Stable Isotope Techniques in the Study of Biological Processes and Functioning of Ecosystems

About this book

Stable Isotope Techniques in the Study of Biological Processes and Functioning of Ecosystems has a very strong practical orientation, telling readers what methodologies are available using stable isotopes, how studies should be designed and executed to maximise effectiveness and incisiveness in terms of data obtained and outcomes in terms of understanding events and processes in plant and ecosystem functioning.

The readership is very much aimed toward postgraduates with good knowledge of general biological principles and underlying chemical and physical processes. Pre-existing knowledge of or experience in application and assay of stable isotopes is not required. The stable isotope research field is one of the most rapidly growing areas of ecophysiology and techniques using stable isotopes comprise an ever increasing component of research programs of university postgraduates and a wide range of agencies conducting environmental monitoring and rehabilitation programs. Stable Isotope Techniques in the Study of Biological Processes and Functioning of Ecosystems is tailor-made for such an audience.

Contents

1. Fundamentals of Stable Isotope Chemistry and Measurement; T.E. Dawson, P.D. Brooks
2. Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Plant Water-Use Efficiency: Case Scenarios for C₃ Plants; J.S. Pate
3. Extraction and Analysis of Plant Water for Deuterium Isotope Measurement and Application to Field Experiments; J.V. Turner, et al
4. The Use of Stable Isotopes of Water for Determining Sources of Water for Plant Transpiration; G. Walker, et al
5. What do δ¹⁵N Signatures tell Us about Nitrogen Relations in Natural Ecosystems? G. Stewart
6. Assessing N₂ Fixation in Annual Legumes using ¹⁵N Natural Abundance; M. Unkovich, J.S. Pate
7. The Use of ¹⁵N to study Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Perennial Legumes; M.B. Peoples, et al
8. Source/Sink Interactions in Crop Plants: Application of ¹³CO₂ and Urea-¹⁵N Techniques in Quantitative Analysis; J.A. Palta
9. Use of Enriched ¹⁵N Sources to study Soil N Transformations; I.R.P. Fillery, S. Recous
10. Stable Isotope Techniques using Enriched ¹⁵N and ¹³C for Studies of Soil Organic Matter Accumulation and Decomposition in Agricultural Systems; A. McNeill
11. Source Identification in Marine Ecosystems: Food Web Studies using δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N; A.J. Smit
12. δ¹³C as an Indicator of Palaeoenvironments: A Molecular Approach; K. Grice
Index

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