Influence of Earthworms on the Sulfur Turnover in the Soil

Abstract

The effects of earthworm activity on the concentration and isotopic composition of total sulfur in soils was investigated using batch experiments. Two ecologically different lumbricid species, the anecic Lumbricus terrestris and the endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa, were used. The earthworms were fed birch leaves, beech leaves, cattle manure or mixed plant litter. All food sources differed isotopically (δ³⁴S) from the soil (Parabraunerde). As a reference, one experiment was carried out without additional food.

The experimental results show, that both earthworm species influence the total S-content and the δ³⁴S-values in the soil by digestion of the different food sources. The differences in the total S-content of the earthworm tissues and in the S-isotopic composition of the casts can be attributed to the ecological differences between the earthworm species.     

The Selective Flux of Sulfur and Implications for Magmatic Sulfur Isotope Fractionation

The selective flux of sulfur during magma emplacement is proposed to explain some abnormal δ³⁴S data from granitic and basaltic rocks. It is assumed that on the one hand a quasi-equilibrium isotope fractionation exists between sulfate and sulfide during magma cooling, and on the other hand a non-equilibrium fractionation occurs between the fluxed sulfur and the magmatic sulfur. The results show that at high fO₂, ³⁴S is preferably enriched in sulfate with decreasing temperature, without a corresponding depletion of sulfide in ³⁴S. The δ³⁴S value of solidified rocks is then significantly shifted in the positive direction due to the selective degassing or assimilation. Conversely, at low fO₂, ³⁴S is preferably depleted in sulfide as temperature declines, while a corresponding ³⁴S-enrichment in sulfate does not occur. As a consequence, δ³⁴S value of the rocks is driver in the negative direction.     

Methane-Derived Carbonates in a Native Sulfur Deposit: Stable Isotope and Trace Element Discriminations Related to the Transformation of Aragonite to Calcite

Abstract

Stable isotope (¹³C, ¹⁸O, ³⁴S) and trace element (Sr²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ba²⁺, Na⁺) investigations of elemental sulfur, primary calcites and mixtures of aragonite with secondary, post-aragonitic calcite from sulfur-bearing limestones have provided new insights into the geochemistry of the mineral forming environment of the native sulfur deposit at Machów (SE-Poland). The carbon isotopic composition of carbonates (δ¹³C = ?41 to ?47‰ vs. PDB) associated with native sulfur (δ³⁴S = + 10 to + 15‰ vs. V-CDT) relates their formation to the microbiological anaerobic oxidation of methane and the reduction of sulfate derived from Miocene gypsum. From a comparison with experimentally derived fractionation factors the element ratios of the aqueous fluids responsible for carbonate formation are estimated. In agreement with field and laboratory observations, ratios near seawater composition are obtained for primary aragonite, whereas the fluids were relatively enriched in dissolved calcium during the formation of primary and secondary calcites. Based on the oxygen isotope composition of the carbonates (δ¹⁸O = ?3.9 to ?5.9‰ vs. PDB) and a secondary SrSO₄ (δ¹⁸O = + 20‰ vs. SMOW; δ³⁴S = + 59‰ vs. V-CDT), maximum formation temperatures of 35°C (carbonates) and 47°C (celestite) are obtained, in agreement with estimates for West Ukraine sulfur ores. The sulfur isotopic composition of elemental sulfur associated with carbonates points to intense microbial reduction of sulfate derived from Miocene gypsum (δ³⁴S ≈ + 23‰) prior to the re-oxidation of dissolved reduced sulfur species.     

Isotope variations of hydrogen,carbon and nitrogen in florae from the Schirmacher Oasis,East Antarctica

Comparative biochemical and isotope-chemical investigations of cosmopolitical plants open up ways of obtaining parameters from different parts of the Earth which are characterised by variations in the habitat due to different environments. As an Antarctic oasis, the Schirmacher Oasis disposes of adequate favourable ecological conditions for the growth of lower plants.

In the present paper, results of isotope studies of lichens, mosses and algae of the Schirmacher Oasis are given and peculiarities of the habitats which influence the isotope contents of the plants are discussed.     

Breath water-based doubly labelled water method for the noninvasive determination of CO2 production and energy expenditure in mice

ABSTRACT

We explored a novel doubly labelled water (DLW) method based on breath water (BW-DLW) in mice to determine whole body CO₂ production and energy expenditure noninvasively. The BW-DLW method was compared to the DLW based on blood plasma. Mice (n?=?11, 43.5?±?4.6?g body mass (BM)) were administered orally a single bolus of doubly labelled water (1.2?g H₂¹⁸O kg BM^?1 and 0.4?g ²H₂O kg BM^?1, 99 atom% (AP) ¹⁸O or ²H). To sample breath water, the mice were placed into a respiration vessel. The exhaled water vapour was condensed in a cold-trap. The isotope enrichments of breath water were compared with plasma samples. The ²H/¹H and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotope ratios were measured by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The CO₂ production (RCO₂) was calculated from the ²H and ¹⁸O enrichments in breath water and plasma over 5 days. The isotope enrichments of breath water vs. plasma were correlated (R²?=?0.89 for ²H and 0.95 for ¹⁸O) linearly. The RCO₂ determined based on breath water and plasma was not different (113.2?±?12.7 vs. 111.4?±?11.0?mmol?d^–1), respectively. In conclusion, the novel BW-DLW method is appropriate to obtain reliable estimates of RCO₂ avoiding blood sampling.