An Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer System for Ecological Research

该奖项支持加州大学圣巴巴拉分校的一组研究人员购买同位素比质谱仪(IRMS)，这些研究人员在他们的研究项目中广泛使用了稳定同位素分析。新的IRMS系统将允许高精度测量碳、氮、硫、氧和氢的稳定同位素比率。该仪器的配置将允许对生物和地质成因的固体样品、气体样品的主要成分和次要成分以及水溶液中可净化的气态、液体和离子溶质进行同位素测量。该仪器将用于涉及一系列重要和及时专题的研究，包括：测量海洋环境中的基本微生物过程、大气甲烷水平、各种生态系统和环境土壤中的养分动态；以及沿海生态系统内养分和食物网的联系。该仪器将被安置在大学海洋科学研究所的专业管理、共享使用的分析和仪器设施中并进行维护。除了提供对重要研究项目的成功至关重要的工具外，这种设备还将允许研究生和博士后用户成为这一环境科学关键技术的专家。

This award supports the acquisition of an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) to be shared by a group of UC Santa Barbara investigators who have made extensive use of stable isotope analysis in their research programs. The new IRMS system will permit high-precision measurement of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen stable isotope ratios. The instrument would be configured to allow isotope measurements on solid samples of biological and geological origin, on both major and minor components of gas samples, and on purge-able gaseous, liquid, and ionic solutes in aqueous solutions. The instrument will be used in research that addresses a wide range of important and timely topics, including: measurements of fundamental microbial processes in marine environments, atmospheric methane levels, nutrient dynamics in soils from a variety of ecosystems and environments; and nutrient and food web linkages within coastal ecosystems. The instrument will be housed and maintained in a professionally managed, shared-use analytical and instrumentation facility at the University's Marine Science Institute. Besides providing a tool that is critical to the success of vital research programs, this equipment would also allow graduate student and postdoctoral users to become experts in this key technology for environmental science.