Sessions

0 Pre-conference Student Isotope Workshop

 - Please find more information on the Student Workshop here. -

1 Trophic interactions and symbiosis

Chair:

Prof. Dr. Johanna Pausch, Agroecology, BayCEER / UBT

Keynote: Prof. Dr. Liliane Rueß; Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Stable isotopes have revolutionized our understanding of trophic interactions and symbiosis in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The use of isotopes enables the identification of food resource usage, trophic position within food webs, and geographic location of organisms. Isotope tracers are crucial to elucidating fluxes of nutrients through food webs, while bulk and compound-specific isotope analyses are essential for investigating trophic interactions within ecosystems. Deciphering trophic structures and resource partitioning has yielded vital insights into interactions within and between communities, their functions, and their vulnerability to disturbances.

We welcome contributions on new insights into trophic and symbiotic interactions and on the latest methodological developments for identifying and quantifying interactions within food webs and the linkages between organisms in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

2 Earth system science, climate change and reconstruction

Chair:

Prof. Dr. Eva Lehndorff, Soil Ecology, BayCEER / UBT

Keynote: Prof. Hagit Affek, Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Stable isotopes provide a powerful tool for investigating Earth system science, climate change, and reconstruction. Isotopic signals are present in various natural archives, such as ice, sediment, and tree rings, and can be used to reconstruct past environmental conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric composition. Furthermore, stable isotopes can be used to study modern climate and environmental processes, such as the water cycle and carbon cycle.

This session welcomes contributions on the latest developments in stable isotope applications to Earth system science, including novel uses of isotopes in paleoclimate reconstruction, improvements in isotope proxy calibrations, and the use of clumped isotopes to investigate past climate change. We also welcome presentations on the use of isotopes in hydrological research, including the study of water resources and the water cycle in natural and engineered systems.

3 Methods, models, standards, and reference materials

Chair:

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Gebauer, formerly Keylab Isotope Biogeochemistry, BayCEER / UBT

Keynote: Dr. Sergey Assonov, formerly International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Austria

Stable isotope methods have evolved into a versatile toolbox, which includes isotopic analysis of organic and inorganic samples, high-precision measurements of isotope ratios, and compound and position-specific analyses. This session focuses on advances in stable isotope methods, including the use of new instrument developments, the combined use of multiple isotopes, and modeling approaches such as Bayesian mixing models, isoscapes, and other novel techniques. Furthermore, we welcome contributions on the development and application of new reference materials and standards to ensure the accuracy and comparability of isotopic measurements. The session aims to provide an overview of the latest developments in stable isotope analysis and their applications in various fields, from ecology to geology, and to discuss future directions in this dynamic field.

4 Nutrient turnover and ecosystem metabolisms

Chair:

Dr. Alexander Frank, DFG Core Facility BayCenSI, BayCEER / UBT

Ecosystem metabolism refers to the total energy processed by all the organisms within a biocoenose. Stable isotopes provide a powerful tool for investigating nutrient turnover and ecosystem metabolism. The use of isotopes enables identifying and quantifying energy and matter fluxes through food webs and the linkages among organisms.

This session welcomes contributions on the latest methodological developments and applications of stable isotopes in investigating nutrient turnover and ecosystem metabolism.

5 Life sciences, forensics, authenticity, and medicine

Chair:

Prof. Dr. Susanne Baldermann, Food Metabolom, UBT

Stable isotope forensics is a valuable tool for investigating the origin, history, and authenticity of various materials, including food, beverages, drugs, and environmental samples. The analysis of stable isotopes, often combined with other analytical methods, can provide unique information about a sample's geographical origin, manufacturing process, and chemical history. The applications of stable isotope forensics have expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by advances in analytical methods and modeling approaches. This session will focus on recent developments in stable isotope forensics and their applications in various fields, including food authentication, environmental forensics, forensic geology, and doping tests.

We welcome contributions on new analytical methods, case studies, and modeling approaches that advance our understanding of stable isotope forensics and their practical applications.

6 Environment, pollution, and toxicology

Chair:

Prof. Dr. Tillmann Lüders, Ecological Microbiology, BayCEER / UBT

Stable isotopes provide a powerful tool for investigating environmental pollution and toxicology. The use of isotopes enables the identification and quantification of sources and fate of pollutants in the environment, as well as the pathways and rates of uptake, metabolism, and elimination in organisms.

This session welcomes contributions on the latest methodological developments and applications of stable isotopes in investigating environmental pollution and toxicology.