Montana State University (MT)
timothy.covino@msu.montana.edu
Aquatic Ecology & Ecosystems |
ABSTRACT: Increased inputs of nitrogen (N) have become an environmental concern in many parts of the United States. In order to properly manage our water resources and maintain water quality we must improve our understanding of the processes that influence N transport. My research focuses on developing landscape scale conceptual and numerical models of the movement of water and N. Watershed N transport is being intensively investigated in the Bull Trout Lake Watershed in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho and less intensively in three watersheds of differing network complexity, biological community structure, and hydrologic regime (Stanley, Alturas, and Petit watersheds; Sawtooth Mountains, ID). This information will be coupled with terrain analysis to scale up from the stream reach to the network scale to investigate the impact network complexity, watershed organization, stream N concentration, and hydrologic regime have on ecosystem processes and structure. Through this research I seek to understand how increasing watershed complexity in mountain landscapes, and the ensuing changes in hydrologic and nutrient residence times, affect ecosystem stability. Understanding the dominant controls on watershed response to nutrient inputs is crucial to the further development of water and nutrient resource management as communities continue to expand, nutrient inputs increase, and demands on limited water resources continue to grow.
BIO: Tim grew up in Connecticut but moved west and received his B.A. from the Environmental and Evolutionary Biology Department at the University of Colorado at Boulder. It was here while working at the Center for Limnology that Tim developed his interest in aquatic ecology and hydrology. After his undergraduate work Tim moved to Montana and received his M.S. in watershed hydrology from the Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department at Montana State University—Bozeman (MSU). Currently he is pursuing his Ph.D. in the Ecology and Environmental Sciences Department at MSU studying stream biogeochemistry and hydrology. Tim’s current research focuses on the flux of water and nutrients from mountain watersheds. Outside of his studies Tim enjoys spending time in the mountains and playing music. |
