Coastal Environment and Biogeochemistry Laboratory

Contacts:
doc. dr. Mindaugas Žilius
marine.ecosystems@apc.ku.lt

The Coastal Environment and Biogeochemistry Laboratory Modern equipment for observational and experimental research from the gene to the ecosystem level in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

The laboratory offers the analysis of

• metals and metalloids in a wide range of solutions, including single cells and nanoparticles, elemental analysis in soils, sediments, and biological objects
• persistent and emerging pharmaceutical and other organic pollutants
• phytoplankton pigments
• a variety of anions, primary halogens (SO4^2-, Cl^–, F^– and Br^–)
• dissolved nutrients (NH4⁺, NO2^–, NO3^–, SiO2, PO4^3-, DON, TN, TP and PSi)
• analysis of nutrient cycling in inland and coastal waters
• dissolved carbon species (DIC and DOC) and alkalinity
• particle size analysis from the sub-micron to the millimetre
• microscopic analysis of bacteria, zoo- and phytoplankton, zoobenthos
• application of molecular markers for the species identification, functional genomics, community structure analysis and microbial source tracking
• application of modern genetic techniques (DNA barcoding/metabarcoding) for biodiversity research and monitoring of non-native species
• analysis of genetic diversity, population genetic structure

Analytical equipment

• Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
• Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)
• Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization and Barrier Ionization Discharge Detection (GC-FID+BID)
• Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• X-Ray Spectrometry
• TOC/TN Analyser with Catalytic Oxidation/NDIR Method
• Continuous-Flow Spectrophotometry
• Flow Injection Analyser with conductivity detection
• Ion Chromatography
• UV/VIS Spectrophotometry
• Poteciometric titration

Environmental equipment

• light inverted and epifluorescence microscopes and binoculars
• Flow Cytometer
• Real-Time PCR System
• Quantitative Real-Time PCR
• Gel Electrophoresis and Documentation Systems
• QIAcube (fully automated sample preparation, purification of DNA, RNA, or proteins)
• Microplate Reader
• Laser Grain Size Analyser

Experimental facilities

• pore water extraction by different methods
• incubation systems from 5 ml to 5 l under controlled oxygen, light, and temperature conditions
• microprofiling with microsensors multimeter and motor driven platform
• continuous oxygen measurements with optodes (a contactless method)
• two climate rooms with gas (N2, air and others) supply, LED lighting needed for work in the temperature from -4 to 40 °C
• growing chambers

General facilities

• extraction facilities (pressurized liquid and solid phase extraction, rotary evaporators, mineralizators)
• biological, sediment, and mineral sample preparation facilities (heavy metal free-milling, ultrasonic and mechanical homogenizers)
• freeze drier, drying ovens, autoclave, balances, centrifuges, shaker table and bath, vortex mixers, multimeters, and well-stocked chemical cabinets
• central vacuum, compressed air and nitrogen supply
• high variety of plumbed scientific gas
• distribution of loop of Millipore Elix, and Mili-Q water supply
• fume-hoods for solvent and acid (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 and HF) extractions
• a spacious walk-in fridge