The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $501,629 Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to Stockton University to conduct a biogeochemical study of bog iron in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The 3-year project, running from June 2024 to May 2027, will identify the bacterial communities that thrive on iron in the Pine Barrens' acidic bog iron seeps and examine how these bacteria chemically alter iron. The research will establish observatories at three historic iron forge locations to track the diversity and activity of iron-cycling bacteria over time. The project will employ a multi-faceted approach using geochemical monitoring, DNA sequencing, microscopy, and electrochemical techniques to generate a functional model of iron biogeochemistry in the Pine Barrens. Additionally, the grant will support paid undergraduate research opportunities for students from underrepresented groups and public outreach on the Pine Barrens' microbial ecosystems.
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