A research group at Arizona State University proposes to purchase an element/isotope analysis system for use in environmental biology. Environmental biology is a critical area for development because of a rapidly expanding population and associated environmental stress in the Southwest. The proposed instrumentation will support studies of subjects such as: stream- riparian and lake-ecosystems, focusing on nutrient cycling and transformation; comparative physiology research on insect nitrogen excretion; and host nutritional quality and reproductive success in natural populations of cactophilic flies. The University will support this endeavor by providing a technician dedicated to the laboratory, space and necessary improvements in the space, maintenance costs, and cost-sharing on capital purchases. The projects are all characterized by substantial involvement of student researchers (graduates and undergraduate). This instrumentation will allow a significant improvement in training of these students.
