2008 Stable Isotope Ecology Laboratory Schedule

Week One Lab Instructors
Group One: John Roden, Thure Cerling and Gabe Bowen
Group Two: Todd Dawson and Jason West
Group Three: Jim Ehleringer and Dave Podlesak

Week Two Lab Instructors
Group One: Jed Sparks and Dave Bowling
Group Two: Kate Freeman and Brian Popp
Group Three: Claudia Mora, Naomi Levin and Dave Podlesak
In week one, we will divide into three groups of eight students for projects and learning methods. Each group will have two labaratory instructors (Isopopes). In addition, there will be three full-time technicians to assist you with learning laboratory methods and training you to use the mass spectrometers (Isotopists).

June 9 Lab

Time is of the essence today. You must come prepared to go to the field (shoes, hats, sunscreen, fieldbook, etc.). Immediately after lecture, meet on the 5th floor as you exit the elevator. To make most efficient use of our time, we will provide boxed lunches today. We will go to the field site in Red Butte Canyon by 12:30 p.m. and plan to return by about 4:30 p.m. Before going to the field, you assemble into groups, go to your lab stations and collect the materials you will need for collecting all of the field samples.

Once in the canyon and while eating lunch, we will provide introductory lectures to help guide you before any experimental sampling begins.
  • field sampling methods (to take place in Red Butte Canyon)
  • includes sampling strategies and collection of samples for leaf, water, insect, and soil analyses

During the field sampling, each group will be collecting sets of sample materials to be analyzed for their group "water, nitrogen, and carbon" projects. After lunch, we will break into our groups to decide which mini-projects to pursue. The set of materials available for these projects will include:
  • plant, soil, and water samples from Red Butte Canyon (collected by you)
  • precipitation samples collected from rain events throughout the year (provided if desired)
  • water samples collected from nearby streams and lakes (provided if desired)

Following field sample collecting, we will return by 4:30 p.m. Once back at the lab, you must first enter all cataloged information into Excel files and store these fiels in your folder on the common server. Then prepare samples to be dried (as needed), making sure that all labels are clearly legible. By the end of this lab, ensure that all materials have been logged and that plant/soil materials for isotope analyses are in the oven for drying.

Monday night is an open evening. No dinner or lecture activities are planned.

June 10 Lab

This lab day two of six for the water, carbon, and nitrogen projects. During this six-day period, you will get exposed to a number of different techniques in this area that are required in order to conduct hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of water (extracted or environmental) and of carbon and nitrogen isotopes of organic materials (plants, animals, specific compounds, etc.). The focus and emphasis of each group will depend on its composition and interests.

Group projects on water, carbon, and nitrogen, which woud include exposure to:
  • whole-leaf analysis of C and N isotopes
  • water extraction from plants/soil
  • preparation of hydrogen isotopes from water using zinc method
  • water-CO2 equilibrium approach for oxygen isotopes in waters
  • preparation of water samples for hydrogen and oxygen isotope anlaysis using prolysis

First, Craig Cook will provide you with a list of days in which each of the three groups is to have overnight access to the mass spectrometers for batch processing of prepared samples. This list then dictates a group-specific daily sequence of what preparation activities MUST take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Secod, we will begin taking sub-groups to introduce you to the nature and operation of the isotope ratio mass spectrometers. You must have your lab manual available at this time, as we will be going over:
  • what instruments and peripherals are available
  • technical details related to the operation of the mass spectrometers (ISODAT, peak centering, vacuum systems, reference materials)
  • more on manual sample introduction using dual inlet
  • multipel sample processing with elemental analyzers
  • continuous flow sample processing

Third, we will launch our efforts to analyze the materials we collected in the field. From both the Isopopes and Isotopists, you will learn how to prepare samples for both automated and off-line analyses of C and N isotopes, including sample storage and homogenization:
  • grinding, weighing, and loading samples for automated analyses using elemental analyzer
  • grinding, weighing, and loading samples for in-vial combustion

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto one of the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

Fourth, we will begin the water volume, body water turnover, and metabolism observation for those that are interested. These observations will continue throughout the two-week period.

June 12 Lab

This is lab day four of six for the water, carbon, and nitrogen projects. During this six-day period, you will get exposed to the available techniques in this area. The focus and emphasis of each group will depend on its composition and interests.

The specific activities of your group will be based on the schedule provided on day two of the lab.

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

June 13 Lab

This is lab day five of six for the water, carbon, and nitrogen projects. During this six-day period, you will get exposed to the available techniques in this area. The focus and emphasis of each group will depend on its composition and interests.

The specific activities of your group will be based on the schedule provided on day two of the lab.

By the end of this lab, you should have available to you all of the isotope results for materials that were analyzed during the week. Soem of you may have already begun analyzing the data and preparing your presentation and write-ups for Saturday evening.

June 14 Lab

This is lab day six of six for the water, carbon, and nitrogen projects. All of this afternoon is spent in analyzing and interpreting the isotope results you have collected. Your plan should be to have analyzed, interpreted, and written up your results (usually 2-3 mini-projects per group) by 4:30 p.m.

There will be a get-together this evening, starting off with presentation of the results of group projects at 5:00 p.m. in 220 ASB and followed by a great dinner at a local restaurant. You are responsible for coming up with a one-page summary of each project the group worked on. Please make copies of any graphs and tables for all participants. Again, these presentations will take place in the lecture hall. We will then go out to dinner at a local restaurant as a group.

All handouts and PowerPoint materials must be provided to Jim by 4:30 p.m.

June 15

  • No lab today
  • hike, birdwatch, bike ride and picnic in Millcreek Canyon; at 2:00 p.m., Dutch-oven dinner at Jim's cabin cooked by Brent Cook, a world champion Dutch-oven cook
  • horseshoe tournament

June 16 Lab

The theme of projects this week is ecosystems, trophic levels, and biosphere-atmosphere interactions.

Time is again of the essence today as it was on Monday of last week. You must come prepared to go to the field (shoes, hats, sunscreen, fieldbook, etc.). At 1:00 p.m. (sharp!!), meet on the 5th floor as you exit the elevator. We will divide into three groups - this time you will hear about project possibilities (themes) and then you will decide which group to join.

During the field sampling, each group will be collecting sets of sample materials to be analyzed for their group mini-projects. A greater set of equipment and opportunities will be made available to you, including carbonate analyses, trace gas analyses, and compound-specific analyses.

Following field sample collecting, we will return by 4:30 p.m. Once back to the lab, you must first enter all cataloged information into Excel files and store these in your folder on the common server. Then prepare samples to be dried (as needed), making sure that all labels are clearly legible. By the end of this lab, ensure that all materials have been logged and that plant/soil materials for isotope analyses are in the oven for drying.

Monday night is an open evening. No dinner or lecture activities are planned.

Group ecosystem projects on trophic-level interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and/or pollution sutdies, possibly involving:
  • trophic level studies
  • analysis of C or N isotopes on organic material, including animals, plants, litter, and/or soil
  • analysis of C or O isotopes in carbonates
  • breath analysis of food and water turnover dynamics
  • water flux dynamic in soils and/or through plants
  • collection and analysis of atmospheric trace gases (CO2, CH4, N2O)
  • collection and analysis of water vapor
  • collection and analysis of soil CO2, including soil respiration
  • source-sink analyses using Keeling pots
  • relationships between water body, evaporation, and atmospheric air
  • collection and analyses of human breath
  • compound specific analyses of soil, leaf, or aquatic materials

This is day one of five for this project.

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

June 17 Lab

Continuation of group ecosystem projects on trophic-level interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and/or pollution studies.

This is day two of five for this project.

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

June 18 Lab

Continuation of group ecosystem projects on trophic-level interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and/or pollution studies.

This is day three of five for this project.

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

June 19 Lab

Continuation of group ecosystem projects on trophic-level interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and/or pollution studies.

This is day four of five for this project.

By the end of this lab, ensure that prepared samples have been loaded onto the mass spectrometers for overnight analysis or into the furnace for combustion.

How to Build a Lab
Craig Cook and Mike Lott
210 ASB

June 20 Lab

Continuation of group ecosystem projects on trophic-level interactions, ecosystem dynamics, and/or pollution studies.

This is day five of five for this project.

There will be a get-together and graduation this evening, starting off with presentations of the results of group projects at 5:00 p.m. in 220 ASB and followed by dinner at Squatter's Brewery. You are responsible for coming up with a one-page summary of each project the group worked on. Please make copies of any graphs and tables for all participants. Again, these presentations will take place in the lecture hall. We will then go out to dinner as a group, where you will receive your graduation certificate.
By the end of this laboratory experience, participants will have had an opportunity to be exposed to the following methods and techniques:

Vacuum lines and preparation methods
  • in-vial sample combustion for C and/or N analysis
  • CHN elemental analyzer combustion for C and N analyses and pyrolysis for H and O analyses
  • zinc reduction of water for deuterium analysis
  • offline separation of water and carbon dioxide in air or in a sealed sample
  • carbon dioxide equilibration with water for oxygen analysis
  • acidification of carbonate for carbon and oxygen analysis
  • cellulose preparation
  • GC analysis of CO2, N2O, and CH4 in air

Field techniques
  • atmospheric water vapor collection
  • leaf collection
  • stem collection for water sources
  • water collection
  • air sampling
  • soil respiration sampling
  • soil gas sampling
  • double labeled water
  • breath sampling

Instrumentation
  • delta plus isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo Electron)
  • delta V isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo Electron)
  • delta S isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo Electron)
  • MAT 252 isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo Electron)
  • continuous flow inerface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • dual inlet sample introduction to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • elemental analyzer interface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • pyrolysis (TCEA) interface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • tube cracker interface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • GC interface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • Precon interface to isotope ratio mass spectrometer
  • automated flask sampler for field sample acquisitions
  • OTTO, flask interface for carbon isotope and concentration measurements of carbon dioxide
  • microbalance
  • soil respiration chamber and gas analysis system
  • infrared gas analyzer
  • laser for continuous measurements of carbon isotopes in carbon dioxide (Campbell Scientific)
  • Laser ablation for measurements of carbonates in rocks and teeth