William H. Schlesinger
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William H. Schlesinger (April 30, 1950 – Present) is a biogeochemist who contributed to over 180 scientific papers, including his widely-used textbook, Biogeochemistry: An analysis of global change (Academic Press, 2nd ed. 1997). He has served as a professor, dean, and president of the Ecological Society of America in 2003-2004.
Schlesinger lives with his wife, Lisa Dellwo and is the current president of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York.
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[edit] Education, Career, and Honors
Schlesinger began his college education at Dartmouth College where he received his A.B. in biology in 1971. He earned his Ph.D. at Cornell University in Ecology and Systematics in 1976. Schlesinger’s teaching career began at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he was an assistant professor of biology for four years. Afterwards, he transferred to Duke University becoming a full professor and teaching for over 20 years. In 2001, Schlesinger was promoted as the Dean of the Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University. Schlesinger retired as the dean on June 1, 2007 and became the president of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies where he currently works.
Schlesinger has received many awards and honors from different organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, American Geophysical Union, and Soil Science Society of America.
[edit] Contributions to Biogeochemistry
Schlesinger’s contributions to the field of biogeochemistry have involved investigations of the role that [[chemical elements that play in natural ecosystems. He particularly focuses his work on the interactions of soil]] and the carbon cycle investigating the global estimate of organic and Total inorganic carbon storage in soils, the effects of soil carbon run off, the change in carbon cycle with conversion to agriculture, and carbon accumulation in soils. Schlesinger contributed to the publications of over 180 scientific articles and continues to lead the way in biogeochemistry research.
His textbook, Biogeochemistry: An analysis of global change, is a widely used university text for his field. The ties between chemical processes, biological cycles, and how these affect the earth’s natural reservoirs are topics covered in his textbook. Schlesinger continually makes an impact to the Biogeochemistry field with his shared knowledge.
Schlesinger is an active researcher in the field of biogeochemistry\ and a leader in advocating for environmental policies, testifying before U.S. House and Senate committees. He has advocated for environmental issues that include preserving desert habitats, addressing global climate change, and carbon sequestration. By doing this, Schlesinger accomplished tangible legislation such as the Clean Air Act, and California Desert Protection Act.
[edit] Work with National Science Foundation, 1991-2006
Schlesinger served as the Co-principal investigator for the Jornada Basin Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico. Research projects in LTER Core Areas mainly focus on inorganic fluxes, including studies of ammonia volatilization from soils, hydrology natural runoff plots and transect soil water content. He has also worked extensively in arid ecosystems and landscapes, studying responses to resource redistribution and global change, which can lead to soil degradation and regional desertification.
[edit] Forest-Atmosphere Carbon Transfer and Storage, 1996-1999
Schlesinger is the co-principal investigator for the Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) Experiment simulated in the Duke Forest. The object of the study was to investigate the efficacy of carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems (vegetation and soil) in reponse to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, as a means to mitigate the potential for global warming.
Organic material in soil samples was divided into particulate organic matters (coarse >0.5mm, fine (53 µm-0.5mm) and mineral-associated fractions (<53 µm), with the smaller components having greater stability and higher chance to cause long-term carbon sequestration in soils. Study of variation of δ13C in soil during the three-year experimental period shows fresh plant debris input at 15-30cm depth but minimal production or downward movement of dissolved organic carbon compounds with its stable concentration in the mineral-associated fraction.
Mean residence time (MRT) for carbon in the forest floor under non-steady-state conditions was 2.86yr (k=0.35) estimated from Ct = C0e-kt + (I/K)(1-e-kt), which is in good agreement with the value 3.23yr (k=0.31) derived from depleted δ13C of fresh litter.
Given the absence of significant changes of carbon content in deeper mineral soil layers, forest soils are unlikely to be in account for the long-term net carbon sequestration.
[edit] References
Schlesinger, W. H., Better Living Through Biogeochemistry, Ecology, 85(9), 2004, pp.2402-2407
Schlesinger, W. H., Biogeochemistry, An Analysis of Global change, Academic Press, 1997, pp. 159-163
Schlesinger, W. H., Lichter, J., 2001. Limited carbon storage in soil and litter of experimental forest plots under increased atmospheric CO2. Nature 411, 466-469.
Finzi, A.C., Norby, R.J., Calfapietra, c., Gallet-Budynek, A., Gielen, B., Holmes, W.E., Hoosbeek, M.R., Iversen, C.M., Jackson, R.B., Kubiske M.E., Ledford, J., Liberloo, M., Oren, R., Polle, A., Pritchard, S., Zak, D.R., Schlesinger W.H., ceulemans, R., 2007. Increase in nitrogen uptake rather than nitrogen-use efficiency support higher rates of temperate forest productivity under elevated CO2. PNAS 104 (35) 14014-14019.
