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Assistant Professor
Department of Biology University of St. Thomas 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 (651) 962-5166 gaston.small (at) stthomas.edu Curriculum vitae
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Ecosystem Ecology
and Biogeochemistry |
Research Interests
I am broadly interested in the movement of nutrients through ecosystems, the effect of anthropogenic nutrient loading on the biotic community, and the role that humans and other species play in transforming and retaining nutrients at the catchment scale. I have used a combination of field measurements and manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modeling to explore questions at the interface of biogeochemistry, hydrology, and food web ecology.
My current research activities include the following projects:
My current research activities include the following projects:
Nutrient recycling and losses in urban ecosystems from composting coupled with Urban Agriculture.
Food waste is a significant biogeochemical flux in urban ecosystems, and composting coupled with urban agriculture can potentially recycle these nutrients back into the human food system. However, the availability of wood chips may constrain the scale of composting in many cities. Furthermore, nutrients lost during the composting process further diminish the efficiency of nutrient recycling and potentially contaminate groundwater and surface waters. We are measuring the effects of different wood chip:food waste ratios on the biogeochemistry and microbial dynamics of the composting process, and using the finished compost to measure the effects on crop yields and nutrient recycling efficiencies. Collaborators: Adam Kay (University of St. Thomas), Nic Jelinski (University of Minnesota) |
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Stream team at La Selva Biological Station. With Marcelo Ardon, Minor Hidalgo, John Duff, and Carissa Ganong.
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Carbon transport and processing in tropical rivers.I analyzed a long-term neotropical stream chemistry data set to show that seasonal and inter-annual stream acidification is driven by CO2 inputs from soil respiration. We are currently measuring the seasonal contribution of in-stream metabolism to this CO2 loading, and to measure the capacity of stream microbes to utilize dissolved organic carbon of different qualities.
Collaborators: Marcelo Ardon (East Carolina University), Alonso Ramirez (University of Puerto Rico), Carissa Ganong (Northern Michigan University), John Duff (USGS), Cathy Pringle (University of Georgia) |
 Puerto Viejo river, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica  Puerto Viejo river during a flood |
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Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in urban lakes.
Many urban lakes in the Twin Cities are impaired due to excess nutrients and algal growth, and numerous initiatives have been launched to reduce nutrient loading in an attempt to improve water quality. We are combining modeling and empirical measurements of N and P dynamics to better understand how current and potential management practices might impact water quality. Collaborators: Jacques Finlay and Anika Bratt (University of Minnesota) |
Saint Paul's Como Lake
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