A Col-LAB-orative Experience - Welcome to Ecology BGC

The Ecology and Biogeochemistry Core Lab, located on the garden level of the UW Biodiversity Institute, is buzzing with opportunity and equipment for students across campus and beyond.  Jessica Kern, introduced in our last post, has been a key facilitator in the growth and development of the Ecology BGC lab in the last year.  She has aided in bringing new, EPSCoR funded equipment to the table in addition to expanding the lab's outreach.  To get a better feel for what lies between the lab's four walls, let's take a tour.

Specialized Equipment

While there are hundreds of thousands of dollars implemented into the Ecology BGC Lab's most used equipment, a few pieces of technology stand out.  These three machines are pertinent to the lab's functionality and are widely used by students and staff.  Let's dive a little deeper into what they are and what they do.

Thermo Scientific Dionex Dual Integrion RFIC Ion Chromatography (IC)

• Analyzes water, snow, and soil extracts
• Allows for simultaneous analysis of anions and cations from a single injection
• Detects levels in the ppb range for multiple matrices

Teledyne Tekmar Fusion Measuring Total Organic Carbon by UV Persulfate

• Analyzes Environmental Waters
• Detection levels 0.2 ppb to 4000 ppm
• Wide range of official methods
• TOC, DOC, TC-IC, TC, IC

Thermo Scientific Flashsmart Elemental Analyzer CHNS/O with MVC Valve

• Analyzes plant, soil, and water samples
• Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Sulfur determination by combustion analysis
• Oxygen determination by pyrolysis 
• MVC valve allows for simultaneous operation of both furnaces for CHNS/O
• Detection levels vary on the matrices

Equipment Checkout

Aside from the large, specialized equipment in the lab,there are smaller, more portable equipment tools in the Ecology BGC lab that is shared among multiple users for temporary use.  Typically, students or researchers can check out equipment for two months or less.  Anyone looking to check out equipment must follow set labeling, scheduling, and clean up requirements.  Jessica Kern is in charge of this process and will aid in getting students and community driven researchers what they need for their project.  A list of available equipment can be found on the lab's website.

Field Kit 

For students and researchers interested in checking out equipment, the field kits available in the lab may be on their list of necessities.  These kits allow for ease of sample collection and evaluation in the field or during outreach activities.  The field kits can be checked out for various time intervals, depending on the project and include meters such as the YSI (water analysis), Hydrosense II (soil analysis), and the Oakton 5 in 1 (soil and water analysis).  A full itemized list and description of the pre-packed field kits can be found on the lab's website.

The Ecology BGC Lab has so much to offer students, community members, and local schools.  With highly specialized equipment and the opportunity to check some out for a project of your own, there's almost nothing this lab can't handle in regard to soil, water, and air.  Nonetheless, Ecology BGC col-LAB-orates with others in the Biodiversity Institute.  Teamwork makes the dream work, and a the entire group can be found online.  

If you, or a scientist you know are looking to conduct a project of your own, the BGC lab may be a great place to start.  For contact information, check them out at http://www.uwyo.edu/ecologybgc/contact1.html