HOORC project
Full title:
Biogeochemistry of a seasonal floodplain in the Okavango Delta
Short title:
Seasonal floodplains biogeochemistry
Key subject area:
land and water
Keywords:
floodplain, ecosystem function, carbon flux, methane flux, primary productivity
Leader at HOORC/Contact person at HOORC:
Dr C.M. Bonyongo
Leader:
Prof. W. Mitsch
Leading institution:
Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park,
Ohio State University, USA
Participants at HOORC:
Dr P. Huntsman-Mapila
Dr P. Wolski
Dr K.B. Mfundisi
External collaborators:
Ms A. Nahlik
Dr L. Zhang
Ms B. Bernal
Collaborating institutions:
Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park,
Ohio State University, USA
Funding agency:
Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre, University of Botswana
Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, Ohio State University
Start date:
2/2007
End date/expected end date:
12/2010
Total project funds (from funding agencies):
P 100000
In-kind contribution of HOORC to total project costs:
P 20000
Project funds at HOORC:
P 0
Status:
on-going
Geographical area:
Nxaraga, Boro distributary
Geographical scope:
Okavango Delta
Motivation/rationale:
To investigate the functions of the floodplain ecosystems of the Okavango Delta and to to compare these with other tropical and temperate zone wetlands. This is a multi-investigator and multi-year study.
Objectives:
1) to measure and compare carbon fluxes according to hydrologic conditions, including but not limited to net primary productivity, methane emissions, carbon sequestration, fire oxidation rates, and carbon dioxide fluxes, 2) to investigate successional patterns for vegetation in the floodplain ecosystems using previous data sets and transect measurements, 3) to estimate fire frequency in the floodplain and its effect on ecosystem function, 4) to estimate hydrology patterns and flooding frequency of floodplain ecosystems.
Workplan:
February 2007 - selection of field sites, installation of hydrological observation network March 2008 - field campaign: measurements of NPP, CO2 fluxes, methane emissions, soil chemistry, soil moisture, morphological parameters of vegetation, species composition.
Results/Expected results:
We expect to document the relationships between carbon-base processes in this important wetland ecosystem and determine the importance of hydrologic and seasonal patterns. We will also compare these fluxes and rates to other tropical and temperate wetlands.
Project website:
http://swamp.osu.edu/research/tropical/
Comments:
See the location of the field site (this is a Google Earth link) or see the data in an online database
Record created on 2008-02-28 by pwolski, last updated on 2008-02-29 by pwolski