NC State University / College of Veterinary Medicine

Measurement of naturally occuring stable isotopes (15N, 13C and 18O) in biological material is a useful tool to investigate questions in ecological research. Measurement of the isotopic composition of a material is made by weighing all individual atoms of a sample to a standard. Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) efficiently generates ratios of heavy to light isotopes.

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NC 2550 Elemental Analyzer (NC State Stable Isotope Laboratory)

Applications to Ecosystem Health and Freshwater Mussel Conservation

   Evaluate Food Sources, Shell Growth

   Model Food Web Interactions

   Water Quality: Detect Nutrient and Contaminant Sources


Stable Isotopes can be used as a tool to detect differences between source water (Fogg et al. 1998).

 IsoDiargram

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