Organization:Biotron (Western University)

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Short description: Climate research laboratory
The Biotron Institute for Experimental Climate Change Research
The International Biotron[1]
Biotron western university logo.png
Biotron western university building.jpg
EstablishedSeptember 2008; 15 years ago (2008-09)
Research typebasic & applied
DirectorNorman Hüner[2]
Address1151 Richmond Street
LocationLondon, Ontario, Canada
[ ⚑ ] : 43°00′41″N 81°16′18″W / 43.011260°N 81.271707°W / 43.011260; -81.271707
Postal code
N6A 5B7
Websitewww.uwo.ca/sci/research/biotron/
Map
Biotron (Western University) is located in Ontario
Biotron (Western University)
Location in Ontario

The Biotron Institute for Experimental Climate Change Research at Western University 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 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]

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. http://antarcticplantscience.cl/en/who-we-are/international-collaborators/single/article/norman-p-huner/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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. https://www.atrr.ca/projects/research/western-university-biotron-environmental-research-facility. 
  4. ↑ "University of Western Ontario / Biotron". Agritech Nove. http://www.agritechnove.com/projets/PFVBiotron.pdf. 
  5. ↑ "Western University, Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Facility". Anderwesten & Rutherford Engineering. https://www.vreng.ca/western-university-biotron-experimental-climate-change-research-facility.html. 
  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. http://isebindia.com/icpep-3/icpep3-s-4.html. 
  7. ↑ Chidley, Dave (2006-09-29). "Biotron super garden - UWO facility to be leader in climate-controlled plant, ecological research". London Free Press. https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84378&page=17. 
  8. ↑ "Pole to pole – Positive steps towards a Canadian Antarctic research program". The Arctic Journal. 2017-04-28. http://arcticjournal.ca/health-science/science/pole-to-pole-positive-steps-towards-a-canadian-antarctic-research-program/. 
  9. ↑ "World Conference on Climate Change - Norman P. A. Huner". Valencia, Spain. 2016-10-24. https://climatechange.insightconferences.com/speaker/2016/norman-p-a-huner-university-of-western-ontariocanada. Retrieved 2020-12-27. 
  10. ↑ Manolakos, Jana (2020-07-09). "Biotron: Crystalizing Cliimate Change". https://www.biolabmag.com/biotron-crystallizing-climate-change/. 
  11. ↑ "Western undergrads named global award-winners". 2017-09-21. https://mediarelations.uwo.ca/2017/09/21/western-undergrads-named-global-award-winners/. 
  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. https://undergraduateawards.com/winners/global-winners-2017. 
  13. ↑ "UA director visits Western University - May 2019". 2019-10-07. https://undergraduateawards.com/news/ua-director-visits-western-university-may-2019. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Travis, Heather (2012-01-19). "Troubling yesterdays for building of tomorrow". https://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/stories/2012/January/troubling_yesterdays_for_building_of_tomorrow.html. 
  15. ↑ "Western Biology". 2020-04-28. https://twitter.com/westernuBio/status/1255161278500306944. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 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. 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. https://icprs.ru/norman-huner/. Retrieved 2020-12-27. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Cole, Amanda S; Steffen, Alexandra; Eckley, Chris S.; Narayan, Julie; Pilote, Martin; Tordon, Rob; Graydon, Jennifer A.; St Louis, Vincent L. et al. (2014-09-01). "A Survey of Mercury in Air and Precipitation across Canada: Patterns and Trends". Atmosphere (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) 5 (3): 635. doi:10.3390/atmos5030635. Bibcode: 2014Atmos...5..635C. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/5/3/635/pdf. 
  19. ↑ Winders, Jason (2012-01-19). "Meet some of the Biotron's research superstars". https://news.westernu.ca/2012/01/meet-some-of-biotrons-research-superstars/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sinclair, Brent J.; Marshall, Katie E.; Sewell, Mary A.; Levesque, Danielle L.; Willett, Christopher S.; Slotsbo, Stine; Dong, Yunwei; Harley, Christopher D. G. et al. (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. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ele.12686. 
  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. 
  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. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/biologypub/72/. 
  23. ↑ "Insects - Biotron". https://www.uwo.ca/sci/research/biotron/environmental_chambers/insects/index.html. 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. https://www.innovation.ca/story/recreating-nature. 
  25. ↑ Bekeris, Leanne (2012-08-01). A Seat at the Table: A Nonconformist Approach to Grassroots Participation in the Articulation of Health Standards. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/746/. 
  26. ↑ "Analytical Services". https://www.uwo.ca/sci/research/biotron/analytical_services/index.html. 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. https://ontariowater.ca/western-university-experts-are-improving-water-treatment-protection-and-management-with-help-from-sowc/. 
  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 (Royal Society Publishing) 282 (1805). doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.0032. PMID 25788594. 
  29. ↑ Ratelle, Mylène; Skinner, Kelly; Laird, Matthew J.; Majowicz, Shannon; Brandow, Danielle; Packull-McCormick, Sara; Bouchard, Michèle; Dieme, Denis et al. (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. 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 (IOP Publishing Ltd) 13 (3): 035005. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aa9ea8. Bibcode: 2018ERL....13c5005K. 
  31. ↑ "Investigating the Effects of Probiotic Yogurt on Reducing the Levels of Environmental Toxins Among School Children in Mwanza, Tanzania (PDTX)". 2013-12-17. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01904513. 




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