Sean
Berthrong
Duke University
Program
in Ecology
Campus Box 90338
FFSC Room 3304
Durham, NC 27705
Office: (919) 613-8214
Soils are the largest terrestrial pool of carbon and also the largest store of biodiversity in the world. Human activity around the globe impacts the quality of soil and its ability to continue to support life. My current research interests are how shifting patterns of land-use alter soil biogeochemical cycles (primarily C and N) and soil microbial community composition and function. In particular, I am interested in how soil microorganisms process nitrogen into mobile forms in response to differing land-use. I am also interested in molecular methods (Microarrays, tRFLP, PCR) to fingerprint soil microbial communities across different land-uses.
My research sites are located in the Pampas grasslands of Argentina and Uruguay
Above: An afforested plantation (Pine) in Argentina
Above: More Afforestation! Eucalypts in Uruguay