The Aquatic Ecology and Biogeochemistry lab focuses on how biotic and abiotic processes occurring at different scales interact to affect ecosystem structure and function. Our research centers on how biogeochemistry varies across the hydrologic and physical templates of freshwater ecosystems, and how this heterogeneity interacts with the biota present.  Our research occurs across perennial and non-perennial, lentic (non-flowing) and lotic (flowing), above and belowground waters.

PI: ​Dr. Amanda DelVecchia
​Assistant Professor and Voit Gilmore Fellow
 Department of Geography and the Environment 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

IG: @delvecchialab
X, bsky: Twitter @agdelv

FEATURED PROJECTS
​see research page for more information

METHANE AND ANCIENT CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS TO  RIVER COMMUNITIES

We are using a combination of geochemical and stable isotope techniques to study how contributions of carbon sources ranging from modern to ancient vary across river floodplains.  We are also combining physiological, genetic, biogeochemical, and ecological study to understand how complex life (read: stoneflies!) persists in cold, carbon-poor alluvial aquifers beneath these floodplains.

drivers of Greenhouse gas flux across the united states and within streams

We are using the National Ecological Observatory Dataset to understand drivers of greenhouse gas flux.  We are considering differences between in-stream aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, stream geomorphology, and groundwater contributions using these long-term aquatic, terrestrial, and groundwater datasets.

Prior work: high elevation pond water and sediment greenhouse gas dynamics

Climate change is causing some aquatic systems to lose water earlier and for longer durations.  We studied how greenhouse gas flux from waters and exposed sediments varied across ponds with permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary hydroperiods, and how this has varied over decades.