GCRC Project Summary |
Development of Molecular Radiocarbon Analyses for Tracing Trophic Transfer of Anthropogenic Contaminants in Salt Marsh Sediments
PIs: Stuart G. Wakeham (Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, GA, USA)
Support: Georgia Sea Grant College Program (R/WQ-9-PD)
Timeframe: 10/1/99 - 2/28/01 (complete)
Project Overview:
The objective of this project development grant was to develop compound-specific
radiocarbon techniques employing accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to track
metabolism and trophic transfer of anthropogenic contaminants into salt marsh
bacterial biomass.
Accomplishments:
We have been successful
in developing the instrumental capabilities for isolating individual and diagnostic
bacterial membrane fatty acid biomarkers, the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs)
isolated from coastal sediments (see below) using a preparative capillary gas
chromatography (PCGC) system. The fractions thus obtained are then submitted
to the National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS) facility
at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for analysis of their natural radiocarbon
content.
Publications:
Our data set is still incomplete so at present we are unable to complete the
planned publication. We expect that a paper will shortly be written and submitted
to Organic Geochemistry.