vandehey 2013 biocrust talk
TRANSCRIPT
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Uptake of 11C-CO2 in Moab Desert Biological Soil Crust
June 10, 2013
Nick VandeheyLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley, California, USA
ANTFARMS: Applying Noninvasive Technologies For Analyzing Radiotracers In Microbial Systems
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
BSCs Soil
Imaging Carbon Fixation
First use of nuclear imaging for Biological Soil Crusts?
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Carbon-11
Page 39
• Radioactive isotope of carbon, neutron deficient
• Produced with proton-beam accelerator
• Decays by postitron emission• Half-life: 20.4 minutes!• Decay characteristics allow for non-invasive
imaging with radiological instruments
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
Our BSCs
Cycanobacteria Dominated CrustsMicrocoleus Vaginatus
Crushed
Autoclaved ControlHomogenized
Natural
Autoclaved ControlIntact
Green Butte, Utah
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
PC ControlPC Control
Portable Logger
Portable Logger
BSC IncubationBSC Incubation
11C-CO2
High UptakeMed UptakeLow Uptake
50 mm
Radiotracer Imaging Technologies for Microbial Systems
BSCs: Experimental Results
Natural Autoclaved
Intact
Crushed
CO2 uptake in BSCs imaged