Purchase of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer

稳定同位素分析可能是近年来出现的最令人兴奋的技术之一。虽然稳定同位素在生态学中的使用和对这类研究的需求迅速扩大，但稳定同位素比率的测量需要复杂而昂贵的设备。然而，动植物生理生态学和生态系统生态学中稳定同位素的使用是生态学中少数几个进展速度受到仪器可用性限制的领域之一。稳定同位素分析将在多大程度上用于解决生态研究中的问题还有待确定。在这项提案中，我们申请资金购买一台同位素定量质谱仪和必要的制备设备，以处理生物组织和液体。作为最近设施发展的一部分，波士顿大学在其新的(在建)生物研究实验室中设计了一个稳定同位素实验室的空间。该设施被设想为动植物生理生态学家和生态系统生态学家特别感兴趣的多用户同位素。

Stable isotope analysis is potentially one of the most exciting techniques that has emerged in recent years. While the use of stable isotopes in ecology and the need for such studies have expanded rapidly, stable isotope ratio measurements require complex and costly equipment. However, the use of stable isotopes in animal and plant physiological ecology and ecosystem ecology are among the few areas in ecology where the rate of progress has been limited by the availability of instrumentation. The full extent to which stable isotope analyses will be used to solve problems in ecological research is yet to be determined. In this proposal, we are requesting funds to purchase an isotope ration mass spectrometer and the necessary preparation devices to process biological tissues and fluids. As a part of recent facility developments, Boston University has designed space for a stable isotope laboratory in its new (under construction) Biology Research Laboratories. This facility is conceived as a multi-user isotopes of particular interest to animal and plant physiological ecologists, and ecosystem ecologists.