Formal project title: Development and use of stable isotope techniques
to investigate the ecology and functional role of invertebrates in agro-ecosystems
Student: Mr. Dirk Miksche
In this work, C and N isotope analyses will be utilised in a PhD study
to investigate the trophic linkages, ecological function and community interactions
of dominant invertebrate groups including earthworms in existing crops and
field experimentation at Lyons/UCD and Teagasc Research Centres
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Objectives: To determine intra and interspecific variation in C and N stable isotope ratios as novel means of determining feeding relationships and ecosystem functions of dominant soil invertebrate groups in contrasting farm systems.
Methods: Within existing crop and experimental farm systems comparisons ratios of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (13C/12C and 15N/14N) will be determined for selected representatives of the main invertebrate groups (earthworms, arthropods and molluscs) by mass spectrometry and patterns of variation will be assessed to establish trophic relationships and soil ecosystem functioning of key invertebrate groups.
Benefits: Development of novel investigative methods for ecological research in terrestrial ecosystems
Dr. Olaf Schmidt is responsible for the stable isotope work in Actions
3 and 4. In Action 3, natural abundance stable isotope techniques will
be used to investigate trophic linkages, species interactions and ecological
functions of dominant soil invertebrate groups. In Action 4, enriched
stable isotope tracer methods (15N and 13C) will be used as one tool to study
the functional significance of altered biodiversity.
Isotope analyses for the Ag-Biota project will be carried out at the Stable
Isotopes Unit, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland,
with which strong collaborative research links exist. This is a leading
laboratory in Europe in developing new stable isotope techniques and pioneering
new biological interpretations. Animal, plant and soil samples will be
analysed by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS)
using a Europa Scientific ANCA-NT 20-20 Stable Isotope Analyser with Solid/Liquid
Preparation Module.
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