Isotope ratio mass spectrometer

• Subject Area: Plant Sciences
• Term: Funded in 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426323285

The use of stable isotopes to elucidate processes and matter fluxes in ecosystems has become a powerful tool in modern ecology and environmental science. In order to provide access to the analytics of stable isotopes by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, the Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) at the University of Bayreuth runs for its working groups a Laboratory of Isotope Biogeochemistry. To continue fulfilling its duties and satisfying the constantly rising demand of a growing number of users, a replacement of a meanwhile 23-years-old isotope ratio mass spectrometer including peripheries in the Laboratory of Isotope Biogeochemistry is urgently required. Six working groups within BayCEER, including the applicant, with currently 24 running and 23 scheduled research projects will be main users and additional 13 working groups minor users of the requested equipment. The projects using stable isotope abundance analysis include research on rhizosphere and mycorrhiza, soil warming, dead wood decay and drought experiments, elucidating complicated food chains and anthropogenic disturbances of island ecosystems as well as origin and authentity control of foodstuff. The here requested equipment is dedicated to analyse (1) total C and N isotope abundance in mostly solid organic samples (bulk analysis) and (2) compound specific C, N and H isotope abundance including the trace gases CO2, N2O and CH4 in air samples in the natural stable isotope abundance range.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Isotopenverhältnis-Massenspektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Bayreuth
• Leader: Professor Dr. Gerhard Gebauer