Since the industrial revolution, human activities have been the dominant force governing global systems. Despite the changes we are witnessing, we know little about how rapidly changing global change forces, such as altered precipitation, land use change and diversity loss, will influence processes that are thought to occur on longer timescales, such as soil development and soil carbon dynamics.

This week's Friday Ecology Seminar, presented by Laura Podzikowski, KU postdoctoral researcher, will explore this theme in two parts. The first part will explore the influence of climate variability on soil development at the scale of the contiguous U.S. It will also explore what the implications of that relationship may be for carbon transport down soil profiles—a process that tends to follow soil development. The second part of the talk will explore the relationship between plant diversity and soil carbon regeneration in grasslands.

The Friday Ecology Seminars series is hosted by the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research. This hybrid seminar will begin at 12:15 p.m. in room 152 Smissman Labs (next door to Takeru Higuchi Hall, 2101 Constant Ave.) on KU’s west campus. Doors open at 12:05. 
 

During the fall 2025 semester, talks will be hybrid and broadcast via Zoom. Most talks also will be recorded for our YouTube channel. If you’re on Zoom, you may join beginning at 12:05 p.m.

See complete information on the seminars and our full schedule on our website. Join the email list for Friday seminars. 

To attend via Zoom:
https://kansas.zoom.us/j/83347644887

Passcode: 415139