Dr. Zachary S. Brecheisen: Deep soil Critical Zone dynamics interpreted through the lens of old-field succession

~ Prerecorded Presentation ~

This presentation was recorded as part of a monthly group meeting series for researchers working at the Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory.  Zach presented new and novel seasonal observations about soil gas (CO2 and O2) trends on differently managed plots in the S.E. U.S Piedmont. While many ecologists only study the top meter of soil, this work goes well into the saprolite (5m) with implications for the role of plants and their effect on the long-term weathering of rocks. 

About the Speaker:

Dr. Zachary S. Brecheisen

Email: zbrecheisen@gmail.com

I’m a budding forest ecologist, biogeochemist, pedologist, and geospatial-ist; aka a "critical-zonist." I’m interested in how ecosystems respond to and recover from human disturbance, particularly agriculture via old-field succession. Some of the tools and techniques I use in my research include: remote sensing, geomorphic terrain analysis, gas chromatography, 3D printing, X-ray computed tomography, dataloggers & environmental sensor probes, and others to enhance field-based soils and forestry research. My training from undergraduate (NMSU) through graduate (Duke University) education has been inherently cross-disciplinary as I have studied and worked with scholars and researchers from earth sciences, social sciences, and the humanities as part of the NSF-funded US Critical Zone Observatory network at the Calhoun CZO and the broader global Critical Zone Network. As a current postdoc at Purdue University in the NEXUS Institute I am currently working to map and quantify agricultural expansion over the last 40 years using Landsat data and preparing field instrumentation to monitor and study soil-profile respiration.

Host: Dr. Paul Schroeder

This is a hybrid event, if you are unable to join us in person please join via zoom. 

Meeting ID: 997 2477 2096

Note: A password is required to join this meeting. Please call the Geology office (706-542-2652) and speak with a representative to obtain the code. Alternatively, a code request can be made to UGA Geology.