Linking Land, Air and Water Management in the Southern Everglades and Coastal Zone to Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration: Task 2, Sulfur and Nutrient Contamination, Biogeochemical Cycling, and Effects

The scientific focus of this project is to examine the complex interactions (synergistic and antagonistic) of contaminants (externally derived nutrients, mercury, sulfur, pesticides, herbicides, polycyclic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and other metals), ecosystem responses to variations in contaminant loading (time and space dimensions), and how imminent ecosystem restoration steps may affect existing contaminant pools.

The major objectives of this project are to use an integrated biogeochemical approach to examine: (1) anthropogenic-induced changes in the water chemistry of the Everglades ecosystem, (2) biogeochemical processes within the ecosystem affecting water chemistry, and (3) the predicted impacts of restoration efforts on water chemistry. The project uses a combination of field investigations, experimental approaches (mesocosm experiments in the ecosystem, and controlled laboratory experiments), and modeling to achieve these objectives. Contaminants of concern will include nutrients, sulfur, mercury, organic compounds, and other metals. Protocols for the collection of samples and chemical analyses developed during earlier studies will be employed in these efforts. Integration of the individual tasks within the project is achieved by colocation of field sampling sites, and cooperative planning and execution of laboratory and mesocosm experiments.

Data available for this project include dissolved sulfate and solid sulfur geochemistry and surface and pore water chemistry.

本项目的科学核心为探究各类污染物（包括外源性营养盐、汞、硫、杀虫剂、除草剂、多环芳烃与脂肪烃及其他金属）之间的复杂交互作用（协同与拮抗效应）、生态系统对污染物负荷时空维度变化的响应，以及即将开展的生态修复措施将如何影响现存污染物库。
本项目的主要目标为采用集成生物地球化学方法开展以下研究：① 人为活动诱导的佛罗里达大沼泽地（Everglades）生态系统水体化学变化；② 生态系统内影响水体化学特征的生物地球化学过程；③ 修复工程对水体化学特征的预期影响。
本项目将结合野外调查、原位生态系统中宇宙实验（mesocosm experiments）与受控室内实验等实验手段，以及模型模拟方法以达成上述研究目标。本项目关注的污染物涵盖营养盐、硫、汞、有机化合物及其他金属。本次研究将沿用前期研究中建立的样品采集与化学分析规程。项目内各研究任务的整合通过统一布设野外采样点位，以及协同规划与实施室内实验及中宇宙实验得以实现。
本项目可获取的数据包括溶解态硫酸盐与固态硫地球化学数据，以及地表水与孔隙水化学数据。