Bulk and compound specific stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O and δ2H).
The Stable Isotope Laboratory has over 30 years of experience in the bulk isotope analysis of geological, biological and archeological samples. Over the past few years, compound specific isotope analysis (hydrocarbons, fatty acids, amino acids) has become an increasingly important part of our daily activities. The team works closely with professors in various departments and their students to analyze their samples, and develop new methods, or modify existing methods, as needed. To maintain the highest accuracy, the results are calibrated with a suite of international isotope standards and/or in-house standards that are analyzed alongside the samples.
The Stable Isotope Laboratory is an analytical facility that accepts prepared samples for direct analysis. Depending on the sample type, some sample processing is possible.
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Thermo Scientific Delta V Plus Gas Source Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometers (2) | Analysis of δ13C, δ15N, δ18O and δ2H. |
| Thermo Scientific DELTA Q Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer | Analysis of δ13C, δ15N, δ18O and δ2H. |
| Carlo Erba NA 1500 Elemental Analyzer | Oxidation/reduction preparation system to determine the percentage of carbon and nitrogen (% C and N) in a sample, and for bulk isotope ratio analysis. |
| Elementar Vario EL Cube Elemental Analyzer | Oxidation/reduction preparation system to determine the percentage of carbon and nitrogen (% C and N) in a sample, and for bulk isotope ratio analysis. |
| Thermo Scientific TC/EA High Temperature Conversion Elemental Analyzer | Thermal Conversion Elemental Analyzer (TC/EA). Pyrolysis preparation system to determine the percentage of hydrogen and oxygen (% H and O) in a sample, and for bulk isotope ratio analysis. |
| Thermo Scientific GasBench | Online preparation system for analyzing carbon dioxide derived from carbonates using acid digestion, and dissolved inorganic carbon in water. |
| Thermo Scientific TRACE 1610 Gas Chromatograph | Separate compounds prior to stable isotope analysis. |
| Agilent 6890N Gas Chromatograph | Separate compounds prior to stable isotope analysis. |
| Agilent 6890A Gas Chromatograph | Quantitative analysis with flame ionization detection and electron capture detection. |
| Agilent 6890A Gas Chromatograph | Quantitative analysis with flame ionization detection and thermal conductivity detection of permanent gases. |
Private and public sector research partners
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Dalhousie University
- World Wildlife Fund (Canada)
- Simon Fraser University
- Aarhus University, (Denmark)
- Durham University, (UK)
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Dietary niche separation of three Late Pleistocene bear species from Vancouver Island, on the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America | https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3451 |
| Aminoisoscapes and palaeodiet reconstruction: New perspectives on millet-based diets in China using amino acid δ13C values | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105289 |
| Aquatic resource consumption at the Odense leprosarium: Advancing the limits of palaeodiet reconstruction with amino acid δ13C measurements | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105578 |
| Short-term dietary changes are reflected in the cerebral content of adult ring-billed gulls | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240616 |
| Fatty acid isotopic composition in Atlantic pollock is not influenced by environmentally relevant dietary fat concentrations | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-023-05403-z |
| Assessing geochemical bioenergetics and microbial metabolisms at three terrestrial sites of serpentinization: the Tablelands (NL, CAN), the Cedars (CA, USA), and Aqua de Ney (CA, USA) | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JG005542 |