Activities
Activities
The Stable Isotope Facility contributes for a large part to the expertise built on by LIENSs scientists in the field of ecological tracers. LIENSs research projects using stable isotope mainly address food web structure and functioning, habitats and trophic ecology of marine mammals and birds, source and impact of terrestrial imputs, either natural or anthropogenic, on littoral ecosystems.
Stable isotope ratios of light elements (C, N, O, H et S) can be measured in various types of materials, at natural abundance level as in enriched samples as well.
. C, N and S in solid samples (plants, animal tissues, sediments, organic or inorganic matter) through elemental analysis (EA) on raw samples,
. H and O isotopes in water and in solid samples through thermochemical analysis (TCC/EA),
. C and N of specific compounds through GC-C/N-IRMS (e.g. fatty acids),
. C and O isotopes in carbonates through acid treatment.
To date june 2013, the SIF has performed > 73000 sample analyses that have contributed to numerous publications.
SIF contribution to research papers and formation (2008-2013)