DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Tracing water sources used by terrestrial streamside animal communities using stable water isotopes

河流流量的改变和减少导致美国西部和世界大部分地区的河边地区发生了巨大变化。 这些变化对植物的影响已被记录在案，但对陆地动物群落的影响却鲜为人知。 动物对河水的依赖程度与来自潮湿食物的水的依赖程度可能有助于预测河流的改变将如何影响河边群落。 水的同位素是非放射性的，在整个地球仪中自然存在，可以用来记录这两种可能的水源对动物的相对重要性。 然而，由于较重和较轻同位素之间的蒸发差异，随着时间的推移，动物体内的水同位素会发生变化，这使得这项技术变得复杂。 这项研究将通过对代表性动物物种进行实验室实验，研究一种避免这一现象造成的问题的技术。使用同位素记录动物用水模式的能力对全球生物学家来说是一笔巨大的财富，特别是那些研究旱地、河流和河边地区、灌溉景观和气候变化影响的生物学家。 该项目将包括来自不同背景的本科生和K-12学生，为他们提供科学研究的第一手经验。

Alterations and reductions of river flow have resulted in drastic changes to streamside areas of the Western US and throughout much of the world. Effects of these changes on plants have been documented, but effects on communities of land animals are less known. The degree to which animals rely on river water versus water from moist food may help predict how river alteration will affect streamside communities. Isotopes of water that are non-radioactive and occur naturally throughout the globe may be used to document the relative importance of these two possible water sources to animals. However, this technique is complicated by a change in water isotopes in the animal, over time, due to differences in evaporation between heavier and lighter isotopes. The proposed research will investigate a technique to avoid problems created by this phenomenon, using laboratory experiments on representative animal species.The ability to use isotopes to document patterns of animal water use would be a great asset to biologists globally, especially those studying drylands, river and streamside areas, irrigated landscapes, and the effects of climate change. This project will incorporate undergraduate and K-12 students from diverse backgrounds, providing them with first-hand experience with scientific research.