Stable Isotopes: The Integration of Biological, Ecological and Geochemical Processes

by H. Griffiths (Editor)

Overview

In this authoritative review, leading international researchers explore the growing range of applications of stable isotope techniques for probing and integrating biological processes and palaeoclimatic cycles. The interdisciplinary approach covers a wide range of issues, opportunities and developments, setting interactions with plants in the context of water and nutrient cycles, exchanges with the atmosphere and modelling past and present climate change.

This important book will appeal to those requiring an overview of the use of stable isotopes in aquatic, terrestrial and climatic processes and is in tune with current global concerns. In addition postgraduates and research scientists will find an extensive guide to more specialist disciplines, including developing mass spectrometer technologies, compound-specific and cellular-discrimination processes or whole organism and ecosystem responses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781859961353
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/15/1997
Series:	Environmental Planning Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Griffiths, H. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Ridley Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.

Table of Contents

High precision deuterium and 13C measurement by continuous flow-IRMS: Organic and position-specific isotope analysis. Carbon isotope effects on key reactions in plant metabolism and 13C-patterns in natural compounds. Intramolecular deuterium distributions and plant growth conditions. Stable isotope studies of soil nitrogen. d15N at Natural Abundance Levels in Terrestrial Vascular Plants: A Precis. Variations in fractionation of Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes in Higher Plants : N metabolism and partitioning of Phloem and Xylem. Carbon isotope discrimination in terrestrial plants: carboxylation and decarboxylations. Carbon isotope discrimination in structural and non-structural carbohydrates in relation to productivity and adaptation to unfavourable conditions. Oxygen-18 of leaf water: A crossroad for plant associated isotopic signals. The role of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in understanding water movement along the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Oxygen isotope effects during CO2 exchange: from leaf to ecosystem processes. Carbon Isotope discrimination of terrestrial ecosystems. Assessing Sensitivity to Change in Desert Ecosystems - a Stable Isotope Approach. Carbon stable isotope fractionation in marine systems: Open ocean studies and laboratory studies. 15N and the Assimilation of Nitrogen by Marine Phytoplankton: The Past, Present and Future?. Archaeological reconstruction using stable isotopes. Stable isotopes in tree ring cellulose. Phylogeny, Palaeoatmospheres and the Evolution of Phototrophy. Modelling changes in land plant function over the Phanerozoic. Carbon isotopes, diets of North American equids, and the evolution of North American C4 grassland. Carbon isotopes in lake sediments and peats of last glacial age: Implications for the global carbon cycle. Stable Isotopes, the Hydrologic Cycle and the Terrestrial Biosphere. The 18O/16O isotope ratio of atmospheric CO2 and its role in Global Carbon Cycle research

Editorial Reviews

'This excellent book provides the interested reader with the tools to make an informed assessment of published results: for the practitioner, it will be a rich source of references This is a splendid review which, if you are interested in ecological processes, is well worth a read.' - SGM Quarterley

'The book is a compendium of expert knowledge resulting from the Stable Isotopes Symposium held in the United Kingdom in July 1996.' - New Zealand Journal of Agriculture Research

'Overall I would recommend this book particularly to students of plant biochemistry...the book is a very good reference in itself, and as each chapter cites numerous current studies, it is also a valuable resource for primary references.' - The Quarterley Review of Biology

From the Publisher