What is stable carbon isotope analysis?
Stable isotopes are alternative forms of elements with different molecular weights that are found naturally and do not decay radioactively. Stable isotope analysis of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and sulphur is used in ecology to trace the flow of nutrients through food webs and assess trophic levels.
What are the stable isotopes of carbon nitrogen?
Many biogeochemical processes are accompanied by changes in the ratio between stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (12C/13C and 14N/15N), which allows different ecosystem components and different ecosystems to be distinguished by their isotopic composition.
What do carbon and nitrogen isotopes tell us?
Isotopes of carbon and nitrogen are used to determine where an animal belongs relative to potential food sources and other animals in its ecosystem.
What is the significance of looking at both N and C stable isotope ratios?
Together, stable isotope and C:N ratios could indicate whether vegetation is of higher quality because of uptake of salmon‐derived nitrogen (Helfield & Naiman, 2001).
How do you determine stable isotopes?
The neutron/proton ratio and the total number of nucleons determine isotope stability. The principal factor is the neutron to proton ratio. At close distances, a strong nuclear force exists between nucleons. This attractive force comes from the neutrons.
What is stable isotope analysis used for?
Stable isotope analysis allows researchers to identify isotopic markers of certain foods in human bone and teeth, which can be used to reconstruct ancient diet and population movements.
What is a carbon stable isotope?
Isotopes of Carbon Both 12C and 13C are called stable isotopes since they do not decay into other forms or elements over time. The rare carbon-14 (14C) isotope contains eight neutrons in its nucleus. Unlike 12C and 13C, this isotope is unstable, or radioactive. Only one out of every trillion carbon atoms is 14C.
Why are stable isotopes important?
Stable isotopes have helped uncover migratory routes, trophic levels, and the geographic origin of migratory animals. They can be used on land as well as in the ocean and have revolutionized how researchers study animal movement.
How do you know if an isotope is stable or unstable?
A stable isotope is one that does not undergo spontaneous nuclear decay. An unstable isotope is one that does undergo spontaneous nuclear decay.