Crystal Maher (PhD Student)
Southern Cross University

Project Title
Understanding Processes in Acid Sulfate Soil Environments Using Stable Isotopes

Biography

Crystal completed a Bachelor of Applied Science with a Double Major in Engineering and Environmental Geochemistry at Southern Cross University. She went on to receive a First Class Honours and a University Medal in 2005. In 2006 Crystal commenced her PhD with an Australian Postgraduate Award and CRC CARE scholarship. Crystal is also part way through completing an Graduate Certificate in Research Management through the Graduate College of Management at SCU.  

Start Date
January 2007

Project Details
The project has several major components

1. Method development and validation for the use of stable isotopes in acid sulfate soil studies. Although stable isotopes have been used in many related fields, they are a comparatively new tool in acid sulfate soil investigations. For this reason, the methods used to extract and examine stable isotopes from the various solid and dissolved phases needs to be established and verified.

2. To examine the stable isotope composition of acid sulfate soils from a range of environmental settings. The sites selected represent mineral and peat dominated sediments, inland and coastal environments and sites subjected to different remediation strategies (reflooding, seawater inundation, floodgate management, treatment with tertiary treated effluent). This information will provide a baseline for the use of stable isotopes in acid sulfate soils.

3. To examine the effect of diurnal fluctuations and bioturbation on the stable isotope signature of mangrove sediments. Mangrove sediments represent currently forming acid sulfate soils, so understanding the processes operating as these sediments are laid down will provide some insight into the isotope signatures of much older materials.