Dr. Swanston studies the processes that control organic carbon dynamics in forest soils. Soil carbon is a fundamental component of ecosystem structure, and understanding the forms and fate of belowground carbon helps us predict and mitigate the effects of management, natural disturbance, and climate change. Dr. Swanston is especially interested in how the physical and biological components of soil ecosystems interact to stabilize carbon, and how this interaction changes in different forest ecosystems. His research has made extensive use of radiocarbon and organic matter fractionation techniques to increase the sensitivity of estimates of soil carbon storage and flux.
