Factors affecting the isotopic composition of organic matter. (1) Carbon isotopic composition of terrestrial plant materials.
The stable isotope composition of the light elements (i.e., H, C, N, O and S) of organic samples varies significantly and, for C, is also unique and distinct from that of inorganic carbon. This is the result of (1) the isotope composition of reactants, (2) the nature of the reactions leading to formation and post-formational modification of the samples, (3) the environmental conditions under which the reactions took place, and (4) the relative concentration of the reactants compared to that of the products (i.e., [products]/[reactants] ratio). This article will examine the carbon isotope composition of terrestrial plant materials and its relationship with the above factors. delta13C(PDB) values of terrestrial plants range approximately from -8 to -38%, inclusive of C3-plants (-22 to -38%), C4-plants (-8 to -15%) and CAM-plants (-13 to -30%). Thus, the delta13C(PDB) values largely reflect the photosynthesis pathways of a plant as well as the genetics (i.e., species difference), delta13C(PDB) values of source CO2, relevant humidity, CO2/O2 ratios, wind and light intensity etc. Significant variations in these values also exist among different tissues, different portions of a tissue and different compounds. This is mainly a consequence of metabolic reactions. Animals mainly inherit the delta13C(PDB) values of the foods they consume; therefore, their delta13C(PDB) values are similar. The delta13C(PDB) values of plant materials, thus, contain information regarding the inner workings of the plants, the environmental conditions under which they grow, the delta13C(PDB) values of CO2 sources etc., and are unique. Furthermore, this uniqueness is passed on to their derivative matter, such as animals, humus etc. Hence, they are very powerful tools in many areas of research, including the ecological and environmental sciences.
Yeh
H W
HW
Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Wang
W M
WM
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004032:Diet; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry; D012119:Respiration; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide