Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science, Second Edition

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 cyclingunderstand processes of soil organic matter formationfollow the movement of water in whole watershedsunderstand the effects of pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic environmentsstudy extreme systems such as hydrothermal ventsfollow migrating organismsIn 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.Content: Chapter 1 Stable Isotope Chemistry and Measurement: A Primer (pages 1–21): Elizabeth W. SulzmanChapter 2 Sources of Variation in the Stable Isotopic Composition of Plants (pages 22–60): John D. Marshall, J. Renee Brooks and Kate LajthaChapter 3 Natural 15N? and 13C?Abundance as Indicators of Forest Nitrogen Status and Soil Carbon Dynamics (pages 61–82): Charles T. Garten, Paul J. Hanson, Donald E. Todd, Bonnie B. Lu and Deanne J. BriceChapter 4 Soil Nitrogen Isotope Composition (pages 83–98): R. Dave EvansChapter 5 Isotopic Study of the Biology of Modern and Fossil Vertebrates (pages 99–154): Paul L. KochChapter 6 Isotopic Tracking of Migrant Wildlife (pages 155–175): Keith A. HobsonChapter 7 Natural Abundance of 15N in Marine Planktonic Ecosystems (pages 176–201): Joseph P. MontoyaChapter 8 Stable Isotope Studies in Marine Chemoautotrophically Based Ecosystems: An Update (pages 202–237): Cindy Lee Van DoverChapter 9 Stable Isotope Ratios as Tracers in Marine Food Webs: An Update (pages 238–282): Robert H. Michener and Les KaufmanChapter 10 Stable Isotope Tracing of Temporal and Spatial Variability in Organic Matter Sources to Freshwater Ecosystems (pages 283–333): Jacques C. Finlay and Carol KendallChapter 11 Stable Isotope Tracers in Watershed Hydrology (pages 334–374): Kevin McGuire and Jeff McDonnellChapter 12 Tracing Anthropogenic Inputs of Nitrogen to Ecosystems (pages 375–449): Carol Kendall, Emily M. Elliott and Scott D. WankelChapter 13 Modeling the Dynamics of Stable?Isotope Ratios for Ecosystem Biogeochemistry (pages 450–479): William S. CurrieChapter 14 Compound?Specific Stable Isotope Analysis in Ecology and Paleoecology (pages 480–540): 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