Soil biogeochemistry is a broad field, examining the movement of nutrient and toxic elements between nonliving and living materials. My research focuses on how metals and metalloids are sourced from nonliving materials (rocks, minerals) and move via water and air to and from soils. We study natural and human disturbed terrestrial systems, predominantly in the eastern United States. Our laboratory applies x-ray, light, and mass-based instruments coupled with traditional and advanced chemical techniques to measure phases of nutrient and toxic metals in solid and aqueous phases. The core mission is to ensure sustainable element cycling in natural forests and agroecosystems and protect human and ecosystem health from toxic element exposure.

[Curriculum Vitae]

PUBLICATIONS

• Evaluating trace elements in urban forest soils across three contrasting New England USA towns and cities by pXRF and mass spectrometry 2023
  EC Sirkovich, SL Walser, N Perdrial, JB Richardson
  Environmental Pollution 336, 122441

• Accumulation and transport of nutrient and pollutant elements in riparian soils, sediments, and river waters across the Thames River Watershed, Connecticut, USA 2023
  MJ Butler, BC Yellen, O Oyewumi, W Ouimet, JB Richardson
  Science of The Total Environment 899, 165630

• Trace metals and metalloids and Ga/Al ratios in grey shale weathering profiles along a climate gradient and in batch reactors 2022
  JB Richardson, IC Mischenko, TJ Mackowiak, N Perdrial
  Geoderma 405, 115431

• Synthesis of earthworm trace metal uptake and bioaccumulation data: Role of soil concentration, earthworm ecophysiology, and experimental design 2020
  JB Richardson, JH Görres, T Sizmur
  Environmental Pollution 262, 114126

• Invasive earthworms change nutrient availability and uptake by forest understory plants 207
  AM Dobson, B Blossey, JB Richardson
  Plant and Soil 421, 175-190

• Trace metals and metalloids in forest soils and exotic earthworms in northern New England, USA 2015
  JB Richardson, JH Görres, BP Jackson, AJ Friedland
  Soil Biology and biochemistry 85, 190-198