RESEARCH IN MAD EGG LAB
Research in MAD EGG Lab involves collecting samples in the field, bringing those samples back to the lab, processing those samples to prepare for analysis, analyzing samples, compiling and interpreting the data, and then writing manuscripts based on what the data say. Often hypotheses drive our sampling, but we have found it is important to have an open mind and be flexible in thinking. Nature has a way of laughing at our best formulated hypotheses, and having too tight a focus can lead to missing new and interesting questions that may come up as we are at a field site.
Field sites that we have been working at span a wide range, from hot springs to glaciers, from redox stratified lakes to anthropogenically impacted lakes, from modern acid mine drainage to ancient rocks. The one thing all of these sites have in common is element uptake and cycling by microbial communities. This element uptake, sequestration, and cycling influences the geochemical environment, and can lead to geochemical signals being preserved in the rock record. If we can better interpret what is happening with this process in modern systems, then we can better inform our interpretations of the rock record, and better inform our ability to interpret geochemical signals that we find on other bodies in our solar system (e.g., our rover and remote sensing missions to Mars).
To learn more about what we have been learning from our work at our field sites, please link on the sub-tabs under 'RESEARCH' in the menu. Below are some protocols for sampling and some of the analytical techniques that we use.
Field sites that we have been working at span a wide range, from hot springs to glaciers, from redox stratified lakes to anthropogenically impacted lakes, from modern acid mine drainage to ancient rocks. The one thing all of these sites have in common is element uptake and cycling by microbial communities. This element uptake, sequestration, and cycling influences the geochemical environment, and can lead to geochemical signals being preserved in the rock record. If we can better interpret what is happening with this process in modern systems, then we can better inform our interpretations of the rock record, and better inform our ability to interpret geochemical signals that we find on other bodies in our solar system (e.g., our rover and remote sensing missions to Mars).
To learn more about what we have been learning from our work at our field sites, please link on the sub-tabs under 'RESEARCH' in the menu. Below are some protocols for sampling and some of the analytical techniques that we use.
Above: Professor Trinity Hamilton exhibiting excellent technique in filtering and distributing a water sample to a suite of bottles for different analyses. Geochemically characterizing a sample site maximizes the value of the sample for comparison to other sites. Photo by Jeff Havig.
Below: Collecting water samples can come in many different forms. Here I am holding a Van Dorn Bottle that we use to collect water samples from lakes, lowering it down open and then triggering a closing mechanism that allows us to bring a water sample up from deep in the water column. In this case, we are sampling at Grand Lake Saint Marys in OH. Photo by Trinity Hamilton. |
Below: Professor McCormick is holding a setup of his one design for suspending carbon uptake mesocosms in the water column at specific depths, which we are deploying at Fayetteville Green Lake, NY. We are very often in need of finding creative solutions for optimizing our sampling and incubation setup techniques. Photo by Jeff Havig.
Above: Here I have inadvertently demonstrated a common occurrence with using the 140 mL syringe on a sample that was difficult to filter. Back pressure can build up, and if not careful one can receive an unexpected shot of sample water into the lap. Photo by Trinity Hamilton.
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Above: My setup at Gotchen Glacier, Mt. Adams, WA for filtering a water sample. I took this pic after I was finished filtering, as you can see sample in the tubes, and I have removed the filter from the syringe (put on dry ice for later DNA extraction). Photo by Jeff R. Havig.
Below: An early morning of sampling before the sun hit the glacier surface on Eliot Glacier, Mt. Hood, OR. I am using a large 0.2 um filter to facilitate getting water from sediment-laden glacial melt water while others are collecting DNA samples, setting up carbon uptake incubations, and analyzing samples using a field spectrophotometer. Photo by Jeff Havig. |
SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES
protocols_for_geochemical_sampling_12-18-2018.docx | |
File Size: | 967 kb |
File Type: | docx |
All water samples are filtered through 0.2 µm filters upon collection. Samples for molecular analysis are flash-frozen with dry ice, and then kept frozen in a -80 C freezer until it is time to process and analyze them. I will add in-depth protocols for those interested (above).
Here are some of the analytical techniques that I have used:
EA-IR-MS - Elemental Analyzer Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze solid samples for carbon and nitrogen content as well as isotopic values
- Used for analyzing biofilms, soils, sinter, plant and animal material, rocks
TOC-IR-MS - Total Organic Carbon Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze water samples for dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved organic carbon concentration and carbon isotope values
Gas Bench IR-MS - Gas Bench attached to an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
-Analyze carbonates for carbon and oxygen isotope values
IC - Ion Chromatography
- Analyze water samples for cations (e.g. Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2), anions (e.g. Cl-, SO4-2, NO3-, F-), and organic acids (e.g. formate and acetate)
ICP-MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze water samples for trace elements (e.g. Li, Mn, Fe, Mo, U, Rare Earth Elements)
GC-MS - Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze gas samples for compound identification and isotopic values (e.g. methane)
SIMS - Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer
- Analysis of cut and polished solid samples for elemental composition as well as isotopic values.
EMP-EDX - Electron Microprobe Energy-Dispersive X-ray detection
- Analyze powdered samples for major elemental constituents (e.g. Si, Fe, Ca, Na, K)
Environmental SEM-EDS - Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy
- Imaging of environmental samples
- Mapping surfaces with analysis of major element components (e.g., Si, Ca, Fe, S, O, C, etc.)
Microwave Digestion - sample preparation
- This technique allows you to get anything that is solid into solution so that it can be analyzed via ICP-MS.
- I used this to determine the trace elemental composition of biofilms, soils, sinters, and rocks.
Here are some of the analytical techniques that I have used:
EA-IR-MS - Elemental Analyzer Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze solid samples for carbon and nitrogen content as well as isotopic values
- Used for analyzing biofilms, soils, sinter, plant and animal material, rocks
TOC-IR-MS - Total Organic Carbon Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze water samples for dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved organic carbon concentration and carbon isotope values
Gas Bench IR-MS - Gas Bench attached to an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
-Analyze carbonates for carbon and oxygen isotope values
IC - Ion Chromatography
- Analyze water samples for cations (e.g. Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2), anions (e.g. Cl-, SO4-2, NO3-, F-), and organic acids (e.g. formate and acetate)
ICP-MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze water samples for trace elements (e.g. Li, Mn, Fe, Mo, U, Rare Earth Elements)
GC-MS - Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer
- Analyze gas samples for compound identification and isotopic values (e.g. methane)
SIMS - Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer
- Analysis of cut and polished solid samples for elemental composition as well as isotopic values.
EMP-EDX - Electron Microprobe Energy-Dispersive X-ray detection
- Analyze powdered samples for major elemental constituents (e.g. Si, Fe, Ca, Na, K)
Environmental SEM-EDS - Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy
- Imaging of environmental samples
- Mapping surfaces with analysis of major element components (e.g., Si, Ca, Fe, S, O, C, etc.)
Microwave Digestion - sample preparation
- This technique allows you to get anything that is solid into solution so that it can be analyzed via ICP-MS.
- I used this to determine the trace elemental composition of biofilms, soils, sinters, and rocks.