DFG Core Facility: Bayreuth Center for Stable Isotope Research in Ecology and Biogeochemistry (BayCenSI)

• Subject Area: Soil Sciences ; Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Ecology of Land Use ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461108888

Stable isotope analysis is a powerful and meanwhile indispensable tool in ecology and biogeochemistry. It enables a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem processes across spatial and temporal scales. Modern, innovative technologies and ways of interpreting isotope data are developing rapidly. The broad spectrum of isotope applications uniquely allows to identify and quantify processes and interactions in complex natural systems.In the focus area “Ecology & Environmental Sciences”, the University of Bayreuth connects a wide spectrum of researchers from different disciplines who are leading in stable isotope applications. Stable isotope approaches have decisively shaped our understanding of matter fluxes in ecosystems, trophic interactions in food-webs and human-environment-interactions including climate change. During the last years, the existing expertise has been greatly expanded and new innovative cutting-edge isotope technologies were brought to Bayreuth. They are explicitly targeted on the identification and quantification of processes and interactions within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.The objective of this proposal is to establish a service and teaching facility, the Bayreuth Center for Stable Isotope Research in Ecology and Biogeochemistry (BayCenSI), with a unique focus on spatiotemporal ecosystem dynamics. The BayCenSI will synchronize and synergize the existing competences, push further methodological innovation and top-level research, and provide internal and external researchers access to the unique analytical capabilities. To achieve these objectives, a steering committee will be established that will define and pursue the strategic orientation of the facility. The BayCenSI will provide analyses of stable isotopes in various sample matrices from natural to highly enriched abundance levels of heavy isotopes. New technologies such as the visualization of stable isotope distribution at the µm scale, the pulsed tracing of microbial turnover processes or high temporal resolution measurements of gas isotopes will be integrated into the facility. This requires the implementation of a laboratory management system to structure the workflow of order processing and to guarantee high quality data based on quality standards. An experienced junior researcher is to be installed as facility manager, with attractive prospects for further career development. The BayCenSI will advise researchers and support them by funding exploratory experiments. The BayCenSI will take over and expand the education in the application of stable isotopes for students and researchers. The program will range from practical training for students to workshops, summer schools and outreach activities.Our vision for the Core Facility is to provide users from multidisciplinary fields with innovative, cutting-edge stable isotope analytics to gain a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem processes from seconds to centuries and from molecular to global scales.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities
• Applicant Institution: Universität Bayreuth
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Johanna Pausch