Biotron (Western University)

The Biotron Institute for Experimental Climate Change Research at Western University in London, Ontario is a facility constructed to simulate ecosystems[3][4][5] and funded by the Canadian government to study how plants, microbes and insects sense and adjust to climate change.[6][7] Its biome chambers allow control of temperature, humidity and sunlight so that scientists can simulate climatic zones from rainforests to Arctic tundra.[8] This enables the study environmental science, biotech, materials and biomaterials in realistic environmental conditions while still in a controlled laboratory setting.[9][2][10] The Biotron also trains students, including one of Western's winners of The Undergraduate Awards' Global Award.[11][12][13]

The Biotron Institute for Experimental Climate Change Research
The International Biotron[1]
EstablishedSeptember 2008 (2008-09)
Research typebasic & applied
DirectorNorman Hüner[2]
Address1151 Richmond Street
LocationLondon, Ontario, Canada
43.011260°N 81.271707°W / 43.011260; -81.271707
N6A 5B7
Websitewww.uwo.ca/sci/research/biotron/
Map
Biotron (Western University) is located in Ontario
Biotron (Western University)
Location in Ontario

History

The lab was initially founded by Norman Hüner with a grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation in May 2003. Construction was completed in 2008, and like many research facilities, it struggled to establish a business model to support the technicians needed to operate its specialized equipment.[14] The facility is now part of the department of biology.[15]

The facility has had three directors: Norman Hüner (2003-2008, 2019-present), Jeremy McNeil (2009-2011), and Brian Branfireun (2012-2019).[14]

Research

Hüner and colleagues observed that 80% of Earth's biosphere is permanently below 5°C, including most of the oceans and the polar and alpine regions.[16] Previously, these regions had been assumed to be low in biodiversity, when in fact they are teeming with diverse life forms.[17] The facility now supports research ranging from biogeochemistry[18] to the study of insects in cold temperatures.[19][20]

Environmental Chambers

The Biotron's chambers augment polar research stations by enabling research on cold ecosystems in a controlled laboratory building.[16] Biotron's chambers enable the study of biomes, such as peatlands,[21] and insects, such as the overwintering energetics of butterflies.[20][22][23] These chambers enable the study of climate change by simulating Arctic conditions in the laboratory.[24]

Analytical Services

Biotron's analytical laboratories measure trace metals in samples from field collections.[25][26] The facility provides mass spectrometry for measuring elements and compounds in water, soil, rock and biological materials.[27] The facility has been used to study of pollutants that impact human health, such as the neurotoxin mercury.[18][28] Such studies enable biomonitoring to support the rights of indigenous peoples.[29] Biotron's analytical services also support global carbon cycle modeling [30] and medical clinical trials.[31]

References
  1. "Norman P. Huner - University of Western Ontario, International Biotron, Canada". Antarctic Plant Ecophysiology. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  2. Van Brenk, Debora (2019-05-22). "Huner heads 'back to future' to lead Biotron" (Press release).
  3. "Western University, Biotron Environmental Research Facility". Architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  4. "University of Western Ontario / Biotron" (PDF). Agritech Nove. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  5. "Western University, Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Facility". Anderwesten & Rutherford Engineering. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  6. Singh, A.; Dixon, M.; Grodzinski, B.; Huner, Norman (2005-11-28). The Biotron: An Experimental Climate Change Research Facility. Third International Conference on Plants & Environmental Pollution (ICPEP-3). Lucknow.
  7. Chidley, Dave (2006-09-29). "Biotron super garden - UWO facility to be leader in climate-controlled plant, ecological research". London Free Press.
  8. "Pole to pole – Positive steps towards a Canadian Antarctic research program". Above & Beyond. 2017-04-28.
  9. World Conference on Climate Change - Norman P. A. Huner. Valencia, Spain. 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  10. Manolakos, Jana (2020-07-09). "Biotron: Crystalizing Cliimate Change".
  11. "Western undergrads named global award-winners". 2017-09-21.
  12. "Global Winners 2017 - Undergraduate Awards - Bridget Murphy - Western University - Earth & Environmental Sciences - Future Climate Conditions Alter Leaf Thermotolerance in Canadian Boreal Trees". The Undergraduate Awards. 2017.
  13. "UA director visits Western University - May 2019". 2019-10-07.
  14. Travis, Heather (2012-01-19). "Troubling yesterdays for building of tomorrow". Archived from the original on 2012-01-26.
  15. "Western Biology". 2020-04-28.
  16. Morgan-Kiss, Rachael M.; Priscu, John C.; Pocock, Tessa; Gudynaite-Savitch, Loreta; Huner, Norman P. A. (2006-03-01). "Adaptation and Acclimation of Photosynthetic Microorganisms to Permanently Cold Environments". Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 70 (70): 222–252. doi:10.1128/MMBR.70.1.222-252.2006. PMC 1393254. PMID 16524924.
  17. Norman Hüner (Canada) - Professor Canada Research Chair. Albena Resort, Bulgaria: 11th International Meeting "Photosynthesis and Hydrogen Energy Research for Sustainability – 2021". 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  18. Cole, Amanda S; Steffen, Alexandra; Eckley, Chris S.; Narayan, Julie; Pilote, Martin; Tordon, Rob; Graydon, Jennifer A.; St Louis, Vincent L.; Xu, Xiaohong; Branfireun, Brian A. (2014-09-01). "A Survey of Mercury in Air and Precipitation across Canada: Patterns and Trends". Atmosphere. 5 (3): 635. Bibcode:2014Atmos...5..635C. doi:10.3390/atmos5030635.
  19. Winders, Jason (2012-01-19). "Meet some of the Biotron's research superstars".
  20. Sinclair, Brent J.; Marshall, Katie E.; Sewell, Mary A.; Levesque, Danielle L.; Willett, Christopher S.; Slotsbo, Stine; Dong, Yunwei; Harley, Christopher D. G.; Marshall, David J.; Helmuth, Brian S.; Huey, Raymond B. (2016). "Can we predict ectotherm responses to climate change using thermal performance curves and body temperatures?". Ecology Letters. 19 (11): 1372–1385. doi:10.1111/ele.12686. PMID 27667778.
  21. Asemaninejad, Asma; Thorn, R. Greg; Lindo, Zoë (2016-10-15). "Experimental Climate Change Modifies Degradative Succession in Boreal Peatland Fungal Communities". Microbial Ecology. 73 (3): 521–531. doi:10.1007/s00248-016-0875-9. PMID 27744477. S2CID 3869686.
  22. Sinclair, Brent J. (2015). "Linking energetics and overwintering in temperate insects". Journal of Thermal Biology. 54: 5–11. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2014.07.007. PMID 26615721.
  23. "Insects - Biotron". Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  24. Gillespie, Bruce (2009-03-18). "Recreating nature - Simulating climate change at Western's new Biotron facility". Canada Foundation for Innovation.
  25. Bekeris, Leanne (2012-08-01). "A Seat at the Table: A Nonconformist Approach to Grassroots Participation in the Articulation of Health Standards". Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository.
  26. "Analytical Services". Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  27. "Western University Experts are Improving Water Treatment, Protection and Management with help from SOWC". Ontario Water Consortium. 2016-05-16.
  28. Bond, Alexander L.; Hobson, Keith A.; Branfireun, Brian A. (2015-02-17). "Rapidly increasing methylmercury in endangered ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) feathers over a 130 year record". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 282 (1805). doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.0032. PMC 4389618. PMID 25788594.
  29. Ratelle, Mylène; Skinner, Kelly; Laird, Matthew J.; Majowicz, Shannon; Brandow, Danielle; Packull-McCormick, Sara; Bouchard, Michèle; Dieme, Denis; Stark, Ken D.; Henao, Juan Jose Aristizabal; Hanning, Rhona; Laird, Brian D. (2018-12-03). "Implementation of human biomonitoring in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, Canada (2016–2017)". Archives of Public Health. 76: 73. doi:10.1186/s13690-018-0318-9. PMC 6276191. PMID 30524727.
  30. Kohlenberg, Andrew J.; Turetsky1, Merritt R.; Thompson, Dan K.; Branfireun, Brian A.; Mitchell, Carl P. J. (2018-02-28). "Controls on boreal peat combustion and resulting emissions of carbon and mercury". Environmental Research Letters. 13 (3): 035005. Bibcode:2018ERL....13c5005K. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aa9ea8.
  31. Reid, Dr Gregor (2013-12-17). "Investigating the Effects of Probiotic Yogurt on Reducing the Levels of Environmental Toxins Among School Children in Mwanza, Tanzania (PDTX)". Retrieved 2020-12-27.
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