Acquisition of an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer for Applications in Anthropology, Ecology and Conservation Biology

中佛罗里达大学的Dupras博士和他的同事们获得了一笔资金，用于购买同位素比质谱仪（IRMS）。该仪器是一种专门的质谱仪，用于高精度测量轻稳定同位素（非放射性类型的碳、氮、硫、氧和氢）天然丰度的微小差异。该仪器的主要应用是测量植物、人类和其他动物组织中自然存在的稳定同位素比率。近年来，这些稳定同位素已成为体质人类学、考古学、生态学和保护生物学研究的重要工具。稳定同位素分析在重建饮食中特别有价值，因为动物组织中的同位素比率反映了所消耗食物的同位素比率。利用这类仪器对人类和其他动物的饮食进行估算，使研究人员能够重建环境，检查健康模式，确定替代食物的不同用途，并检测迁移模式。为此仪器计划的研究活动包括几个学科的项目。在人类学和考古学方面的具体活动包括：重建埃及达赫勒绿洲过去居民的饮食，以了解人类对恶劣的撒哈拉生态区的生物文化适应；确定古玛雅遗址（如伯利兹的卡拉科尔）居民饮食的差异和变化；分析史前人类迁徙的模式。生态学和保护生物学方面的研究包括：调查佛罗里达沿海小型哺乳动物群落的捕食者-猎物相互作用、摄食关系和能量流动；确定加拿大猞猁在其分布范围内的当前和历史饮食，以便为这一濒危物种制定保护策略；追踪佛罗里达海牛的饮食来源，以确定这种濒临灭绝的海洋哺乳动物的饮食习惯以及历史上的觅食策略。这项资助是由几个不同学科的教员共同努力获得的基本设备，这些设备已成为各自领域不可或缺的一部分。最近技术的进步（减少了分析的时间和成本）以及对稳定同位素比率效用的日益认识，促进了这种技术在重建饮食和追踪生态群落中能量和营养流动方面的应用急剧增加。为中佛罗里达大学的研究人员购买一台IRMS将加快对现有科学收藏进行科学探究的进程，并将加强跨学科和多学科奖学金。IRMS还将对UCF的本科和研究生教育产生影响。在多学科实验技术课程中使用IMS将为研究生和高级本科生提供实际的动手经验；接受稳定同位素分析培训的学生将在这个迅速发展的领域拥有宝贵的专业知识。因此，收购IRMS也将加强UCF教学、学习和研究之间的联系。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Dupras and colleagues at the University of Central Florida to acquire an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). This instrument is a specialized class of mass spectrometer designed to measure, with high precision, small differences in natural abundances of the light stable isotopes (non-radioactive types of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and hydrogen). The primary application for this instrument is to measure naturally occurring stable isotope ratios in tissues of plants, humans, and other animals. In recent years, these stable isotopes have become essential tools in investigations in physical anthropology, archaeology, ecology, and conservation biology. Stable-isotope analysis is especially valuable in reconstructing diets since the isotope ratios in animal tissues reflect the isotope ratios of the foods consumed. Estimating the diets of humans and other animals with this type of instrumentation allows investigators to reconstruct environments, examine patterns of health, determine differential use of alternative foods, and detect patterns of migration. The research activities planned for this instrumentation include projects in several disciplines. The specific activities in anthropology and archaeology include: reconstructing the diet of past inhabitants of the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in order to understand human bio-cultural adaptation to the harsh Saharan ecozone; determining differences and changes in diet among the inhabitants of ancient Maya sites, such as Caracol, Belize; and, analyzing patterns of prehistoric human migration. The research in ecology and conservation biology include: investigating predator-prey interactions, feeding relationships, and energy flow in the small mammal communities of coastal Florida; determining current and historical diet of Canada lynx across their range for use in developing conservation strategies for this endangered species; and, tracing the source of the diet of Florida manatees to determine feeding habits, as well as the historical foraging strategies, of this endangered marine mammal. This grant is a cooperative effort by faculty in several different disciplines to acquire basic equipment that has become integral to their fields. Recent advances in technology (decreasing the time and cost of analysis) and an increased recognition of the utility of stable-isotope ratios have promoted a dramatic increase in the use of this technique to reconstruct diets and trace the flow of energy and nutrients in ecological communities. The purchase of an IRMS for researchers at the University of Central Florida will speed the process of scientific inquiry on already existing scientific collections, and will enhance interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary scholarship. The IRMS will also have implications for undergraduate and graduate education at UCF. Use of the IMS in multi-disciplinary lab techniques courses will provide practical, hands-on experience for graduate students and advanced undergraduates; students trained in stable isotope analysis will have valuable expertise in this rapidly expanding field. Thus, the acquisition of an IRMS also will strengthen the connections between teaching, learning, and research at UCF.