Robert Sparkes – Coastal Ecosystems Research Group https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org We investigate the ecology, development and ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats in order to provide an evidence base for their restoration and creation. We are currently focused on the 'blue' carbon storage potential and biodiversity value of restored coastal habitats. Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:17:03 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-microscope-favicon-32x32.png Robert Sparkes – Coastal Ecosystems Research Group https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org 32 32 Analysis and Evidence Gaps around Carbon Accumulation in Restored Saltmarshes https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/10/08/analysis-and-evidence-gaps-around-carbon-accumulation-in-restored-saltmarshes/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/10/08/analysis-and-evidence-gaps-around-carbon-accumulation-in-restored-saltmarshes/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:59:11 +0000 https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/?p=885 DEFRA report ME5324

This is a collection of reports, authored in collaboration with Jacobs and the Environment Agency, in which we present:

  1. Sediment accumulation rates at 15 restored saltmarshes in England,
  2. Carbon accumulation rates at these 15 sites,
  3. Gaps in the scientific knowledge around saltmarsh restoration:
    • Habitat zones
    • Carbon stocks
    • Greenhouse gas fluxes
    • Effects of disturbance and land management
    • Countable carbon

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/10/08/analysis-and-evidence-gaps-around-carbon-accumulation-in-restored-saltmarshes/feed/ 0 Sharing our Standard Operating Procedures https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/sharing-our-standard-operating-procedures/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/sharing-our-standard-operating-procedures/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:07:07 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=723 Continue reading Sharing our Standard Operating Procedures]]> A lot of science is like baking – you follow a procedure (recipe) and generate a batch of data (cake). If the same sample is analysed following the same procedure in two different laboratries, the data generated should be the same. This is not always the case, but standardising the approach across a research community reduces the scope for variability between datasets and allows for comparison between studies.

In a lot of cases, protocols are generated by carefully reading the methods section of a published paper, but publications are often written very concisely and some of the steps taken in the lab could be left out or hard to follow. The step-by-step protocol is less likely to be published, but could be much more useful for those trying to build upon published studies.

To avoid that confusion, I have created a new section of the website dedicated to publishing the latest version of our laboratory standard operating procedures. These are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 license so you are allowed – encouraged in fact – to use, adapt, improve and share these protocols.

I also welcome feedback regarding the protocols. Comments are enabled on each one and you are welcome to highlight steps that are unclear or could be improved.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/sharing-our-standard-operating-procedures/feed/ 0 015 Total Suspended Solids https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/015-total-suspended-solids/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/015-total-suspended-solids/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:50:15 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=720 BC_015 Total Suspended Solids v1.0Download

Filtration of water samples to remove and measure suspended solids.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/015-total-suspended-solids/feed/ 0 014 Nutrient Extraction https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/014-nutrient-extraction/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/014-nutrient-extraction/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:46:06 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=717 BC_014 Nutrient extraction v1.0Download

Extracting nutrients from sediment using de-ionised water.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/014-nutrient-extraction/feed/ 0 013 Dilute Acid Digestion https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/013-dilute-acid-digestion/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/013-dilute-acid-digestion/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:44:52 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=714 BC_013 Dilute acid digest v1.0Download

Extracting elements from sediments using dilute (0.43 M) nitric acid.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/013-dilute-acid-digestion/feed/ 0 012 BHP Extraction and Separation https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/012-bhp-extraction-and-separation/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/012-bhp-extraction-and-separation/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:41:28 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=711 BC_012 BHP Extraction and SeparationDownload

Extracting lipids from dried sediments. Separating bacteriohopanepolyol (BHP) molecules from the total lipid extract. Acetylating BHP molecules and preparation for LC-MS analysis.

Citation: O’Beirne et al., 2022.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/012-bhp-extraction-and-separation/feed/ 0 011 Dry Bulk Density https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/011-dry-bulk-density/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/011-dry-bulk-density/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:38:08 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=708 BC_011 Dry Bulk Density v1.0Download

Sampling and measurement of the dry bulk density of surface sediments.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/011-dry-bulk-density/feed/ 0 010 Sediment Core Sampling https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/010-sediment-core-sampling/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/010-sediment-core-sampling/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:36:07 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=704 BC_010 Sediment Core sampling v1.0Download

Collection of 1 metre sediment cores using a steel auger.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/010-sediment-core-sampling/feed/ 0 009 Sediment Surface Sampling https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/009-sediment-surface-sampling/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/009-sediment-surface-sampling/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:34:19 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=701 BC_009 Surface sampling v1.0Download

Collection of the top 15 cm of sediment using a steel auger.

]]> https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/009-sediment-surface-sampling/feed/ 0 008 Preparing Elemental Analysis Foils https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/008-preparing-elemental-analysis-foils/ https://www.coastal-ecosystems-research.org/2024/09/27/008-preparing-elemental-analysis-foils/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:32:45 +0000 https://www.defrostingthefreezer.co.uk/?p=698 BC_008 Preparing Elemental Analysis foils v1.0Download

Adding sediment to tin foil cups prior to quantification of C, N, O, H or S via Elemental Analysis.

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