A Primer on Stable Isotopes in Ecology

A Primer on Stable Isotopes in Ecology by M. Francesca Cotrufo and Yamina Pressler is an accessible, authoritative guide that transforms complex isotope science into practical tools for ecological research and environmental management.

Start exploring how stable isotopes reveal hidden flows of carbon, nitrogen and water through soils, plants and food webs. This primer balances clear conceptual explanations with hands-on guidance: sample selection, interpretation of isotope ratios, common pitfalls, and the ecological questions isotopes can uniquely answer. Rich with real-world examples from temperate forests, tropical systems, agricultural landscapes and arid regions, the book bridges theory and practice for readers working anywhere from local field sites to global syntheses.

Designed for graduate students, field ecologists, biogeochemists and conservation practitioners, this book helps you confidently apply isotope techniques to study nutrient cycling, plant–soil interactions, animal diets and climate-change impacts. The authors’ concise writing and stepwise explanations make advanced topics—fractionation, mixing models, and tracer studies—approachable without sacrificing scientific rigor.

Why this primer belongs on your shelf: it accelerates learning, reduces costly mistakes in sampling and analysis, and sharpens interpretation of isotope data for publication, monitoring or policy applications. Whether you’re based in North America, Europe, Africa or Asia, this title equips you with the methods and insight to translate isotope signals into meaningful ecological stories.

Order your copy of A Primer on Stable Isotopes in Ecology today and bring clarity and confidence to your isotope-based research and environmental decision-making.

Note: eBooks do not include supplementary materials such as CDs, access codes, etc.