Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, and Paleoclimatology

Research Interest

Current research conducted at the SERC Stable Isotope Laboratory focuses on the oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic signature in organic material. Recent work has focused on calibration and reconstruction of the isotopic hydrologic cycle from terrestrial archives (tree rings and lake sediments) located in Europe, East Africa, and South America. Present work focuses on applying new continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) methods to biogeocemical orientated projects in the US: Everglades, The Keys, Florida Bay, and other tropical locations such as Brazil (funded NSF project). The goal of this approach is to better understand how changes in the hydrologic cycle and environmental conditions affect (nutrients, pCO2, etc.) different biogeochemical systems, which aids in improving our understanding of past climatic change.

The SERC Stable Isotope Laboratory is equipped with three mass spectrometers including: a Finnigan deltaC EA-IRMS, a Finnigan deltaPlus GC-IRMS, and a Micromass Prism with both duel inlet and continuous flow EA modes. The laboratory can measure all important stable isotopes (C,N,S, and O), in a variety of inorganic and organic compounds.

Projects

CESI (DoI) - Understanding Cladium jamaicense Dynamics over the last century in ENP WC-3B using simulation modeling and paleoecological data, with Saunders, Childers, and Jaffe, 115k.

SJRWMD – Lake Harney sediment accumulation and pat water quality (SH45213), with Gaiser and Scinto, 94k.

SJRWMD - Sediment nutrient characteristics and paleolimnological reconstruction of Lake Monroe, Florida, USA (SG452AA), with Gaiser and Scinto, 131k

NSF EAR-0126024 The Seagrass History of Florida Bay Reconstructed from Integrating Micropaleontological And Geochemical Proxies (with Collins, Jaffe, and Fourqurean).

PRF 38095-G2 South Florida Marine Stable Isotope Time Series: Understanding nitrogen and carbon isotopic signals from organic matter in modern systems with implications for geologic records

LTER-Florida Coastal Everglades

NSF ATM-0086276 Isotope-Dendrochronological Investigation of Tropical Trees from Brazil: A New High-Resolution Isotopic Paleoclimate Archive

Cellulose oxygen isotope biologic-fractionation with Dr. K.R.M. Beuning (Wesleyan University)

Spatial and temporal patterns in carbon and nitrogen isotopes from seagrass located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with Dr. Jim Fourqurean (SERC/Biology)

Isotope-dendrochronology on Big Pine Key, with Dr. M. Ross.

Future projects will be updated soon...