Dr. Jonathan J. Cole
Aquatic Microbiologist
Ph.D., 1982, Cornell University

Dr. Cole's research focuses on the interface between microbiology and biogeochemistry in aquatic ecosystems. In almost any system, microorganisms are responsible for most of the aerobic respiration and all of the anaerobic respiration. Thus, the production of carbon dioxide, methane, sulfide as well as the regeneration of other inorganic nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) is largely due to the activities of these microorganisms. Cole is particularly interested in the biotic and abiotic regulation of microbial metabolism, energy flow and carbon cycles in lakes, rivers and marine systems. He has been focusing his attention on the fates of terrestrial C in aquatic systems and the role that inland waters have on the global carbon balance. Two lectures on this topic are: Do inland waters matter to regional or global C balance? and An homage to Santiago (St. James) Or: why is there some much carbon (research) in freshwaters

Selected Publications:

• Cole, J. J., N. F. Caraco, G. W. Kling, and T. W. Kratz. 1994. Carbon dioxide supersaturation in the surface waters of lakes. Science 265:1568-1570.
• del Giorgio, P. A., J. J. Cole, and A. Cimberlis. 1997. Respiration rates in bacteria exceed phytoplankton production in unproductive aquatic systems. Nature 385:148-151.
• Cole, J. J., and N. F. Caraco. 2001. Carbon in catchments: connecting terrestrial carbon losses with aquatic metabolism. Marine and Freshwater Research. 52:101-110.
• Raymond, P. A., and J.J. Cole. 2003. Increase in the export of alkalinity from North America's largest river. Science 302:88-91.
• Cole, J. J., S. R. Carpenter, M. L. Pace, M. C. Van de Bogert, J. L. Kitchell, and J. R. Hodgson. 2006. Differential Support of Lake Food Webs by Three Types of Terrestrial Organic Carbon. Ecol. Lett. 9: 558-568.
• Cole, J. J., Y. T.Prairie, N. F. Caraco, W. H. McDowell, L. J. Tranvik, R. G. Striegl, C. M. Duarte, P. Kortelainen, J. A. Downing, J. Middleburg and J. Melack. 2007. Plumbing the global carbon cycle: Integrating inland waters into the terrestrial carbon budget. Ecosystems

Research Highlight:
With Cary Institute colleague Dr. Michael L. Pace, along with colleagues from the University of Wisconsin and Sweden, Cole has been involved in tracing the flow of terrestrial organic C through the aquatic food web in a series of whole-lake experiments. You may read more about this study in the following press release, letter to Nature, Limnology and Oceanography publication, Ecology publication, or Ecology Letters Publication.

Other:
Cole recently completed a six year term (2 years each as President-elect, President, and Past-President) on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). With about 4,400 members in 50 countries ASLO is the leading society for research and education in the aquatic sciences and fosters integration between work in freshwaters and the ocean. Cole also serve while Past-President as ASLO's representative on the Council of Scientific Society Presidents.

In 2003, Cole was award the Ecology Institute Prize (ECI) for Excellence in Limnetic Ecology. The ECI prize is given in alternating years for Terrestrial Ecology, Marine Ecology and Limnetic (Freshwater) Ecology. Cole has been an ISI Highly Cited Researcher since 2003

Current Research:

Carbon cycling in freshwaters.

The fate of ancient terrestrial organic carbon in riverine ecosystems.

Where does the carbon dioxide in lakes come from?

Does terrestrial organic C support the aquatic food web?

Synthesizing the connection between the aquatic and terrestrial carbon cycles.