
Eli Dueker e-mail:med2109@columbia.edu Education M.A., Columbia University B.A., Rhodes College (Memphis, TN) Research I am currently investigating microbially-mediated interecosystem nutrient exchange. The two mechanisms I am focusing on are urban sewage inputs to estuarine waters and fog formation over coastal waters leading to nutrients and possibly microbial transport to terrestrial systems. I use microscopic, molecular, and culturing techniques to characterize microbial communities in estuarine and coastal waters. Natural “experiments” such as rain-induced sewage releases to estuarine surface waters, the introduction of aquaculture installations to coastal waters, and the ethereal transport of coastal fog into terrestrial systems provide insights into environmental variation and allow for modeling of these systems and their responses to disturbance. Controlled laboratory manipulations of surface water microbial communities in mesocosms provides further support for model development and insight into the ecology of these organisms. My project fields sites are: Hudson River Estuary: Newtown Creek – one of the most polluted tributaries in the United States, recently suggested as a SuperFund Site. Surface waters cycle between hypoxia and hyper-oxygenation due to microbial community dynamics. Boothbay Harbor, ME – the temperate and often foggy conditions in this island-dominated coastal area greatly resembles the area in S. Chile supporting exponential aquaculture industry expansion. Golfo de Ancud, Chile -- this area, because of its nearly-pristine conditions, high-nutrient waters and plethora of protected embayments, sustains high levels of aquaculture production. Fog frequently forms over coastal waters and moves into untouched old growth coastal forests, supplying nutrients and possibly transporting microbes. Funding for my research has been provided by: Earth Microbiology Initiative, LDEO Office of the Director, Hudson River Foundation, RISE ( Columbia University), Earth Institute, Institute for Latin American Studies Links Deparment of Eath and Environmental Sciences (DEES) Earth Microbiology Initiative The Earth Institute The Hudson River Foundation Institute for Latin American Studies (ILAS) Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)

Eli Dueker

e-mail:med2109@columbia.edu

Education

M.A., Columbia University
B.A., Rhodes College (Memphis, TN)

Research

I am currently investigating microbially-mediated interecosystem nutrient exchange. The two mechanisms I am focusing on are urban sewage inputs to estuarine waters and fog formation over coastal waters leading to nutrients and possibly microbial transport to terrestrial systems. I use microscopic, molecular, and culturing techniques to characterize microbial communities in estuarine and coastal waters. Natural “experiments” such as rain-induced sewage releases to estuarine surface waters, the introduction of aquaculture installations to coastal waters, and the ethereal transport of coastal fog into terrestrial systems provide insights into environmental variation and allow for modeling of these systems and their responses to disturbance. Controlled laboratory manipulations of surface water microbial communities in mesocosms provides further support for model development and insight into the ecology of these organisms.

My project fields sites are:

Hudson River Estuary: Newtown Creek – one of the most polluted tributaries in the United States, recently suggested as a SuperFund Site. Surface waters cycle between hypoxia and hyper-oxygenation due to microbial community dynamics.

Boothbay Harbor, ME – the temperate and often foggy conditions in this island-dominated coastal area greatly resembles the area in S. Chile supporting exponential aquaculture industry expansion.

Golfo de Ancud, Chile -- this area, because of its nearly-pristine conditions, high-nutrient waters and plethora of protected embayments, sustains high levels of aquaculture production. Fog frequently forms over coastal waters and moves into untouched old growth coastal forests, supplying nutrients and possibly transporting microbes.

Funding for my research has been provided by: Earth Microbiology Initiative, LDEO Office of the Director, Hudson River Foundation, RISE ( Columbia University), Earth Institute, Institute for Latin American Studies

Links