Florida Springs (and other Rivers)
North Florida supports the highest density of large artesian springs in the world. Fed by the karstic Floridan Aquifer, these springs and the rivers that flow from them support dense beds of aquatic vegetation, and are extremely stable in terms of flow, temperature, and chemistry. Springs served as early model systems for studies of ecosystem energetics (Odum 1957), and our work builds on that tradition. Like many other streams and rivers, they are also changing chemically and biologically. Our research has addressed the causes of algal blooms in springs, used high-frequency measurements to understand interactions between metabolism and nutrient cycling, and quantified biogeochemical processes in groundwater based on the chemistry of springs.
We have also used springs in comparative studies to understand the effects of terrestial organic matter on aquatic nutrient cycling.
Despite our intensive study of these systems, there is lots more to do. We are also working to take approaches developed in springs and apply them to a variety of other ecosystems, including streams and rivers right here in North Carolina.
We have also used springs in comparative studies to understand the effects of terrestial organic matter on aquatic nutrient cycling.
Despite our intensive study of these systems, there is lots more to do. We are also working to take approaches developed in springs and apply them to a variety of other ecosystems, including streams and rivers right here in North Carolina.
