The sediments of the wetland microcosm are rich in organic matter and microbial activity. As the oxygen of the sediments is reduced, noted by the color change in the sediments as seen in the photo, bacteria begin using other molecules as teminal electron acceptors for the oxidation-reduction reactions involved in their metabolic processes. When the redox potential is sufficiently reduced, the bacteria create hydrogen sulfide or methane gases, which accumulate in pockets of the sediments before escaping into the water column. We have set up a gas sampler to capture gases created in the microcosm and will report back.
The sediments of the wetland microcosm are rich in organic matter and microbial activity. As the oxygen of the sediments is reduced, noted by the color change in the sediments as seen in the photo, bacteria begin using other molecules as teminal electron acceptors for the oxidation-reduction reactions involved in their metabolic processes. When the redox potential is sufficiently reduced, the bacteria create hydrogen sulfide or methane gases, which accumulate in pockets of the sediments before escaping into the water column. We have set up a gas sampler to capture gases created in the microcosm and will report back.
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