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

by Unkovich, Murray; Pate, John; McNeill, Ann; Gibbs, D. Jane

• ISBN13: 9780792370789
• ISBN10: 0792370783
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-07-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

This book 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. The book is tailor-made for such an audience.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Fundamentals of Stable Isotope Chemistry and Measurement	1	(18)
Todd E. Dawson
Paul D. Brooks
Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Plant Water-Use Efficiency: Case Scenarios for C3 Plants	19	(18)
John S. Pate
Extraction and Analysis of Plant Water for Deuterium Isotope Measurement and Application to Field Experiments	37	(20)
J.V. Turner
P. Farrington
V. Gailitis
The Use of Stable Isotopes of Water for Determining Sources of Water for Plant Transpiration	57	(34)
Glen Walker
Jean-Pierre Brunel
John Dighton
Kate Holland
Fred Leaney
Kerryn McEwan
Lisa Mensforth
Peter Thorburn
Colin Walker
What do δ5N Signatures tell Us about Nitrogen Relations in Natural Ecosystems?	91	(12)
George Stewart
Assessing N2 Fixation in Annual Legumes using 15N Natural Abundance	103	(16)
Murray Unkovich
John S. Pate
The Use of 15N to study Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Perennial Legumes	119	(26)
Mark B. Peoples
Brian Palmer
Robert M. Boddey
Source/Sink Interactions in Crop Plants: Application of 13CO2 and Urea-15N Techniques in Quantitative Analysis	145	(22)
Jairo A. Palta
Use of Enriched 15N Sources to study Soil N Transformations	167	(28)
Ian R.P. Fillery
Sylvie Recous
Stable Isotope Techniques using Enriched 15N and 13C for Studies of Soil Organic Matter Accumulation and Decomposition in Agricultural Systems	195	(24)
Ann McNeill
Source Identification in Marine Ecosystems: Food Web Studies using δ13C and δ15N	219	(28)
Albertus J. Smit
δ13C as an Indicator of Palaeoenvironments: A Molecular Approach	247	(34)
Kliti Grice
Index	281