IRMS
The STRI Soils Laboratory in Panama operates an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) for the determination of stable isotopes of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen in environmental samples. A variety of samples can be analyzed, including soils, plant and animal tissue, geological samples, gases, and waters. We also operate a cavity ring-down spectrometer for high precision determination of δ18O and δ2H in liquids.
Equipment
- Thermo Scientific Delta V Advantage isotope ratio mass spectrometer with universal triple collector and HD collector with two Faraday cups, for the high precision measurement of the relative isotope abundances of 13C, 15N, 18O, 34S, and 2H (D)
- Flash HT Elemental Analyzer, with single oven reactor for C, N, S and a second high temperature reactor for H and O, and MAS 200R autosampler
- ConFlo-III continuous flow interface for combustion EA and TC/EA
- Gas Bench II interface and sample preparation device including GC PAL autosampler
- Picarro L1102 cavity ring-down spectrometer for determination of δ18O and δ2H in liquids.
The STRI Stable Isotope Facility - Download PDF STRI News June 20, 2008
Available analyses
13C and / or 15N in solid samples (soil, plant tissue, etc.)
18O and / or 2H in solid samples (soil, plant tissue, etc.)
13C and / or 18O in carbonates
13C in air samples
13C, 18O, or 2H in liquids
Analytical Charges
Submitting Samples
Please label samples clearly with a unique sample code and your initials and provide an Excel file with all samples listed.
University of Ottawa Stable Isotope Laboratory, for information on sample preparation and calculations.
Contact us:
Research Scientist: Ben Turner (TurnerBL@si.edu)
Soils Laboratory Manager: Tania Romero (RomeroT@si.edu)
Stable Isotope Laboratory Manager: Dayana Agudo (AgudoD@si.edu)
Recent Publications from the STRI Stable Isotope Laboratory:
[Please email to request copies: TurnerBL@si.edu]
- Nottingham, A.T.,Turner, B.L., Chamberlain, P.M., Stott, A.W., Tanner, E.V.J. 2012. Priming and microbial nutrient limitation in lowland tropical forest soils of contrasting fertility. Biogeochemistry, in press.
- Andersen, K.M., Endara, M.J., Turner, B.L., Dalling, J.W., 2012. Trait-based community assembly of understory palms along a soil nutrient gradient in a lower montane tropical forest. Oecologia 168 (2), 519–531.
- Hietz, P., Turner, B.L., Wanek, W., Richter, A., Nock, C.A., Wright, S.J., 2011. Long-term change in the nitrogen cycle of tropical forests. Science 334, 664–666.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Martínez, C., Correa, E., Aranda, J., Garcia, M., Jaramillo, C., Turner, B.L., 2011. Response of legume versus nonlegume tropical tree seedlings to elevated CO2 concentration. Plant Physiology 157, 372–385.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Turner, B.L., 2011. Transpiration modulates phosphorus acquisition in tropical tree seedlings. Tree Physiology 31, 878–885.
- Cernusak, L.A., Hutley, L.B., Beringer, J., Holtum, J.A.M., Turner, B.L. 2011. Photosynthetic physiology of eucalypts along a sub-continental rainfall gradient in northern Australia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 151, 1462–1470.
- Potvin, C., Mancilla, L., Buchmann, N., Monteza, J., Moore, T., Murphy, M., Oelmann, Y., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Turner, B.L., Wilcke, W., Zeugin, F., Wolf, S., 2011. An ecosystem approach to biodiversity effects: carbon pools in a tropical tree plantation. Forest Ecology and Management 261, 1614–1624.
- Wolf, S., Eugster, W., Potvin, C., Turner, B.L., Buchmann, N., 2011. Carbon sequestration potential of tropical pasture compared with afforestation in Panama. Global Change Biology 17, 2763–2780.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Turner, B.L., 2010. Leaf nitrogen to phosphorus ratios of tropical trees: experimental assessment of physiological and environmental controls. New Phytologist 185, 770–779.
- Nottingham, A.T., Turner, B.L., Winter, K., van der Heijden, M.G.A., Tanner, E.V.J., 2010. Mycorrhizal mycelial respiration in moist tropical forests. New Phytologist 186, 957-967.
- Garrish, V., Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Turner, B.L., 2010. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of plant biomass versus soil solution in a tropical pioneer tree, Ficus insipida. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 3735–3748.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Turner, B.L., 2009. Physiological and isotopic (δ13C and δ 18O) responses of three tropical tree species to water and nutrient availability. Plant, Cell and Environment 32, 1441–1455.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Turner, B.L., 2009. Plant δ15N correlates with the transpiration efficiency of nitrogen acquisition in tropical trees. Plant Physiology 151, 1667–1676.
- Cernusak, L.A., Winter, K., Aranda, J., Turner, B.L., 2008. Conifers, angiosperm trees, and lianas: growth, whole-plant water and nitrogen use efficiency, and stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ18O) of seedlings grown in a tropical environment. Plant Physiology 148, 642–659.
- Cernusak, L.A., Aranda, J., Turner, B.L., Marshall, J.D., Winter, K., 2007. Transpiration efficiency of a tropical pioneer tree (Ficus insipida) in relation to soil fertility. Journal of Experimental Botany 58, 3549–3566.