Heather Bechtold
Aquatic Ecologist
Ph.D., 2010, Idaho State University

Dr. Bechtold’s research focuses on the effects of global change on nutrient cycling (N, P, DOC) in both upland and stream ecosystems.  Human induced stressors associated with land-use change (agriculture, logging, urbanization) can alter metabolism and nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, resource availability influences the structure of stream biofilm communities (autotrophs vs. heterotrophs) can which feedback and modify nutrient retention and export from watersheds. The interactions between stream ecosystem function and biotic structure can be used to better predict ecosystem behavior in changing landscapes.

Current Research

Evaluating the influence of riparian forest structure on stream ecosystems across the northern forest

Northeastern US forest structure has been modified due to historic clearings, but since that time the forests have matured. Currently, it is not known how forest structure influences stream nutrient cycling and metabolism. In addition, there are predictions that global climate change and pest invasions are likely to change the structure of northeastern forests. Our objective is to characterize nutrient cycling and metabolism across a range of forest ages, including old growth and secondary growth forests to provide a foundation for exploring future forest changes.  We predict that changes in stream function are potentially linked to differences in light availability when forest structure is altered and these changes may have consequences for stream ecosystem processes (metabolism and uptake) and the carbon sources fueling stream foodwebs.