Gas Sensing Equipment for Environmental Sciences Research

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In animals, metabolism is measured by uptake of oxygen and secretion of carbon dioxide. Either direct changes in the environment (e.g. climate change, hypoxia or changes in salinity) or by exposure to environmental toxicants such as hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals and other pollutants can change availability of either gas in the environment. Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels may change over the short term, but they have also changed over earth's history. Tolerances of modern animals to different levels of these gases can therefore be informative about the evolution of early animals. In this proposal, 5 University of Alberta scientists with a history of cross-disciplinary engagement and collaboration request a system of sensors, meters and chambers to be constructed as a combined system to measure and also deliver precise levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases to animals. The research equipment will provide the ability to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide in environmental chambers ranging in size from a 200 microlitres to whole ocean ecosystems at depth. This will allow us the flexibility to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide use in animals and environments at multiple scales. The proposed system will be used collaboratively by a wide variety of researchers in the aquatic sciences (physiology, toxicology, ichnology and earth sciences) but also be available to other disciplines.