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IRIS METHODS FOR QUANTIFING IRON REDUCTION AND REDOX IN WETLAND SOILS**

Abstract

According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), wetlands are areas that fluctuate between wet and dry periods or terrestrial and aquatic periods that contain at least one of the following factors: presence of hydrophytes, presence of hydric soils, or non-soil substrates that are covered in shallow waters during certain parts of the year. They rank number one in providing ecosystem services among all other ecosystems yet are degrading at alarming rates, thus wetland delineation and protection are of extreme importance. The Indicator of Reduction in Soil (IRIS) Method, accepted by the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils (NTCHS) can indicate iron reduction in soil which can identify hydric soil for wetland delineation efforts. The IRIS method has potential for other uses such as quantifying relative measurements of iron reducing bacteria and redox potential within soils. The goal of this research is to assess the relationships between the IRIS method, the amount of iron reducing bacteria (IRB), and REDOX potential. The project establishes the use of IRIS method data as surrogates for IRB and REDOX potential quantification. This will allow IRIS methods to potentially be used as more economical alternatives for identifying hydric soil, as well as enhance to use of the IRIS method in wetland delineation method and studies.

Acknowledgements

Georgia College Faculty Research Funds, Cameron Skinner

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