MRI: Acquisition of Stable Isotope Instrumentation for Biogeochemistry Research and Teaching at the University of Cincinnati

核磁共振：为辛辛那提大学生物地球化学研究和教学获得稳定同位素仪器美国国家科学基金会的支持将允许购买稳定同位素比质谱仪（IRMS）和相关的外围设备，用于植物生物标志物、生物磷灰石和方解石、有机物、水和大气甲烷的稳定同位素分析。IRMS将使辛辛那提大学和地区的教师、博士后研究人员、研究生和本科生能够就广泛的主题开展研究项目。这些主题将包括：(1)表征植物萜类和正烷基脂（生物标志物）的现代碳同位素分异模式，以更好地开发古气候和古生态应用；(2)利用陆生植物生物标志物的碳和氢同位素来研究古近纪和新近纪的古气候和古植被历史；(3)评估哺乳动物组织中稳定同位素值的模式，以了解觅食生态和物种相互作用。(4)重建已灭绝哺乳动物的饮食和习惯，对人类灭绝具有启示意义；(5)表征全球海洋二叠纪-早三叠世古环境，了解其与同期海洋生物危机的联系；(6)研究与广泛的黑色页岩沉积相关的晚宾夕法尼亚古环境的生物地球化学；(7)利用碳和氢同位素表征大气甲烷排放。(8)限制页岩气开采对甲烷排放的影响，(9)表征北极生态系统中的甲烷生物地球化学，以及由辛辛那提大学和该地区的pi和其他用户计划的许多其他研究。辛辛那提大学地质系、人类学系、地理系和生物系以及其他地区机构的教职员工和研究生将使用这种最先进的稳定同位素比质谱仪来解决广泛的生物地球化学研究问题。该仪器将对碳、氢、氮和氧的稳定同位素比率进行高度精确的测量，这将进一步推动PIs研究地球系统过程，包括揭示过去气候和生态的变化，并追踪碳、水和营养物质在地球上的各种途径。s系统。这将为pi提供必要的工具，以极大地改进和扩展目前生物地球化学领域的跨学科研究活动，从生物化学到生物圈，从地质到现代时间尺度。这对于推进以下领域的研究至关重要：(1)陆地碳循环，(2)群落生态学和人类影响，(3)气候和植物古生态学，(4)海洋化学和古海洋学，以及(5)城市和北极生态系统的大气甲烷动力学。该仪器将为本科生和研究生提供培训和研究机会，并将立即受益于稳定同位素生态学的新的高级本科生和研究生课程。地质系目前的项目将使用该仪器进行培训和研究，包括所有本科生都需要的科学与工程女性（WISE）项目、研究生-本科生指导项目和顶点体验项目。该部门正在积极参与辛辛那提公立学校K-12学生（50%的少数族裔学生）的地球科学推广项目。使用该仪器的研究项目的结果将通过学生和教师在国家和国际科学会议上的报告、同行评审期刊的出版物和在线数据库传播。

MRI: Acquisition of Stable Isotope Instrumentation for Biogeochemistry Research and Teaching at the University of CincinnatiSupport from the National Science Foundation will allow for the purchase of a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) and associated peripheral devices for the stable isotope analysis of plant biomarkers, bioapatite and calcite, organic matter, water, and atmospheric methane. The IRMS will enable faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate and undergraduate students - both at the University of Cincinnati and regionally - to conduct research projects on a broad array of topics. These topics will include (1) characterizing modern carbon isotope fractionation patterns in plant terpenoids and n-alkyl lipids (biomarkers) to better develop paleoclimate and paleoecological applications, (2) using carbon and hydrogen isotopes of terrestrial plant biomarkers to examine Paleogene and Neogene paleoclimate and paleovegetation history, (3) assessing patterns in stable isotope values in mammal tissues to understand foraging ecology and species interactions, (4) reconstructing diet and habit for extinct mammals with implications for human-driven extinctions, (5) characterizing Permian-Early Triassic paleoenvironments in the global ocean and understanding the link to the contemporaneous marine biotic crisis, (6) investigating the biogeochemistry of Late Pennsylvanian paleoenvironments associated with extensive black shale deposits, (7) characterizing atmospheric methane emissions using carbon and hydrogen isotopes, (8) constraining impacts of shale gas extraction on methane emissions, (9) characterizing methane biogeochemistry in Arctic ecosystems, and many other studies planned by the PIs and other users at the University of Cincinnati and within the region.Faculty, staff, and graduate students within the Departments of Geology, Anthropology, Geography, and Biology at the University of Cincinnati and from other regional institutions will use this state-of-the-art stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer to address a wide array of biogeochemical research questions. This instrumentation will take highly accurate measurements of the stable isotope ratios of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, which will further the PIs research examining Earth system processes, including unraveling past changes in climate and ecology and tracking the various pathways of carbon, water, and nutrients through Earth?s systems. This will provide the tools necessary for the PIs to greatly improve and expand on current interdisciplinary research activities in biogeochemistry, spanning scales from biochemical to biospheric and from geologic to modern time scales. This will be critical for advancing research in the areas of (1) terrestrial carbon cycling, (2) community ecology and human impacts, (3) climate and plant paleoecology, (4) marine chemistry and paleoceanography, and (5) atmospheric methane dynamics in urban and Arctic ecosystems. The instrumentation will provide training and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and will immediately benefit a new upper level undergraduate and graduate course on stable isotope ecology. Programs currently in place in the Department of Geology will use this instrumentation for training and research purposes including the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, the Graduate-Undergraduate Mentoring Program, and the Capstone Experience, required for all undergraduate students. The department is actively participating in Earth science outreach programs for K-12 students at Cincinnati Public Schools (50% under-represented minority students). Results from research projects using this instrumentation will be disseminated through student and faculty presentations at national and international scientific meetings, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and online data repositories.