Freshwater Carbon Across Arctic Lowland Tundra Ecosystems
This research focuses on understanding the role of freshwater ecosystems in carbon cycling across Arctic lowland tundra landscapes. Lakes, ponds, streams, and seasonally flooded waters are widespread in these regions, yet their contribution to the movement, transformation, and exchange of carbon is still poorly understood.
I investigated how carbon varies across different freshwater ecosystem types and along hydrological connections. Specifically, I examined (1) greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions from inland waters, (2) how dissolved organic matter relates to greenhouse gas concentrations, and (3) how carbon is transported through Arctic catchments. To address these questions, I conducted fieldwork in northeast Siberia and the Hudson Bay Lowlands in Canada.
My research showed that lakes, ponds, streams, and flooded areas play an important role in how carbon moves through Arctic landscapes. Rather than simply transporting carbon from one place to another, these freshwater ecosystems actively process, transform, and release carbon in different ways.
More information on the thesis