plants and carbon

[Eli Hestermann]

Joe Studer wrote:

>         Is it accurate to say photosynthetic organisms take up Carbon 12
> preferencially to Carbon 13.

Yup, although the degree of isotopic fractionation varies.  These facts mean
that del13C can be used as a marker of diet, trophic structure, and all
sorts of other fun stuff.

Eli
--
Eli V. Hestermann
ehestermann at whoi.edu
http://www.mit.edu/people/octavian/eli.html
"Vita brevis est, ars longa" - Seneca