Biogeochemistry: Stable Isotope Applications

Research Task: RB00E63.6.0
Task Manager: Craig Stricker

Biogeochemical cycling is a cornerstone of ecosystem function and structure. Much has been learned about element cycles in a variety of systems using standard geochemical techniques. However, isotope geochemistry can offer unique and additional insights into sources, processes, and mechanisms. Further, many light stable isotope techniques are amenable to studying element cycling, but logically can be extended to consumer organisms and therefore integrate food webs, offering a more complete assessment of ecosystems. Light isotopes commonly used in this context include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Further, such techniques can complement studies of related biogeochemical cycles that have proven challenging to study directly with isotopic techniques.

 For more information contact Craig Stricker

Related Products

Publications

• Carbon and sediment accumulation in the Everglades (USA) during the past 4000 years: Rates, drivers, and sources of error
• Benthic macroinvertebrate and fish communities in Lake Huron are linked to submerged groundwater vents
• Modeling the dynamic geochemistry of prairie pothole wetlands
• Evolution of ore deposits and technology transfer project—isotope and chemical methods in support of the U.S. Geological Survey Science Strategy, 2003–2008
• Chemical and isotope perspectives on sources of sediment redistribution during large hurricanes along the Louisiana coast, USA
• Isotope and Chemical Methods in Support of the U.S. Geological Survey Science Strategy, 2003-2008
• Sulfur biogeochemistry in agricultural and natural wetlands: Linking food webs to sediment and water-column processes
• An Ecological and Stable Isotope Study of Food Web Linkages in Submerged Sinkhole Ecosystems of Lake Huron
• New developments in sulfur isotope analysis and applications to ecological research
• An automated cryo-focusing approach for sulfur isotope analysis of organic and other low-level sulfur materials
• Linking food webs and biogeochemical processes in wetlands: insights from sulfur isotopes