Stable Isotope Methods in Modern and Paleo Ecology

Harvard FAS

The elements of life—carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur—can be used to trace ecological processes across the biosphere through their stable isotope ratios. This small, seminar-style course introduces students to stable isotope methods and applications in ecology, with emphasis on water, plants, animals, and forensic case studies. Class meetings will combine short lectures, hands-on labs, and project-based work. The course culminates in a group project in which students formulate a…