Gellis, A. C. (2022). Sediment source fingerprinting as an aid to large-scale landscape conservation and restoration: A review for the Mississippi River Basin. Journal of Environmental Management, 324, 116260.
**Scholz, J., Brahney, J. (2022). Evidence for multiple potential drivers of increased phosphorus in high-elevation lakes. Science of the Total Environment
**Scholz, J. (2021). Short-and Long-Term Mechanisms for Increasing Inputs of Phosphorus in Mountain Waterbodies of Northeastern Utah, USA (Master’s Thesis, Utah State University).
**Brahney student/postdoc
*Student
**Gianniny, G., Stark, J., Abbott, B., Lee, R., Brahney, J., (2024) Soil temperature and moisture as key controls of phosphorus export in mountain watersheds. Science of the Total Environment.
**Gianniny, G. (2023). Getting the dirt on phosphorus pollution in mountain lakes: are rising soil temperatures contributing to eutrophication in mountain watersheds? (Master’s Thesis, Utah State University).
Wang, J.F., Guo, X., Brahney, J., Xu, Z.W., Hu, Y., Sheng. W.Y., Chen, Y-N., Li, M-Y., Guo, W-H. (2023) Growth of grasses and forbs, nutrient concentration, and microbial activity in soil treated with microbeads. Environmental Pollution
Lukens, E., Neilson, B. T., Williams, K. H., & Brahney, J. (2022). Evaluation of hydrograph separation techniques with uncertain end‐member composition. Hydrological Processes, 36(9), e14693.
Xu, Z., Belmont, P., Brahney, J., & Gellis, A. C. (2022). Sediment source fingerprinting as an aid to large-scale landscape conservation and restoration: A review for the Mississippi River Basin. Journal of Environmental Management, 324, 116260.
**Scholz, J., Brahney, J. (2022). Evidence for multiple potential drivers of increased phosphorus in high-elevation lakes. Science of the Total Environment
**Scholz, J. (2021). Short-and Long-Term Mechanisms for Increasing Inputs of Phosphorus in Mountain Waterbodies of Northeastern Utah, USA (Master’s Thesis, Utah State University).