Biogeochemistry

3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4005414FNR for all students in the 2nd semester of even academic years (e.g. 2012-2013) at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester

biennial: 2nd semester of an even academic year (e.g. 2012-2013)

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Partnership Agreement

Under interuniversity agreement for degree program

Faculty

Faculty of Science and Bio-engineering Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Educational team

Marc Elskens (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

13 contact hours Lecture
30 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

• Fundamental knowledge about stable isotopes: C, N, O, Si isotopic signatures as tracers of biogeochemical processes in natural systems; ¹³C/¹²C, ¹⁵N/¹⁴N, ¹⁶O/¹⁸O fractionation during biological processes; e.g. carbon fixation; nutrient uptake; trophic interactions
• The carbon cycle and anthropogenic impact; changing carbon reservoirs and ¹³C/¹²C fractionation to track carbon translocations
• Isotopic fractionation and the water cycle
• The nitrogen cycle and anthropogenic impact, changing nitrogen reservoirs and ¹⁵N/¹⁴N and ¹⁸0/¹⁶O fractionation to track nitrate transformations
• Applications of tracers ¹³C/¹²C, ¹⁵N/¹⁴N and ³⁰Si/²⁸Si in isotope flux experiments.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Notes consisting of the slides shown during the lectures and specific research papers, Learning platform
Handbook (Recommended) : Reading the Isotope Code, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Earth Processes, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Carbon Isotope Techniques, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Nitrogen Isotope Techniques, Book available in the library of ANCH dept, 9780124169654
Handbook (Recommended) : Marine Biogeochemistry, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Tracers in the Sea, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Biogeochemistry of Major World Rivers, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution, Book available in the library of ANCH dept
Handbook (Recommended) : Organic Geochemistry, Book available in the library of ANCH dept

Additional info

For further information contact:
M. Elskens
Tel. 02-629.32.60
Fax. 02-629.32.74
E-mail: melskens@vub.be
Notes consisting of the slides shown during the lectures and specific research papers
will be available via the learning platform (VUB)


Complementary study material

Books available in the library of AMGC research unit.: Carbon Isotope Techniques ISBN: 978-0-12-179730-0; Nitrogen Isotope Techniques ISBN: 978-0-12-416965-4.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

The student has gained insight in the use of natural tracers (stable isotopes and radio-isotopes) as proxies of chemical, biological and geochemical processes occurring in natural systems (the focus will be mainly on aquatic systems).

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

• Oral examination with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.
  
  Note: Oral examination following a written preparation of the answers.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral examination following a written preparation of the answers.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject
Master of Biology: Human Ecology
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Brussels
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Paris
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Cayenne
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)