Stable Isotope Ecology

✍ Scribed by Brian Fry

• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 315
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

A solid introduction to stable isotopes that can also be used as an instructive review for more experienced researchers and professionals. The book approaches the use of isotopes from the perspective of ecological and biological research, but its concepts can be applied within other disciplines. A novel, step-by-step spreadsheet modeling approach is also presented for circulating tracers in any ecological system, including any favorite system an ecologist might dream up while sitting at a computer. The author’s humorous and lighthearted style painlessly imparts the principles of isotope ecology. The attached CD-ROM contains color illustrations, spreadsheet models, technical appendices, and problems and answers.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 5
Ch. 1 Introduction......Page 9
Structure of This Book......Page 23
Ch. 2 Isotope Notation and Measurement......Page 29
2.1 The Necessary Minimum About Isotope Notation
and Measurement......Page 30
2.2 Why Use the δ Notation?......Page 39
2.3 Why Is δ a Good Substitute for % Heavy Isotope?......Page 42
2.4 δ and the Ratio-of-Ratios......Page 43
2.5 Chapter Summary......Page 45
Ch. 3 Using Isotope Tracers......Page 48
Ch. 4 Isotope Chi......Page 84
4.1 Chocolate Isotopes......Page 85
4.3 Equations for Isotope Chi (“I Chi”)......Page 95
Gains......Page 96
Losses......Page 97
4.4 Building an I Chi Gain–Loss Model, Step by Step......Page 99
Checking the Model......Page 103
Time Intervals Are Too Large......Page 106
Choice of Equations for Loss Terms......Page 107
The δ Notation Can Lead to Flawed Isotope Accounting......Page 108
Exact Equations for Mixing Gains and Fractionation
Losses in I Chi Models......Page 109
Exact Equations for Loss in I Chi Models......Page 112
Conclusion......Page 114
4.8 Chapter Summary......Page 122
Ch. 5 Mixing......Page 127
5.1 Isotope Mixing in Food Webs......Page 128
5.2 Isotope Sourcery......Page 142
5.3 Mixing Mechanics......Page 147
5.4 Advanced Mixing Mechanics......Page 150
Two-Source Mixing with Weighted Averages......Page 151
Multisource Mixing......Page 156
5.5 Mixing Assumptions and Errors or the Art and
Wisdom of Using Isotope Mixing Models......Page 157
Propagation of Errors in Mixing Models......Page 159
5.7 A Special Muddy Case and Mixing Through Time......Page 172
5.9 Dietary Mixing, Turnover, and a Stable
Isotope Clock......Page 181
Ch. 6 Isotope Additions......Page 191
6.1 Addition Addiction......Page 192
Ch. 7 Fractionation......Page 202
Ch. 8 Scanning The Future......Page 285
d Stable Isotope Ecology back-matter......Page 293