Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

21 Oct, 09 AM - 23 Oct, 05 AM

This project is a component (one of five) of the NSF-funded Center for Environmental Analysis at Cal State LA. Our component analyzes regional watersheds, including the headwaters of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, to study the occurrence and fate of nutrients and contaminants. Specifically, the project at Hot Creek is focused on confirming or rejecting recent hypotheses postulating pathways for reduced phosphorus compounds in nature. If the pathways exist, then the current understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of this crucial element will be substantially revised. Current doctrine states that phosphorus is incorporated into cells in the pentavalent (V) oxidation state as orthophosphate. However, recent studies show that microorganisms contain enzymes that metabolize reduced forms of orthophosphate, including phosphite (III) and hypophosphite (I). This suggests that a natural source exists for these reduce species of phosphorus. Phosphite and phosphine (PH3, a fully reduced highly reactive toxic phosphorus gas) have been detected in reducing environments including sewage, marine sediments, and in agricultural processes. Previous observations of reduced phosphorus in the environment have been limited to sites highly perturbed by human activity. However, naturally occurring reducing environments such as geothermal waters in hot springs and oceanic vents may present natural sources of reduced phosphorous species in sufficient quantities to permit detection. Once detected, the redox and geochemical cycling of these phosphorus compounds in the presence of other similar dissolved compounds (i.e., arsenic and nitrogen species) is of great interest as the bioavailability of these compounds will have profound influence on their fate in the environment. Study the coupled fate of various species of these three elements is our main focus.

Visit #8171 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 5810 | Research

Biogeochemical Cycling of Nutrients and Contaminants in Hot Creek

other - California State University (CSU), Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Oct 21 - 23, 2005 (3 days)
Group of 2 Faculty Oct 21 - 23, 2005 (3 days)
Crist khachikian Oct 21 - 23, 2005 (3 days)
Group of 2 Undergraduate Student Oct 21 - 23, 2005 (3 days)

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Dorm 7 Oct 21 - 23, 2005