Welcome to the WABL

Wetland and Aquatic Biogeochemistry Laboratory

Our research lab is focused on wetland and aquatic system function and we are housed within the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences in the College of the Coast & Environment at Louisiana State University.

Our research investigates the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and contaminants in a range of aquatic systems including freshwater and coastal wetlands, lakes, estuaries and coastal inner shelf environments.  Oxidation-reduction reactions, controlled by the microbial communities in the soil and sediment, coupled with sorption reactions control the fate of many contaminants in the environment.  We study these processes in soil, sediments, water and plants over a wide range of scales including laboratory bench top reactors, mesocosms in the greenhouse as well as full-scale field sampling efforts.  Researchers have access to a range of equipment including small boats,  airboats and trucks for wetland and estuarine work and access to 2 ocean-going vessels at LUMCON for sampling within the Gulf of Mexico.  Wetland ecosystems stretch around the globe as does our collaborations as we have published papers with folks from 10 other countries: Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, England, Germany, Korea, Mexico, and Spain.

We are always seeking motivated, inquisitive and focused students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to join our team on our journey of discovery! contact us   All forms of diversity provide a great environment for creative and collaborative research. Whoever you are and wherever you are from, we at the WABL welcome and support everyone!  Feel free to look at our publication list and if you see something that interests you, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to send a PDF.