Do nutrients associated with sewage inputs promote bacterial degradation of organic matter?
“Bacterial growth and respiration is enhanced in the Albany region of the Hudson River, an area that also receives inputs from sewage treatment plants and combined sewer overflows. Treated sewage is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. We are studying if these nutrients promote bacterial activity and facilitate the degradation of organic matter.” What controls the variation of dissolved organic matter in lake ecosystems? “Lakes receive inputs of dissolved organic matter from their surrounding watersheds. Heavy concentrations of this material give lakes a tea to coffee-like color. We are using data from hundreds of watersheds in the Adirondack Park to explore the relationships between lake color and the spatial patterns of wetlands and forests in the landscape.
