At least five independent research programs in the Department of Zoology at the University of Florida depend upon ready access to a modern, reliable Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA Spec) for elemental analysis. These include studies on mechanisms of ion and acid-base regulation in decapod crustaceans, mineral nutrition of the green turtle Chelonia mydas, ion transport in elasmobranch red cells, the role of ions in the evolution of viviparity in reptiles, and ions and body fluid regulation in snakes. The requested AA Spec would replace an inoperable instrument, the only one of its kind on campus. The model requested is fully automated, offering the most versatile state-of-the-art capabilities for multiple users.
