9217198 Hollibaugh The autoanalyzer will be used by multiple users in a variety of estuarine research projects, all of which require fine levels of precision and accuracy in nutrient analysis. Experiments determining how pools of nutrients change in response to different biogeochemical variables form the general basis of these projects. Primarily, research on NSF (OCE 89-14921) and USDA (91-37102-6859) projects will benefit from acquisition of the autoanalyzer, through the examination of nutrients in the water column, sediments, and primary producers of Tomales Bay, California. Additionally, the abilities of the autoanalyzer will be exploited by other users to measure nutrient status and flux in sections of San Francisco Bay, in tidal wetlands of coastal California, and along the reef tract of the Florida Keys. All of these projects address how nutrients are processed in aquatic environments, ultimately to understand the connections between human activities and the function of estuaries. The proposed autoanalyzer will contribute greatly to this goal and will be an integral aspect of ongoing research and education at Tiburon Center.
