Research: Graduate Student Profile

 

Snapshots...

Sanpisa Sritrairat
Biology and Paleo-Environment, LDEO

M.A., Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, 2006.
B.S., Hydrogeology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2004.
B.S., dual majors Environmental Science & Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2004.

"Like most earth and environmental studies, my research interest requires multidisciplinary approach. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is the perfect place for such study as there are so many top-notch researchers and state-of-the-art facilities from various fields all together in one place. The atmosphere is very informal. Every time I need help, regardless of the topics-- biology, climatology, oceanography, geochemistry, or solid geology, in regional or global scale, there always are some friendly and easy-to-approach people here willing to assist. The opportunity to interact with researchers from other fields also broadens my perspective."

Terrestrial Paleoecology, Paleoclimate, and Carbon Cycling in Wetlands

Wetland sediment is a great achieve of terrestrial ecosystem and climate changes because of low disturbances and continuous sedimentation. Wetlands are also one of the most important carbon storage on earth as most of the sequestrated carbon is stored in the anoxic condition. With respect to the concerns of global temperature and CO₂ rise, the paleo-record is another useful tool to help us understand the effects of climatic changes on vegetation, carbon pool, and the landscape. Vegetation composition can in turn help to identify climatic shifts. The condition of estuarine wetlands is also very important to the public as they serve as sanctuaries for economic fish and animals, purify water, are rich in diversity, has high productivity, and has recreational value.

As of now, I mainly study cores from the Hudson River marshes for changes during the last millennium using pollens, macrofossils, and geochemical tracers. Not only can these paleo-records capture climate changes, anthropogenic effects on ecosystem, such as the deforestation during the European settlement and the spreading of introduced species, can be observed. The comparison of the vegetation and sediment type of the pre-anthropogenic interval to present helps the management agency to come up with a better strategy to restore these wetlands. Along with these paleo-records, I am analyzing atmospheric and riverine transport of pollens in to wetlands in order to determine the relationship of modern vegetation and their respective pollen records. Toward my Ph.D., I am trying to incorporate more tools, including the use of isotopic tracers and elemental analysis, to unveil paleo-carbon and nutrients dynamic and toxic-metal contamination in these wetlands.

Please visit my website for more information.

Advisors: Dorothy Peteet, Kevin Griffin, and Peter deMenocal.