University of Toronto

UTSC Aquatic Biogeochemistry and Food Web Unit

The Aquatic Biogeochemistry laboratories at the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, contain all the modern analytical instruments required for leading-edge research to address a multitude of environmental problems related to eutrophication, contaminant fate and transport, and fisheries. Our facilities are equipped to support a wide range of analyses of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of aquatic ecosystems. We also provide state-of-the-art instrumentation to support field research related to lake hydrodynamics and ecohydrology. The facilities are located in the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, which is certified as LEED Gold by the Canadian Green Building Council.

Lab Equipment & Services

Labconco Logic Class 2 Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Work station provides personnel, product and environmental protection from hazardous particulates such as agents that require Biosafety Level 1 or 2.
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Millipore Synergy UV Water Purification System

Water purification system providing ultrapure water for laboratory needs (e.g., buffers and bacterial media preparation).
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Powers Scientific Light & Temperature Control Growth Chamber

Temperature-controlled unit allowing the use of large-volume flasks. Ability to control light intensity and light cycles.
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Thermo Revco Elite Plus -86°C Freezer

Ultra-Low Freezer allowing for the safe storage and preservation of biological samples.
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VWR ADV Model 5000 Shaker

Shaker allowing the use of large-volume flasks.
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Labconco FreeZone 12 Plus Lyophilizer

Freeze drier used to preserve perishable materials, extend shelf life or make material more convenient for transport.
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Labconco FreeZone 2.5 Lyophilizer

Freeze drier used to preserve perishable materials, extend shelf life or make material more convenient for transport.
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Thermo Genesys 10S UV-Vis Spectrophotometer

Spectrophotometer which features a high resolution (1.8nm) dual-beam optics, allowing simultaneous measurement of the sample with real-time reference beam correction, providing highly accurate data and photometric accuracy.
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Molecular Devices SpectraMax 340pc Microplate Reader

Microplate reader which supports various absorbance assay categories, such as protein quantitation, endotoxin detection, microbial growth, ELISAs and immunoassays, reporter gene assays, phosphotases/kinases, enzyme assays, and cell viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity.
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Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS with Autosampler

(Mass Spectrophotometry) Uses an inductively coupled plasma to ionize samples and create atomic and small polyatomic ions, which are then detected. Used for its ability to detect metals and several non-metals in liquid samples at very low concentrations. It can detect different isotopes of the same element, which makes it a versatile tool in isotopic labeling.
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LGR DLT-100 Water Isotope Analyzer

Measures hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition in liquid water samples.
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LECO AMA254 Mercury Analyzer

Specifically designed for fast, safe, and accurate determination of trace amounts of mercury in various materials.
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NIC MA-3000 Mercury Analyzer

Utilizes the technique of Direct Thermal Decomposition-Gold Amalgamation-CVAAS to measure total mercury in solid, liquid, or gaseous sample matrices.
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NT-MDT Ntegra Spectra Atomic Force Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy

Integration of SPM and confocal microscopy/Raman scattering spectroscopy. Owing to Tip Enhances Raman Scattering it allows carrying out spectroscopy/microscopy with up to 10 nm resolution.
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Deployable Systems

3-beam RDI ADCP on gimble mount (two units available, 600 and 1200 kHz)

Measures mean horizontal water currents in lakes between 30-100 m deep.
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4-beam RDI Sentinel V ADCP on gimble mount (one units available, 1000 kHz)

Measures mean vertical and horizontal velocities in lakes between 20-40 m deep.
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5-beam Nortek Signature-1000 ADCP on gimble mount (two units available, 1000 kHz)

Measures high frequency vertical and horizontal velocities in lakes between 20- 40 m deep. Also measures waves, turbulence and ice thickness.
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RBRconcerto³ C.T.D++

Profiling unit measuring salinity, temperature and oxygen at high resolution
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High precision temperature loggers Sea Bird SBE-56 (thirty units)

Records temperature at high accuracy 0.002 oC at 2 Hz
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High precision temperature loggers RBRsolo³ (25 Units)

Records temperature at accuracy 0.002 oC at 2 Hz
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Dissolved oxygen sensors PME miniDOT (30 units)

Records dissolved oxygen at 0.2 mg/L accuracy and temperature at accuracy 0.1 oC at 60 second intervals
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HOBO U20 Pressure level loggers (12 units)

Records water level to cm accuracy at 300 second intervals
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HOBO U22 Water temperature logger (40 units)

Records temperature at accuracy 0.1 oC at 300 second intervals
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HOBO U24 Fresh Water Conductivity Data Logger (5 Units)

Records conductivity at accuracy of 5 µS/cm at 300 second intervals
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Wetlabs ECO Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) sensor (1 Unit)

Wipered light sensor for long underwater deployments
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Centurion by Generac Portable Gas Generator

Generate electricity.
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Hoskin Water Quality Multi-Pro

Water quality meter.
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Avensys ISCO Automated Surface Water Samplers

Automated surface water samplers.
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HOBO TB3 Rain Gauge /Hoskin Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges

Tipping bucket rain gauge for measuring rainfall and precipitation in urban and rural locations.
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Hoskin HOBO Water Level

Recording water levels and temperatures in shallow wells, streams, lakes and freshwater wetlands.
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HOBO Pendant Logger

Temperature and relative light level data logger.
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SonTek FlowTracker

Handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter.
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LI-COR Eddy Covariance System with Biometeorology Package

Measure the exchange of CO2, H2O, CH4.
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Campbell Scientific RM Young Wind Monitors

Wind-speed and wind- direction sensor.
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Campbell Scientific OTT Pressure Transducers

Pressure level sensor.
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Mettler-Toledo Portable pH Meter

Measure pH.
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Campbell Scientific Kipp and Zonen Net Radiometer

Measures the energy balance between incoming and outgoing radiation.
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Campbell Scientific HC2-S3 Temperature and Humidity Probe with Shield

Accurate temperature and relative humidity probe that is ideal for long-term, unattended applications.
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Hoskin HOBO Microloggers

Temperature data logger.
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Campbell Scientific HFT3 Heat Flux Plates

Thermopile to measure temperature gradients across the plate.
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Hoskin Eijkelkamp Hand Auger Set

Manual drilling, sampling and investigation.
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DeepTrekker DTG3 ROV Under water drone

Has a 100 m cable and can take remote under water footage
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Server RH8100 with 8 Xeon CPUs

Server has three virtual machiens (VM) with 1 Windows Server and 2 Linux VMs: Windows 2012R2 with 128G memory, 125G SSD , and 1.2T HDD Ubuntu14.04 with 128G memory, 200G SSD Ubuntu14.04 with 768G memory, 200G SSD

Supercomputers for 3D simulations with Terrestrial and Aquatic Biogeochemical Models
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Kawasaki KAF400KKF

For accessing field site
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Centurion by Generac Portable Gas Generator

Generate electricity.
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GWFO Globe

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