Study of ecosystem structure and carbon turnover - Elucidation of carbon cycling in ecosystems using radiocarbon analysis

在大气核武器试验过程中，大气中产生了大量的^ 14 CO_2。自1963年禁止核试验条约结束大气试验以来，大气中核试验产生的^ 14 C浓度已经下降。最近的光合产物具有等于当代大气CO_2的A^ 14 C值。目前的研究表明，这种独特的趋势可用于研究水生和陆地生态系统中食物网的碳周转。

During atmospheric nuclear weapon testing, large amounts of ^<14>CO_2 were produced in the atmosphere. Since the end of atmospheric testing after the nuclear test ban treaty in 1963, ^<14>C concentrations from nuclear tests in the atmosphere have declined. Recent photosynthetic products have A ^<14>C values equal to contemporary atmospheric CO_2. The present study has shown that this unique trend can be used to study turnover of carbon through food webs both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.