Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science
2nd Edition
Published on 14. September 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
594 pages
978-1-4051-2680-9 (ISBN)
Description
This book highlights new and emerging uses of stable isotope analysis in a variety of ecological disciplines. While the use of natural abundance isotopes in ecological research is now relatively standard, new techniques and ways of interpreting patterns are developing rapidly. The second edition of this book provides a thorough, up-to-date examination of these methods of research. As part of the Ecological Methods and Concepts series which provides the latest information on experimental techniques in ecology, this book looks at a wide range of techniques that use natural abundance isotopes to:
follow whole ecosystem element cycling
understand processes of soil organic matter formation
follow the movement of water in whole watersheds
understand the effects of pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments
study extreme systems such as hydrothermal vents
follow migrating organisms
In each case, the book explains the background to the methodology, looks at the underlying principles and assumptions, and outlines the potential limitations and pitfalls.
Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science is an ideal resource for both ecologists who are new to isotopic analysis, and more experienced isotope ecologists interested in innovative techniques and pioneering new uses.
follow whole ecosystem element cycling
understand processes of soil organic matter formation
follow the movement of water in whole watersheds
understand the effects of pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments
study extreme systems such as hydrothermal vents
follow migrating organisms
In each case, the book explains the background to the methodology, looks at the underlying principles and assumptions, and outlines the potential limitations and pitfalls.
Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science is an ideal resource for both ecologists who are new to isotopic analysis, and more experienced isotope ecologists interested in innovative techniques and pioneering new uses.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Hoboken
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
889 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4051-2680-9 (9781405126809)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Robert Michener | Kate Lajtha
Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science
E-Book
05/2008
2nd Edition
Wiley-Blackwell
€85.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Kate Lajtha | Robert Michener
Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science
Book
06/1994
Blackwell Science Ltd
€57.13
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Robert Michener is the Laboratory Manager of the Boston University Stable Isotope Laboratory and has been running the internationally recognized facility for 18 years. His research interests include aquatic ecology, food web systems, and how stable isotopes can be applied to tracing pollutants, comparing pristine and impacted systems.
Kate Lajtha is a Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University and the Editor-in-Chief of Biogeochemistry. She is a terrestrial biogeochemist who studies soil organic matter stabilization and soil solution chemistry.
Kate Lajtha is a Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University and the Editor-in-Chief of Biogeochemistry. She is a terrestrial biogeochemist who studies soil organic matter stabilization and soil solution chemistry.
Content
Contributors, x
Abbreviations, xiii
Introduction, xvii
1 Stable isotope chemistry and measurement: a primer, 1
Elizabeth W. Sulzman
Introduction, 1
What isotopes are, what makes them distinct, 1
Properties of ecologically useful stable isotopes, 11
Technological advances and current trends in the ecological use of isotopes, 14
Acknowledgments, 18
References, 18
2 Sources of variation in the stable isotopic composition of plants, 22
John D. Marshall, J. Renee Brooks, and Kate Lajtha
Introduction, 22
Carbon isotopes, 22
Nitrogen isotopes, 35
Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, 39
Conclusions, 49
References, 50
3 Natural 15N- and 13C-abundance as indicators of forest nitrogen status and soil carbon dynamics, 61
Charles T. Garten, Jr, Paul J. Hanson, Donald E. Todd, Jr, Bonnie B. Lu, and Deanne J. Brice
Introduction, 61
Significance of 15N-abundance to soil carbon sequestration, 63
Vertical changes in soil 13C-abundance and soil carbon dynamics, 69
Conclusions, 77
Acknowledgments, 77
References, 77
4 Soil nitrogen isotope composition, 83
R. Dave Evans
Introduction, 83
Sources of variation in soil ?15N, 83
Patterns of soil nitrogen isotope composition, 91
Conclusions, 94
References, 95
5 Isotopic study of the biology of modern and fossil vertebrates, 99
Paul L. Koch
Introduction, 99
Vertebrate tissues in the fossil record, 100
Controls on the isotopic composition of vertebrate tissues, 105
Preservation of biogenic isotope compositions by vertebrate fossils, 119
Paleobiological applications, 123
Conclusions, 138
A post-script on workshops and literature resources, 138
References, 139
6 Isotopic tracking of migrant wildlife, 155
Keith A. Hobson
Introduction, 155
Basic principles, 156
Marine systems, 159
Terrestrial systems (excluding deuterium), 161
Using deuterium patterns in precipitation, 163
Conclusions, 169
References, 170
7 Natural abundance of 15N in marine planktonic ecosystems, 176
Joseph P. Montoya
Introduction, 176
Background, 177
Isotopic variation in marine nitrogen, 178
Source delineation and isotope budgets, 186
Animal fractionation and food web processes, 187
Isotopic transients in marine systems, 189
Compound-specific nitrogen isotope analyses, 191
Conclusions, 193
Acknowledgment, 194
References, 194
8 Stable isotope studies in marine chemoautotrophically based ecosystems: An update, 202
Cindy Lee Van Dover
Introduction, 202
Isotopic tracing of carbon at methane seeps, 209
Whale falls, 219
Hydrothermal vents, 221
Conclusions, 226
References, 230
9 Stable isotope ratios as tracers in marine food webs: An update, 238
Robert H. Michener and Les Kaufman
Introduction, 238
Methods of assessing food webs, 238
Phytoplankton and particulate organic carbon, 246
Phytoplankton and particulate organic nitrogen, 248
Marine food webs, 252
Stable isotopes in marine conservation biology, 261
Conclusions, 269
Acknowledgments, 270
References, 270
10 Stable isotope tracing of temporal and spatial variability in organic matter sources to freshwater ecosystems, 283
Jacques C. Finlay and Carol Kendall
Introduction, 283
Overview of river food webs and stable isotope approaches, 284
Stable isotope ratios of organic matter sources in stream ecosystems, 289
C, N, and S isotopic variability and its applications in river ecology, 308
Conclusions, 323
Acknowledgments, 324
References, 324
11 Stable isotope tracers in watershed hydrology, 334
Kevin McGuire and Jeff McDonnell
Introduction, 334
Basic concepts in watershed hydrology, 334
Why are stable isotopes needed?, 342
General concepts in isotope hydrology, 342
Applications of isotope hydrology in watershed and ecosystem studies, 356
Conclusions, 364
Acknowledgments, 365
References, 365
12 Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems, 375
Carol Kendall, Emily M. Elliott, and Scott D. Wankel
Introduction, 375
Isotopic compositions of major N sources to ecosystems, 380
Processes affecting the isotopic composition of DIN, 393
Separating mixing of sources from the effects of cycling, 407
Applications to different environmental settings, 413
What sources of agricultural and urban sources of nitrate can be distinguished using isotopes?, 422
Other tools for tracing anthropogenic contaminants, 427
Conclusions, 433
References, 435
13 Modeling the dynamics of stable-isotope ratios for ecosystem biogeochemistry, 450
William S. Currie
Introduction, 450
Designing consistent model-data linkages and comparisons, 454
Principles and techniques of stable isotope modeling, 461
Conclusions, 474
Acknowledgments, 476
References, 476
14 Compound-specific stable isotope analysis in ecology and paleoecology, 480
Richard P. Evershed, Ian D. Bull, Lorna T. Corr, Zoe M. Crossman, Bart E. van Dongen, Claire J. Evans, Susan Jim, Hazel R. Mottram, Anna J. Mukherjee, and Richard D. Pancost
Introduction, 480
Why use compound-specific stable isotopes?, 481
Analytical considerations in compound-specific stable isotope analysis, 482
Applications of compound-specific stable isotope approaches in ecology and paleoecology, 498
Conclusions, 524
References, 526
Index, 541
Abbreviations, xiii
Introduction, xvii
1 Stable isotope chemistry and measurement: a primer, 1
Elizabeth W. Sulzman
Introduction, 1
What isotopes are, what makes them distinct, 1
Properties of ecologically useful stable isotopes, 11
Technological advances and current trends in the ecological use of isotopes, 14
Acknowledgments, 18
References, 18
2 Sources of variation in the stable isotopic composition of plants, 22
John D. Marshall, J. Renee Brooks, and Kate Lajtha
Introduction, 22
Carbon isotopes, 22
Nitrogen isotopes, 35
Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, 39
Conclusions, 49
References, 50
3 Natural 15N- and 13C-abundance as indicators of forest nitrogen status and soil carbon dynamics, 61
Charles T. Garten, Jr, Paul J. Hanson, Donald E. Todd, Jr, Bonnie B. Lu, and Deanne J. Brice
Introduction, 61
Significance of 15N-abundance to soil carbon sequestration, 63
Vertical changes in soil 13C-abundance and soil carbon dynamics, 69
Conclusions, 77
Acknowledgments, 77
References, 77
4 Soil nitrogen isotope composition, 83
R. Dave Evans
Introduction, 83
Sources of variation in soil ?15N, 83
Patterns of soil nitrogen isotope composition, 91
Conclusions, 94
References, 95
5 Isotopic study of the biology of modern and fossil vertebrates, 99
Paul L. Koch
Introduction, 99
Vertebrate tissues in the fossil record, 100
Controls on the isotopic composition of vertebrate tissues, 105
Preservation of biogenic isotope compositions by vertebrate fossils, 119
Paleobiological applications, 123
Conclusions, 138
A post-script on workshops and literature resources, 138
References, 139
6 Isotopic tracking of migrant wildlife, 155
Keith A. Hobson
Introduction, 155
Basic principles, 156
Marine systems, 159
Terrestrial systems (excluding deuterium), 161
Using deuterium patterns in precipitation, 163
Conclusions, 169
References, 170
7 Natural abundance of 15N in marine planktonic ecosystems, 176
Joseph P. Montoya
Introduction, 176
Background, 177
Isotopic variation in marine nitrogen, 178
Source delineation and isotope budgets, 186
Animal fractionation and food web processes, 187
Isotopic transients in marine systems, 189
Compound-specific nitrogen isotope analyses, 191
Conclusions, 193
Acknowledgment, 194
References, 194
8 Stable isotope studies in marine chemoautotrophically based ecosystems: An update, 202
Cindy Lee Van Dover
Introduction, 202
Isotopic tracing of carbon at methane seeps, 209
Whale falls, 219
Hydrothermal vents, 221
Conclusions, 226
References, 230
9 Stable isotope ratios as tracers in marine food webs: An update, 238
Robert H. Michener and Les Kaufman
Introduction, 238
Methods of assessing food webs, 238
Phytoplankton and particulate organic carbon, 246
Phytoplankton and particulate organic nitrogen, 248
Marine food webs, 252
Stable isotopes in marine conservation biology, 261
Conclusions, 269
Acknowledgments, 270
References, 270
10 Stable isotope tracing of temporal and spatial variability in organic matter sources to freshwater ecosystems, 283
Jacques C. Finlay and Carol Kendall
Introduction, 283
Overview of river food webs and stable isotope approaches, 284
Stable isotope ratios of organic matter sources in stream ecosystems, 289
C, N, and S isotopic variability and its applications in river ecology, 308
Conclusions, 323
Acknowledgments, 324
References, 324
11 Stable isotope tracers in watershed hydrology, 334
Kevin McGuire and Jeff McDonnell
Introduction, 334
Basic concepts in watershed hydrology, 334
Why are stable isotopes needed?, 342
General concepts in isotope hydrology, 342
Applications of isotope hydrology in watershed and ecosystem studies, 356
Conclusions, 364
Acknowledgments, 365
References, 365
12 Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems, 375
Carol Kendall, Emily M. Elliott, and Scott D. Wankel
Introduction, 375
Isotopic compositions of major N sources to ecosystems, 380
Processes affecting the isotopic composition of DIN, 393
Separating mixing of sources from the effects of cycling, 407
Applications to different environmental settings, 413
What sources of agricultural and urban sources of nitrate can be distinguished using isotopes?, 422
Other tools for tracing anthropogenic contaminants, 427
Conclusions, 433
References, 435
13 Modeling the dynamics of stable-isotope ratios for ecosystem biogeochemistry, 450
William S. Currie
Introduction, 450
Designing consistent model-data linkages and comparisons, 454
Principles and techniques of stable isotope modeling, 461
Conclusions, 474
Acknowledgments, 476
References, 476
14 Compound-specific stable isotope analysis in ecology and paleoecology, 480
Richard P. Evershed, Ian D. Bull, Lorna T. Corr, Zoe M. Crossman, Bart E. van Dongen, Claire J. Evans, Susan Jim, Hazel R. Mottram, Anna J. Mukherjee, and Richard D. Pancost
Introduction, 480
Why use compound-specific stable isotopes?, 481
Analytical considerations in compound-specific stable isotope analysis, 482
Applications of compound-specific stable isotope approaches in ecology and paleoecology, 498
Conclusions, 524
References, 526
Index, 541