Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The microbial methylation of inorganic mercury (HgII) is the most important transformation in the environmental Hg cycle because the product, a neurotoxic, methylated form of Hg (methylmercury; MeHg), is easily bioaccumulated by humans and wildlife.  This RTI proposal supports my currently submitted Discovery Grant and University Faculty Award application for a new ecosystem-level research program examining ecological controls on the production of MeHg in prairie wetlands.  Prairie wetlands are extremely productive wildlife habitats, providing cover and nesting sites for hundreds of game and non-game wildlife species and containing the some of the most critical waterfowl breeding habitat remaining in North America.  Examining environmental factors regulating MeHg production in prairie wetlands is vital to addressing fundamental gaps in understanding environmental controls on Hg methylation in prairie wetlands and will provide information necessary to protect wildlife populations inhabiting these vulnerable habitats.     The ultra-trace level analysis of Hg is essential to the success of my research program, and therefore, this RTI proposal requests funds to purchase a Tekran Series 2600 ultra-trace level Hg analyzer.  This instrument is capable of analyzing Hg in a variety of environmental matrices, including air, plants, biota, water, and sediment and has become the de facto instrumentation for Hg analysis environmental samples.  This instrument will be upgraded to include an automatic sampler changer, creating a fully automated, high throughput Hg analysis system and will provide ample opportunity for training personnel in state-of-the-art analytical technology.