Perspective: Hidden biases in isotope delta results and the need for comprehensive reporting

Measurements of stable-isotope composition on an isotope-delta scale can be subject to bias between laboratories or over time within a single laboratory. This bias can arise not just from differences in method protocol but also from changes in reporting guidelines, or even to the isotope-delta scales themselves. Without a clear description of method protocols, including all sample preparation steps, instrumental parameters and settings, data processing including calibration of results and estimation of measurement uncertainty, the traceability and comparability of isotope-delta values cannot be assured as bias(es) may remain hidden. To address this need, there are now clear guidelines published by IUPAC for reporting isotope-delta values for the "light" elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.1 We recommend that authors and reviewers adhere to those guidelines when preparing and reviewing future publications.

Radio- and stable carbon isotope analysis reveals minimal assimilation of petrogenic carbon into an oligotrophic freshwater food web after experimental spills of diluted bitumen

Following an oil spill into water, bacteria can biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons which could lead to petrogenic carbon assimilation by aquatic biota. We used changes in the isotope ratios of radio- (Δ14C) and stable (δ13C) carbon to examine the potential for assimilation of petrogenic carbon into a freshwater food web following experimental spills of diluted bitumen (dilbit) into a boreal lake in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Different volumes (1.5, 2.9, 5.5, 18, 42, 82, and 180 L) of Cold Lake Winter Blend (a heavy crude blend of bitumen and condensate) dilbit were applied to seven 10-m diameter littoral limnocorrals (approximate volume of 100 m3), and two additional limnocorrals had no added dilbit to serve as controls. Particulate organic matter (POM) and periphyton from oil-treated limnocorrals had lower δ13C (up to 3.2‰ and 2.1‰ for POM and periphyton, respectively) than the control at every sampled interval (3, 6 and 10 weeks for POM and 6, 8 and 10 weeks for periphyton). Dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC, respectively) had lower Δ14C in the oil-treated limnocorrals relative to the control (up to 122‰ and 440‰ lower, respectively). Giant floater mussel (Pyganodon grandis) housed for 25 days in aquaria containing oil-contaminated water from the limnocorrals did not show significant changes in δ13C values of muscle tissue compared to mussels housed in control water. Overall, the changes in δ13C and Δ14C observed indicated small amounts (up to 11% in DIC) of oil carbon incorporation into the food web. The combined δ13C and Δ14C data provide evidence for minimal incorporation of dilbit into the food web of this oligotrophic lake, suggesting that microbial degradation and subsequent incorporation of oil C into the food web may play a relatively small role in the ultimate fate of oil in this type of ecosystem.

Delineating origins of cheetah cubs in the illegal wildlife trade: Improvements based on the use of hair δ18O measurements

All African felids are listed as vulnerable or endangered according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in particular have declined rapidly as a result of human impacts so that development of effective strategies and tools for conservation of this highly vulnerable species, as well as African felids in general, are essential for their survival in the wild. Here we use the oxygen stable isotopic compositions of cheetah hair to determine origins of cheetah cubs destined for the illegal exotic pet trade by associating individual cubs with predicted δ18O isoscape locations. We found that cheetah cubs most likely originated in East Africa, close to the corridors responsible for this aspect of the illegal wildlife trade to the Middle East. Further refinement of these assignments using a two isotope analysis (δ18O and δ13C values) indicate that these cubs were likely sourced in Southern Ethiopia or possibly as far as Tanzania. We also demonstrate that δ18O values in tissues can provide provenance information in cases where results of δ2H analyses may be obscured by the effects of metabolic routing of nutrients during nursing, starvation, or dehydration. This study demonstrates the utility of stable isotopic tools for conservation and forensic uses for endangered mammalian species.

Reproducible measurements of the δ2H composition of non-exchangeable hydrogen in complex organic materials using the UniPrep2 online static vapour equilibration and sample drying system

Non-exchangeable hydrogen-isotope (δ ²H_n) measurements of complex organic samples are used in forensics to determine sample authenticity, traceability, and provenance. However, δ ²H_n assays of organics are usually complicated by uncontrolled "exchangeable hydrogen" and residual moisture contamination; hence, δ ²H_n assays are persistently incomparable amongst laboratories. We introduce a revised technical solution (UniPrep2) to control hydrogen-isotope exchange and for robust online sample drying and vapour equilibration. The UniPrep2 device is coupled to a high-temperature thermochemical elemental analyser and continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometer. This technical solution empowers isotope analysts to:•Conduct reproducible controlled vapour equilibrations of complex organic samples and standards to determine the δ ²H_n values by controlling hydrogen-isotope exchange.•Conduct online vacuum-oven evacuation with extensive helium drying without exposure to air to reabsorb or exchange hydrogen with ambient water vapour. The protocol describes the operation of the UniPrep2 device and the step-by-step procedures needed to obtain accurate and precise δ ²H_n values for a wide range of organic sample types. Two analytical approaches are described in detail; the Dual-Vapour Equilibration (DVE) approach, intended for determining δ ²H_n for a complex organic environmental sample where matrix equivalent H isotope reference materials are not available, and the Comparative Equilibration (CE) approach, which is intended for routine high-throughput analyses of complex organic samples where at least two matrix-equivalent organic isotope reference materials with consensus δ ²H_n values are being used. These standard operating procedures are envisioned to be a sound basis for advancing hydrogen-isotope analysis for different organic environmental matrices and studies.

The Use of Intrinsic Markers for Studying the Migratory Movements of Bats

Mortality of migratory bat species at wind energy facilities is a well-documented phenomenon, and mitigation and management are partially constrained by the current limited knowledge of bat migratory movements. Analyses of biochemical signatures in bat tissues ("intrinsic markers") can provide information about the migratory origins of individual bats. Many tissue samples for intrinsic marker analysis may be collected from living and dead bats, including carcasses collected at wind energy facilities. In this paper, we review the full suite of available intrinsic marker analysis techniques that may be used to study bat migration, with the goal of summarizing the current literature and highlighting knowledge gaps and opportunities. We discuss applications of the stable isotopes of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sulfur; radiogenic strontium isotopes; trace elements and contaminants; and the combination of these markers with each other and with other extrinsic markers. We further discuss the tissue types that may be analyzed for each and provide a synthesis of the generalized workflow required to link bats to origins using intrinsic markers. While stable hydrogen isotope techniques have clearly been the leading approach to infer migratory bat movement patterns across the landscape, here we emphasize a variety of lesser used intrinsic markers (i.e., strontium, trace elements, contaminants) that may address new study areas or answer novel research questions.

On the Use of Stable Hydrogen Isotope Measurements (δ2H) to Discern Trophic Level in Avian Terrestrial Food Webs

The measurement of stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2H) in animal tissues is a popular means of inferring spatial origins and migratory connections. However, the use of this isotope to infer diet and potentially trophic position remains poorly understood, especially in non-aquatic terrestrial ecosystems. In many animal communities, tissue δ15N values are strongly associated with trophic position. Correlations between tissue δ2H and δ15N are expected, then, if δ2H is affected by trophic enrichment of 2H. In addition, within sites, we would expect higher tissue δ2H values in insectivorous species compared to granivores or nectarivores. We tested these hypotheses for two resident avian communities in Nigeria consisting of 30 species representing a range of dietary guilds (granivores, frugivores, nectarivores, omnivores, insectivores) by comparing feather δ2H, δ15N and δ13C values. We found considerable isotopic overlap among all guilds except granivores, with no clear pattern of enrichment in 2H with trophic position. However, at one of our sites (open scrubland), feather δ2H was positively correlated with feather δ15N (R2 = 0.30) compared to a closed canopy forest site (R2 = 0.09). Our results indicate weak evidence for predictable trophic enrichment in 2H in terrestrial environments and indicate that controlled studies are now required to definitively elucidate the behavior of H isotopes in terrestrial food webs.

Using oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes to track the migratory movement of Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus) along Western Flyways of North America

The large-scale patterns of movement for the Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), a small forest hawk found throughout western North America, are largely unknown. However, based on field observations we set out to test the hypothesis that juvenile migratory A. striatus caught along two distinct migration routes on opposite sides of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of North America (Pacific Coast and Intermountain Migratory Flyways) come from geographically different natal populations. We applied stable isotope analysis of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) of feathers, and large scale models of spatial isotopic variation (isoscapes) to formulate spatially explicit predictions of the origin of the migrant birds. Novel relationships were assessed between the measured hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of feathers from A. striatus museum specimens of known origin and the isoscape modeled hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of precipitation at those known locations. We used these relationships to predict the origin regions for birds migrating along the two flyways from the measured isotope values of migrant’s feathers and the associated hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of precipitation where these feathers were formed. The birds from the two migration routes had overlap in their natal/breeding origins and did not differentiate into fully separate migratory populations, with birds from the Pacific Coast Migratory Flyway showing broader natal geographic origins than those from the Intermountain Flyway. The methodology based on oxygen isotopes had, in general, less predictive power than the one based on hydrogen. There was broad agreement between the two isotope approaches in the geographic assignment of the origins of birds migrating along the Pacific Coast Flyway, but not for those migrating along the Intermountain Migratory Flyway. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for conservation efforts of A. striatus in western North America, and the use of combined hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope analysis to track the movement of birds of prey on continental scales.

Complementary use of 1H NMR and multi-element IRMS in association with chemometrics enables effective origin analysis of cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.)

Within the cocoa market (Theobroma cacao L.), quality and prices are often determined by geographical origin, making traceability indispensable. Therefore, to investigate possibilities of tracing by analytical methods, 48 carefully selected cocoa samples from 20 countries have been profiled using a combination of stable isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Chemometric analysis of combined data sets from both, stable isotope data (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ²H, %C, %N, %O, %H) and ¹H NMR fingerprints, achieved good separation with increased classification rates compared to classification with data of the isolated methods. IRMS contributed primarily to discrimination between countries, while ¹H NMR significantly contributed to separation of varieties, but also the regions within individual countries. This study thus demonstrates that combination of two analytical methods is an effective tool to enhance both, accuracy and precision, in authenticity testing of cocoa.

Tracking cats revisited: Placing terrestrial mammalian carnivores on δ2H and δ18O isoscapes

The relationship between hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions in environmental water and hair was investigated for both domestic cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). A strong, but different, covariance was measured between the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions of local precipitation and hair keratin from both cats and dogs. These isotopic differences are most likely a result of the differences between the dietary and drinking water needs of cats compared to dogs. Moreover, the δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of hair from captive and wild felids and canids, such as cougars (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and wolves (Canis lupus) are broadly consistent with these measurements. This evidence indicates that while the water budgets of terrestrial mammalian carnivores need to be considered in isotopic applications, it is clear that felids and canids may be placed on tissue–specific hydrogen and oxygen isotopic landscapes for ecological, provenance, or forensic studies.

An assessment of assumptions and uncertainty in deuterium-based estimates of terrestrial subsidies to aquatic consumers

The deuterium ratio (² H/¹ H) in tissue is often used to estimate terrestrial subsidies to aquatic consumers because of strongly differentiated values between terrestrial and aquatic primary producers. However, quantitative deuterium-based analyses of terrestrial resource assimilation are highly dependent on several poorly defined assumptions. We explored the sensitivity of these estimates to assumptions regarding environmental water contributions to consumer deuterium content (ω) and algal photosynthetic hydrogen discrimination (ε_H ). We also tested whether ¹³ C/¹² C and ² H/¹ H-based estimates of terrestrial resource assimilation give similar outcomes. The average of the 12 experiments that have directly estimated proportional contributions of environmental water to consumer tissue ² H/¹ H was 0.27 ± 0.11 (mean ± SD), with similar values for invertebrates and fish. Conversely, of the 28 field studies that have used ² H/¹ H to characterize aquatic food webs, all but one assume a value that is less than our current best estimate, usually substantially less. A reanalysis of the raw data from four recent case studies indicates the calculated terrestrial contribution to aquatic consumers is extremely sensitive to this assumption. When the authors' original assumptions were used (i.e., ω = 0.16 ± 0.05), the estimated proportional contribution of terrestrial resources to aquatic consumers (θ_T ) averaged 29 ± 17%, and when ω = 0.27 was used the average estimated assimilation of allochthonous resources was ≈0.00. A compilation of published photosynthetic hydrogen discrimination values for microalgae averaged ε_H  = -150 ± 27‰ (SD, n = 99), and a sensitivity analysis showed the outcomes of these calculations were also strongly influenced by uncertainty in ε_H . There was no statistical association between ¹³ C/¹² C and ² H/¹ H-based estimates of terrestrial subsidies (r = -0.12, n = 274). This analysis indicates that the assumptions in deuterium-based estimates of terrestrial resource assimilation are highly influential but poorly constrained; therefore, the impact of these assumptions on calculated outputs must be carefully assessed and thoroughly reported. Due to the highly uncertain assumptions inherent in deuterium-based analyses, we urge much more caution when using this approach to estimate terrestrial subsidies to consumers in aquatic ecosystems.

From stable isotope ecology to forensic isotope ecology - Isotopes' tales

Stable isotope ecology and forensic isotope ecology are not only linked by name. More often than not, knowledge and insights gained through the former serve as a springboard for application focused work of the latter. This review aims to offer a glimpse into the fascinating world of both though with more emphasis on forensic isotope ecology. To this end a selection of past and recent published work is presented and discussed to highlight both potential and limitations of isotopic analytical approaches to the detection of illegal trade in plants and animals.

Stable isotopes of H, C and N in mice bone collagen as a reflection of isotopically controlled food and water intake. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2019;55:129-149. [PMID: 30793970 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2019.1580279]

²H/¹H ratios in animal biomass reflect isotopic input from food and water. A 10-week controlled laboratory study raised 48 mice divided in two generations (8 mothers Mus musculus and their offspring). The mice were divided into four groups based on the combination of ²H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N-enriched and non-enriched food and water. Glycine, the most common amino acid in bone collagen, carried the ²H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N-isotopic spike in food. ANOVA data analysis indicated that hydrogen in food accounted for ∼81 % of the hydrogen isotope inventory in collagen whereas drinking water hydrogen contributed ∼17 %. Air humidity contributed an unspecified amount. Additionally, we monitored ¹³C and ¹⁵N-enrichment in bone collagen and found strong linear correlations with the ²H-enrichment. The experiments with food and water indicate two biosynthetic pathways, namely (i) de novo creation of non-essential amino acids using hydrogen from water, and (ii) the integration of essential and non-essential amino acids from food. The lower rate of isotope uptake in mothers' collagen relative to their offspring indicates incomplete bone collagen turnover after ten weeks. The variance of hydrogen stable isotope ratios within the same cohort may limit its usefulness as a single sample proxy for archaeological or palaeoenvironmental research.

Inter-laboratory test for oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope analyses of geothermal fluids: Assessment of reservoir fluid compositions

RATIONALE

Knowledge of the accuracy and precision for oxygen (δ¹⁸ O values) and hydrogen (δ² H values) stable isotope analyses of geothermal fluid samples is important to understand geothermal reservoir processes, such as partial boiling-condensation and encroachment of cold and reinjected waters. The challenging aspects of the analytical techniques for this specific matrix include memory effects and higher scatter of delta values with increasing total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, deterioration of Pt-catalysts by dissolved/gaseous H₂ S for hydrogen isotope equilibration measurements and isotope salt effects that offset isotope ratios determined by gas equilibration techniques.

METHODS

An inter-laboratory comparison exercise for the determination of the δ¹⁸ O and δ² H values of nine geothermal fluid samples was conducted among eleven laboratories from eight countries (CeMIEGeo2017). The delta values were measured by dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry (DI-IRMS), continuous flow IRMS (CF-IRMS) and/or laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS). Moreover, five of these laboratories analyzed an additional sample set at least one month after the analysis period of the first set. Statistical evaluation of all the results was performed to obtain the expected isotope ratios of each sample, which were then subsequently used in deep reservoir fluid composition calculations.

RESULTS

The overall analytical precisions of the measurements were ± 0.2‰ for δ¹⁸ O values and ± 2.0‰ for δ² H values within the 95% confidence interval.

CONCLUSIONS

The measured and calculated δ¹⁸ O and δ² H values of water sampled at the weir box, separator and wellhead of geothermal wells suggest the existence of hydrogen and oxygen isotope-exchange equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases at all sampling points in the well. Thus, both procedures for calculating the isotopic compositions of the deep geothermal reservoir fluid - using either the analytical data of the liquid phase at the weir box together with those of vapor at the separator or the analytical data of liquid and vapor phases at the separator -are equally valid.

Collagen proteins exchange O with demineralisation and gelatinisation reagents and also with atmospheric moisture

RATIONALE

The oxygen isotope composition of collagen proteins is a potential indicator of adult residential location, useful for provenancing in ecology, archaeology and forensics. In acidic solution, proteins can exchange O from carboxylic acid moieties with reagent O. This study investigated whether this exchange occurs during demineralisation and gelatinisation preparation of bone/ivory collagen.

METHODS

EDTA and HCl demineralisation or gelatinisation reagents were made up in waters with different δ¹⁸ O values, and were used to extract collagen from four skeletal tissue samples. Aliquots of extracted collagen were exposed to two different atmospheric waters, at 120°C and ambient temperature, and subsequently dried in a vacuum oven at 40°C or by freeze drying. Sample δ¹⁸ O values were measured by HT/EA pyrolysis-IRMS using a zero-blank autosampler.

RESULTS

Collagen samples exchanged O with both reagent waters and atmospheric water, which altered sample δ¹⁸ O values. Exchange with reagent waters occurred in all extraction methods, but was greater at lower pH. Damage to the collagen samples during extraction increased O exchange. The nature of exchange of O with atmospheric water depended on the temperature of exposure: kinetic fractionation of O was identified at 120°C but not at ambient temperature. Exchange was difficult to quantify due to high variability of δ¹⁸ O value between experimental replicates.

CONCLUSION

Studies of δ¹⁸ O values in collagen proteins should avoid extraction methods using acid solutions.

Deuterium- and Tritium-Labelled Compounds: Applications in the Life Sciences

Hydrogen isotopes are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. Hydrogen isotope labelling allows for the traceless and direct incorporation of an additional mass or radioactive tag into an organic molecule with almost no changes in its chemical structure, physical properties, or biological activity. Using deuterium-labelled isotopologues to study the unique mass-spectrometric patterns generated from mixtures of biologically relevant molecules drastically simplifies analysis. Such methods are now providing unprecedented levels of insight in a wide and continuously growing range of applications in the life sciences and beyond. Tritium (³ H), in particular, has seen an increase in utilization, especially in pharmaceutical drug discovery. The efforts and costs associated with the synthesis of labelled compounds are more than compensated for by the enhanced molecular sensitivity during analysis and the high reliability of the data obtained. In this Review, advances in the application of hydrogen isotopes in the life sciences are described.

Isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) diet-tissue discrimination in African grey parrot Psittacus erithacus: implications for forensic studies

Diet-tissue isotopic relationships established under controlled conditions are informative for determining the dietary sources and geographic provenance of organisms. We analysed δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and non-exchangeable δ²H values of captive African grey parrot Psittacus erithacus feathers grown on a fixed mixed-diet and borehole water. Diet-feather Δ¹³C and Δ¹⁵N discrimination values were +3.8 ± 0.3 ‰ and +6.3 ± 0.7 ‰ respectively; significantly greater than expected. Non-exchangeable δ²H feather values (-62.4 ± 6.4 ‰) were more negative than water (-26.1 ± 2.5 ‰) offered during feather growth. There was no positive relationship between the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of the samples along each feather with the associated samples of food offered, or the feather non-exchangeable hydrogen isotope values with δ²H values of water, emphasising the complex processes involved in carbohydrate, protein, and income water routing to feather growth. Understanding the isotopic relationship between diet and feathers may provide greater clarity in the use of stable isotopes in feathers as a tool in determining origins of captive and wild-caught African grey parrots, a species that is widespread in aviculture and faces significant threats to wild populations. We suggest that these isotopic results, determined even in controlled laboratory conditions, be used with caution.

Bulk hydrogen stable isotope composition of seaweeds: Clear separation between Ulvophyceae and other classes

Little is known about the bulk hydrogen stable isotope composition (δ2 H) of seaweeds. This study investigated the bulk δ2 H in several different seaweed species collected from three different beaches in Brazil, Australia, and Argentina. Here, we show that Ulvophyceae (a group of green algae) had lower δ2 H values (between -94‰ and -130‰) than red algae (Florideophyceae), brown algae (Phaeophyceae), and species from the class Bryopsidophyceae (another group of green algae). Overall the latter three groups of seaweeds had δ2 H values between -50‰ and -90‰. These findings were similar at the three different geographic locations. Observed differences in δ2 H values were probably related to differences in hydrogen (H) metabolism among algal groups, also observed in the δ2 H values of their lipids. The marked difference between the δ2 H values of Ulvophyecae and those of the other groups could be useful to trace the food source of food webs in coastal rocky shores, to assess the impacts of green tides on coastal ecosystems, and to help clarify aspects of their phylogeny. However, reference materials for seaweed δ2 H are required before the full potential of using the δ2 H of seaweeds for ecological studies can be exploited.

Determining the geographical origin of Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) specimens using stable isotope and trace element analyses

BACKGROUND

An outbreak of EU-quarantine-listed pest Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambicidae), the Asian longhorn beetle, in Kent (UK) resulted in environmentally and financially costly eradication action being taken. In this study the potential of using multi-element stable isotope or trace element analyses to determine the geographical origin of individual specimens has been investigated.

RESULTS

The isotope ratios of A. glabripennis individuals for hydrogen varied within and across five locations. Carbon isotope ratios fell within the expected values for C3 plants (trees using the photosynthetic pathway common for moderate climates). Nitrogen isotope ratios indicated separation of UK laboratory from US (New York, Ohio, Massachusetts) beetles, while sulphur isotope ratios distinguished beetles from New York against the other four locations. Three trace elements (TEs) separated UK laboratory-reared beetles from US beetles (Ohio and New York) with ∼ 68% confidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Stable isotope and TE analyses show potential to differentiate between newly arrived A. glabripennis individuals and those from previously undetected in-country populations, which would be of immediate practical benefit in making appropriate strategic decisions on surveillance and eradication. Analyses of additional samples from (i) the same populations, (ii) different locations and (iii) a variety of host trees will enhance the overall picture. © 2016 Crown copyright. Pest Management Science © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Using hydrogen isotopes of freshwater fish tissue as a tracer of provenance

Hydrogen isotope (δ²H) measurements of consumer tissues in aquatic food webs are useful tracers of diet and provenance and may be combined with δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analyses to evaluate complex trophic relationships in aquatic systems. However, δ²H measurements of organic tissues are complicated by analytical issues (e.g., H exchangeability, lack of matrix-equivalent calibration standards, and lipid effects) and physiological mechanisms, such as H isotopic exchange with ambient water during protein synthesis and the influence of metabolic water. In this study, δ²H (and δ¹⁵N) values were obtained from fish muscle samples from Lake Winnipeg, Canada, 2007-2010, and were assessed for the effects of species, feeding habits, and ambient water δ²H values. After lipid removal, we used comparative equilibration to calibrate muscle δ²H values to nonexchangeable δ²H equivalents and controlled for H isotopic exchange between sample and laboratory ambient water vapor. We then examined the data for evidence of trophic δ²H enrichment by comparing δ²H values with δ¹⁵N values. Our results showed a significant logarithmic correlation between fork length and δ²H values, and no strong relationships between δ¹⁵N and δ²H. This suggests the so-called apparent trophic compounding effect and the influence of metabolic water into tissue H were the potential mechanisms for δ²H enrichment. We evaluated the importance of water in controlling δ²H values of fish tissues and, consequently, the potential of H isotopes as a tracer of provenance by taking account of confounding variables such as body size and trophic effects. The δ²H values of fish appear to be a good tracer for tracking provenance, and we present a protocol for the use of H isotopes in aquatic ecosystems, which should be applicable to a broad range of marine and freshwater fish species. We advise assessing size effects or working with fish of relatively similar mass when inferring fish movements using δ²H measurements.

Limits and possibilities in the geolocation of humans using multiple isotope ratios (H, O, N, C) of hair from east coast cities of the USA

We examined multiple natural abundance isotope ratios of human hair to assess biological variability within and between geographic locations and, further, to determine how well these isotope values predict location of origin. Sampling locations feature differing seasonality and mobile populations as a robust test of the method. Serially-sampled hair from Cambridge, MA, USA, shows lower δ(2)H and δ(18)O variability over a one-year time course than model-predicted precipitation isotope ratios, but exhibits considerable differences between individuals. Along a ∼13° north-south transect in the eastern USA (Brookline, MA, 42.3 ° N, College Park, MD, 39.0 ° N, and Gainesville, FL, 29.7 ° N) δ(18)O in human hair shows relatively greater differences and tracks changes in drinking water isotope ratios more sensitively than δ(2)H. Determining the domicile of humans using isotope ratios of hair can be confounded by differing variability in hair δ(18)O and δ(2)H between locations, differential incorporation of H and O into this protein and, in some cases, by tap water δ(18)O and δ(2)H that differ significantly from predicted precipitation values. With these caveats, randomly chosen people in Florida are separated from those in the two more northerly sites on the basis of the natural abundance isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Geographic origins and population genetics of bats killed at wind-energy facilities

An unanticipated impact of wind-energy development has been large-scale mortality of insectivorous bats. In eastern North America, where mortality rates are among the highest in the world, the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and the eastern red bat (L. borealis) comprise the majority of turbine-associated bat mortality. Both species are migratory tree bats with widespread distributions; however, little is known regarding the geographic origins of bats killed at wind-energy facilities or the diversity and population structure of affected species. We addressed these unknowns by measuring stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δ² H) and conducting population genetic analyses of bats killed at wind-energy facilities in the central Appalachian Mountains (USA) to determine the summering origins, effective size, structure, and temporal stability of populations. Our results indicate that ~1% of hoary bat mortalities and ~57% of red bat mortalities derive from non-local sources, with no relationship between the proportion of non-local bats and sex, location of mortality, or month of mortality. Additionally, our data indicate that hoary bats in our sample consist of an unstructured population with a small effective size (N_e ) and either a stable or declining history. Red bats also showed no evidence of population genetic structure, but in contrast to hoary bats, the diversity contained in our red bat samples is consistent with a much larger N_e that reflects a demographic expansion after a bottleneck. These results suggest that the impacts of mortality associated with intensive wind-energy development may affect bat species dissimilarly, with red bats potentially better able to absorb sustained mortality than hoary bats because of their larger N_e . Our results provide important baseline data and also illustrate the utility of stable isotopes and population genetics for monitoring bat populations affected by wind-energy development.

Forensic Mass Spectrometry

Developments in forensic mass spectrometry tend to follow, rather than lead, the developments in other disciplines. Examples of techniques having forensic potential born independently of forensic applications include ambient ionization, imaging mass spectrometry, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, portable mass spectrometers, and hyphenated chromatography-mass spectrometry instruments, to name a few. Forensic science has the potential to benefit enormously from developments that are funded by other means, if only the infrastructure and personnel existed to adopt, validate, and implement the new technologies into casework. Perhaps one unique area in which forensic science is at the cutting edge is in the area of chemometrics and the determination of likelihood ratios for the evaluation of the weight of evidence. Such statistical techniques have been developed most extensively for ignitable-liquid residue analyses and isotope ratio analysis. This review attempts to capture the trends, motivating forces, and likely impact of developing areas of forensic mass spectrometry, with the caveat that none of this research is likely to have any real impact in the forensic community unless: (a) The instruments developed are turned into robust black boxes with red and green lights for positives and negatives, respectively, or (b) there are PhD graduates in the workforce who can help adopt these sophisticated techniques.

An online temperature-controlled vacuum-equilibration preparation system for the measurement of δ2H values of non-exchangeable-H and of δ18O values in organic materials by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Measurement of δ(2) H values in non-exchangeable-H (δ(2) H(n)) and δ(18)O values in organic environmental samples are inconsistent among laboratories worldwide due to varied and lengthy approaches in controlling for H isotope exchange (for δ(2)H(n) values) and removal of trace moisture (δ(2)H(n) and δ(18)O values), which undermines the comparability of organic δ(2)H and δ(18)O data produced among different laboratories.

METHODS

An online preparation system was developed for the measurement of the δ(2)H(n) and δ(18)O values of organic samples, coupled to isotope-ratio mass spectrometers. The system features a 50-position autosampler and isolation valve where (1) the samples are held isothermal between ambient to 40-120 ± 0.1 °C for H isotopic exchange experiments (δ(2) H(n)) and drying of hygroscopic samples (δ(2) H(n) and δ(18)O), (2) the samples are evacuated to <5 mbar and flushed with helium for moisture and N(2) removal, and (3) injection of up to 500 μL of H(2)O is possible for controlled vapour exchangeable-H experiments.

RESULTS

The system provides highly reproducible and precise δ(2)H(n) isotope estimates for a range of organic keratinous standard powders over a wide range of experimental temperatures. A reproducible sample processing regimen can now be applied to a wider range of organics and hygroscopic samples that are currently hampered by poorly controlled preparative methods amongst laboratories.

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid and reproducible online vacuum equilibration of samples and standards for the routine measurement of δ(2)H(n) and δ(18)O values is now possible using the online equilibration system, with the added benefit that sample processing times for organic δ(2)H values are reduced from weeks to hours.

A stable isotope approach to assessing water loss in fruits and vegetables during storage

Plant tissue water is the source of oxygen and hydrogen in organic biomatter. Recently, we demonstrated that the stable hydrogen isotope value (δ(2)H) of plant methoxyl groups is a very reliable and easily available archive for the δ(2)H value of this tissue water. Here we show in a model experiment that the δ(2)H values of methoxyl groups remain unchanged after water loss during storage of fruits and vegetables under controlled conditions, while δ(2)H and δ(18)O values of tissue water increase. This enhancement is plant-dependent, and the correlation differs from the meteoric water line. The δ(18)O value is better correlated to the weight decrease of the samples. Therefore, we postulate that the δ(2)H value of methoxyl groups and the δ(18)O value of tissue water are suitable parameters for checking postharvest alterations of tissue water, either addition or loss.

On the use of stable oxygen isotope (δ (18)O) measurements for tracking avian movements in North America

Tracking migratory animals has benefitted using measurements of naturally occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ (2)H) in keratinous tissues such as hair and feathers to link animal origins to continental patterns or isoscapes of δ (2)H in precipitation. However, for most taxa, much less information exists on the use of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ (18)O) despite the fact that δ (2)H and δ (18)O are strongly linked in environmental waters through the meteoric relationship and the possibility of using both isotopes to infer greater information on origins and climatic conditions where tissues are grown. A fundamental requirement of using stable isotopes to assign individuals and populations to origins is the development of a rescaling function linking environmental food web signals to the tissue of interest and for birds, this has not been carried out. Here, we derived the relationship between H and O isotopes in known source feathers of 104 individuals representing 11 species of insectivorous passerines sampled across the strong precipitation isoscape of North America. We determined again a strong expected relationship between feather δ (2)H (δ (2)Hf) and long-term amount-weighted precipitation δ (2)H (δ (2)Hp; r (2) = 0.77), but the corresponding relationship between δ (18)Of and δ (18)Op was poor (r (2) = 0.32) for the same samples. This suggests that δ (2)H measurements are currently more useful for assignment of insectivorous songbirds to precipitation isoscapes but does not preclude other uses of the δ (18)Of data. Currently, mechanisms responsible for the decoupling of H and O isotopes in food webs is poorly known, and we advocate a much broader sampling of both isotopes in the same keratinous tissues across precipitation isotope gradients and across taxa to resolve this issue and to increase the power of using water isotopes to track migratory animals.

Hydrogen isotope measurement of bird feather keratin, one laboratory's response to evolving methodologies

Hydrogen in organic tissue resides in a complex mixture of molecular contexts. Some hydrogen, called non-exchangeable (H(non)), is strongly bound, and its isotopic ratio is fixed when the tissue is synthesized. Other pools of hydrogen, called exchangeable hydrogen (H(ex)), constantly exchange with ambient water vapor. The measurement of the δ(2)H(non) in organic tissues such as hair or feather therefore requires an analytical process that accounts for exchangeable hydrogen. In this study, swan feather and sheep wool keratin were used to test the effects of sample drying and capsule closure on the measurement of δ(2)H(non) values, and the rate of back-reaction with ambient water vapor. Homogenous feather or wool keratins were also calibrated at room temperature for use as control standards to correct for the effects of exchangeable hydrogen on feathers. Total δ(2)H values of both feather and wool samples showed large changes throughout the first ∼6 h of drying. Desiccant plus low vacuum seems to be more effective than room temperature vacuum pumping for drying samples. The degree of capsule closure affects exchangeable hydrogen equilibration and drying, with closed capsules responding more slowly. Using one control keratin standard to correct for the δ(2)H(ex) value for a batch of samples leads to internally consistent δ(2)H(non) values for other calibrated keratins run as unknowns. When placed in the context of other recent improvements in the measurement of keratin δ(2)H(non) values, we make recommendations for sample handing, data calibration and the reporting of results.

Discrimination of unprocessed cotton on the basis of geographic origin using multi-element stable isotope signatures

RATIONALE

Cotton is the most commonly used natural plant product for the manufacture of yarns and textiles. Consumer perception regarding differences in textile quality in relation to geographic provenance of cotton as well as stringent product labelling requirements demand for the supply chain to furnish proof of geographic provenance beyond merely paper-based audit trails.

METHODS

We have applied isotope ratio mass spectrometry to generate multivariate data sets of raw cotton. A two-point equilibration process with water at ambient temperature was used to account for hydrogen exchange between free hydroxyl groups in the cellulose lattice at ambient humidity, prior to hydrogen isotope analysis.

RESULTS

The molar fraction of exchangeable hydrogen in cotton at ambient temperature was found to be 0.046, which is in good agreement with the expected exchange fraction of 0.05. Hierarchical cluster analysis of multivariate stable isotope abundance data from 17 US cotton and 15 non-US cotton samples was able to cluster 15 of the 17 US cotton samples in one group.

CONCLUSIONS

Hierarchical cluster analysis of multivariate stable isotope signatures of raw cotton showed great promise as an analytical tool to differentiate between US and non-US cotton and possibly even to be able to group unprocessed cotton according to geographic origin.

Correlation of geographical location with stable isotope values of hydrogen and carbon of fatty acids from New Zealand milk and bulk milk powder

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of δ²H and δ¹³C of bulk milk powder and milk powder fatty acids to their production region. A total of 46 milk powder samples from across New Zealand were collected and analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the δ²H and δ¹³C of four fatty acids (C4:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:1) and bulk milk powder were found to be correlated with regional production area. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models were prepared using different combinations of bulk and fatty acid δ²H and δ¹³C. All models were effective in discriminating samples from the North and South Islands. The LDA model using just fatty acid δ²H and δ¹³C provided the best separation. Therefore, the isotopic composition of the aforementioned fatty acids can be utilized as a good biomarker in milk powder that conveys reliable isotopic information to track milk powders to their regional origin.