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Stable Isotopes:History, Units, and Instrumentation

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Stable Isotopes in Ecological Research

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 68))

Abstract

Elements exist in both stable and nonstable (radioactive) forms. Most elements of biological interest have two or more stable isotopes, although one isotope is usually present in far greater abundance. Table 1.1 lists the average natural abundances of the stable isotopes of the major elements used in environmental studies. In addition to the five light elements of importance for biological studies, strontium isotopes are assuming greater importance in understanding ecological transport processes and have therefore been included (see Chapters 14 and 28 for applications of strontium isotopes). Calcium, chlorine, magnesium, potassium, and silicon are additional elements of biological interest having more than one different stable isotope, but unfortunately very little information is available on these elements. While there is no evidence for biological fractionation of these elements, they may serve as potentially useful markers of ecosystem process studies.

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Authors
  1. J. R. Ehleringer
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  2. P. W. Rundel
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, University of California, 90024, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    P. W. Rundel  & K. A. Nagy  & 

  2. Department of Biology, University of Utah, 84112, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    J. R. Ehleringer

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Ehleringer, J.R., Rundel, P.W. (1989). Stable Isotopes:History, Units, and Instrumentation. In: Rundel, P.W., Ehleringer, J.R., Nagy, K.A. (eds) Stable Isotopes in Ecological Research. Ecological Studies, vol 68. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3498-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3498-2_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8127-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3498-2

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