isotopes
Isotopic analysis capabilities boosted by new high-spec instrument (News)
The James Hutton Institute celebrated reinforcing its extensive analytical chemistry capabilities for research and commercial work with a launch evening and ribbon cutting for their new Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer. The &p ... Read more
Improved isotopic analysis capabilities for unrivalled precision and accuracy (News)
The James Hutton Institute is reinforcing its extensive analytical chemistry capabilities for research and commercial work through an £500K investment on a new Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer, which will allow the Insti ... Read more
Banned pollutants found in deepest reaches of our oceans (News)
A research collaboration featuring scientists from the James Hutton Institute, Newcastle University and the University of Aberdeen has uncovered evidence that man-made pollutants have now reached the most remote habitats of our pl ... Read more
Stable isotopes and P cycling in the soil/plant system (Event)
In this seminar, hosted by Courtney Giles and Tim George from our Ecological Sciences group, Dr Federica Tamburini (ETH Zurich) will discuss a novel technique that uses oxygen stable isotopes to investigate the P cycle in ... Read more
National waters inventory Scotland (Research Page)
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Isotopic analysis (Research Page)
The James Hutton Institute has state of the art instrumentation capable of carrying out isotopic analysis on many different sample types, such as rocks, soils, plant materials, gases and waters. Principal contacts for Isotopic A ... Read more
Research/Analysis Facilities (Research Page)
Isotopes ... Read more
Isotope applications (Research Page)
Our stable isotopes research tackles a range of different applications, and involves collaboration not only with colleagues in the James Hutton Institute but also a wide range of partners across the globe. We have a wide range of ... Read more
Cell and Molecular Sciences (Research Page)
Cell and Molecular Sciences (CMS) is based at the Dundee site and comprises more than 100 plant scientists with research specialisms in cell and molecular biology, genomics, genetics, pathology and physiology. Crop improvement ... Read more
Professorial success for The James Hutton Institute (News)
Two top scientists at The James Hutton Institute have been appointed to Visiting Professor positions at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Dr Lorna Dawson, Principal Soil Scientist and Head of Soil Forensics, and Dr Wolfram M ... Read more
Stable Isotopes helping hand for Scotch whisky (News)
The work of The James Hutton Institute’s groundbreaking Stable Isotopes laboratory has been highlighted in the well-known and influential Earth Magazine. Earth Blogger Carolyn Gramling was in Vienna, Austria, at the European ... Read more
Barry has been manager of the Light Stable Isotopes Laboratory in the Analytical Group since 2006. After originally studying Biochemistry at Bangor he gained his PhD at Aberdeen University, being primarily based at the Institute during this period. He has a strong background in plant physiology with extensive experience of the application of stable isotopes in a wide variety of research contexts, in particular looking at C and N fluxes in plant-soil ecosystems.
Current research interests
Barry continues to have an interest in C and N fluxes in the plant-soil and other ecosystems. He has utilised compound specific stable isotope techniques to trace the flow of C from various sources into microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Recently he determined the spatial distribution of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the topsoil of Scotland and applied linear modelling to assess the extent to which land use and climate act as drivers of the observed distributions. He is currently applying Rayleigh equations to the pattern of enrichment of carbon isotopes which occurs going down soil profiles at the national scale to develop understanding of soil carbon decomposition rates. He has over 65 peer reviewed manuscripts.
Bibliography
- Shahbaz, M.; Katterer, T.; Thornton, B.; Borjesson G. (In press) Dynamics of fungal and bacterial communities and their carbon sources during the growing season of maize in a long term experiment., Biology and Fertility of Soils.
- Shahbaz, M.; Thornton, B.; Borjesson, G. (2021) Importance of fungi in a 63 years old long-term field experiment with 20 years of maize growth., European Journal of Soil Biology, 102, Article No. 103264.
- Penhaul Smith, J.K.; Hughes, A.D.; McEvoy, L.; Thornton, B.; Day, J.G. (2021) The carbon partitioning of glucose and DIC in mixotrophic, heterotrophic and photoautotrophic cultures of Tetraselmis suecica., Biotechnology Letters. Published online.
- Demars, B.O.L.; Friberg, N.; Thornton, B. (2020) Pulse of dissolved organic matter alters reciprocal carbon subsidies between autotrophs and bacteria in stream food webs., Ecological Monographs, 90, Article No. e01399.
- Vinnepand, M.; Fischer, P.; Fitzsimmons, K.; Thornton, B.; Fiedler, S.; Vott, A. (2020) Combining inorganic and organic carbon stable isotope signatures in the Schwalbenberg Loess-palaeosol-sequence near Remagen (Middle Rhine Valley, Germany)., Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, Article No. 276.
- Jilkova, V.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Jandova, K.; Cajthaml, T.; Paterson, E. (2020) Impact of plant species and atmospheric CO2 concentration on rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity and community composition., Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 183, 327-337.
- Jilkova, V.; Jandova, K.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2019) Soil organic matter decomposition and carbon sequestration in temperate coniferous forest soils affected by soluble and insoluble spruce needle fractions., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 138, Article No. 107595.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Jenkins, H.; Felgate, S.L. (2019) Microbiota: The living foundation., In: Beninger, P.G. (ed.). Mudflat Ecology. Aquatic Ecology Series, No. 7. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, Chapter 3, pp43-61.
- Birkel, C.; Helliwell, R.C.; Thornton, B.; Gibbs, S.; Cooper, P.; Soulsby, C.; Tetzlaff, D.; Spezia, L.; Esquivel-Hernandez, G.; Sanchez-Murillo, R.; Midwood, A. (2018) Characterization of surface water isotope spatial patterns of Scotland., Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 194, 71-80.
- Souza, I.D.; Arrivabene, H.P.; Craig, C-A.; Midwood, A.J.; Thornton, B.; Matsumoto, S.T.; Elliott, M.; Wunderlin, D.A.; Monferran, M.V.; Fernandes, M.N. (2018) Interrogating pollution sources in a mangrove food web using multiple stable isotopes., Science of the Total Environment, 640-641, 501-511.
- Andriukonis, E.; Stirke, A.; Garbaras, A.; Mikoliunaite, L.; Ramanaviciene, A.; Remeikis, V.; Thornton, B.; Ramanavicius, A. (2018) Yeast-assisted synthesis of polypyrrole: quantification and influence on the mechanical properties of the cell wall., Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 164, 224-231.
- Bolscher, T.; Paterson, E.; Freitag, T.; Thornton, B.; Herrmann, A.M. (2017) Temperature sensitivity of substrate-use efficiency can result from altered microbial physiology without change to community composition., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 109, 59-69.
- Mayor, D.J.; Gray, N.B.; Hattich, G.S.I.; Thornton, B. (2017) Detecting the presence of fish farm-derived organic matter at the seafloor using stable isotope analysis of phospholipid fatty acids., Scientific Reports, 7, Article No. 5146.
- Borjesson, G.; Menichetti, L.; Thornton, B.; Campbell, C.D.; Katterer, T. (2016) Seasonal dynamics of the soil microbial community: assimilation of old and young carbon sources in a long-term field experiment as revealed by natural C-13 abundance., European Journal of Soil Science, 67, 79-89.
- Hannam, K.D.; Neilsen, G.H.; Neilsen, D.; Midwood, A.J.; Millard, P.; Zhang, Z.L.; Thornton, B.; Steinke, D. (2016) Amino acid composition of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juice in response to applications of urea to the soil or foliage., American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 67, 47-55.
- Main, C.E.; Ruhl, H.A.; Jones, D.O.B.; Yool, A.; Thornton, B.; Mayor, D.J. (2015) Hydrocarbon contamination affects deep-sea benthic oxygen uptake and microbial community composition., Deep Sea Research Part 1 - Oceanographic Research Papers, 100, 79-87.
- Gontikaki, E.; Thornton, B.; Cornulier, T.; Witte, U. (2015) Occurrence of priming in the degradation of lignocellulose in marine sediments., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No. e0143917.
- Yao, H-Y.; Chapman, S.J.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2015) C-13 PLFAs: a key to open the soil microbial black box?, Plant and Soil, 392, 3-15.
- Thornton, B.; Martin, G.; Procee, M.; Miller, D.R.; Coull, M.C.; Yao, H.-Y.; Chapman, S.J.; Hudson, G.; Midwood, A.J. (2015) Distributions of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Scotland's topsoil: a national-scale study., European Journal of Soil Science, 66, 1002-1011.
- Echavarri-Bravo, V.; Paterson, L.; Aspray, T.J.; Porter, J.S.; Winson, M.K.; Thornton, B.; Hartl, M.G. (2015) Shifts in the metabolic function of benthic estuarine microbial community following a single pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles., Environmental Pollution, 201, 91-99.
- Wang, J.; Thornton, B.; Yao, H. (2014) Incorporation of urea-derived C-13 into microbial communities in four different agriculture soils., Biology and Fertility of Soils, 50, 603-612.
- Mayor, D.J.; Gray, N.B.; Elver-Evans, J.; Midwood, A.J.; Thornton, B. (2013) Metal-macrofauna interactions determine microbial community structure and function in copper contaminated sediments., PLoS ONE, 8, Article No. e64940.
- Reinsch, S.; Ambus, P.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2013) Impact of future climatic conditions on the potential for plant-mediated soil organic matter priming., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 65, 133-140.
- Santos, P.M.; Thornton, B.; Corsi, M. (2012) Adaptation of the C-4 grass panicum maximum to defoliation is related to plasticity of N uptake, mobilisation and allocation patterns., Scientia Agricola, 69, 293-299.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Zuur, A.F. (2012) Resource quantity affects benthic microbial community structure and growth efficiency in a temperate intertidal mudflat., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e38582.
- Veresoglou, S.D.; Thornton, B.; Menexes, G.; Mamolos, A.P.; Veresoglou, D.S. (2012) Soil fertilization leads to a decline in between-samples variability of microbial community delta C-13 profiles in a grassland fertilization experiment., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e44203.
- Huaiying, Y.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2012) Incorporation of 13C-labelled rice rhizodeposition carbon into soil microbial communities under different water status., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 53, 72-77.
- Meharg, A.A.; Edwards, K.J.; Schofield, J.E.; Raab, A.; Feldmann, J.; Moran, A.; Bryant, C.L.; Thornton, B.; Dawson, J.J.C. (2012) First comprehensive peat depositional records for tin, lead and copper associated with the antiquity of Europe?s largest cassiterite deposits., Journal of Archaeological Science, 39, 717-727.
- Ascher, J.; Sartori, G.; Graefe, U.; Thornton, B.; Ceccherini, M.T.; Pietramellara, G.; Egli, M. (2012) Are humus forms, mesofauna and microflora in subalpine forest soils sensitive to thermal conditions?, Biology and Fertility of Soils, 48, 709-725.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Hay, S.; Zuur, A.F.; Nicol, G.W.; McWilliam, J.M.; Witte, U.F.M. (2012) Resource quality affects carbon cycling in deep-sea sediments., ISME Journal, 6, 1740-1748.
- Gontikaki, E.; Polymenakou, P.N.; Thornton, B.; Narayanaswamy, B.E.; Black, K.; Tselepides, A.; Witte, U. (2012) Microbial response to organic matter enrichment in the oligotrophic Levantine Basin (Eastern Mediterranean)., Geomicrobiology Journal, 29, 648-655.
- Miller, D.G.; Matthews, K.B.; Towers, W. (2012) Stocking rate on Land with Environmental Designations: an estimation of stocking rate on land designated as either RAMSAR, SAC, SPA or SSSI., Report to the Scottish Government, Areas of Natural Constraint Working Group, 16pp, 29 October 2012.
- Thornton, B.; Zhang, Z.L.; Mayes, R.W.; Hogberg, M.N.; Midwood, A.J. (2011) Can gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry be used to quantify organic compound abundance?, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 25, 2433-2438.
- Ascough, P.L.; Bird, M.I.; Francis, S.M.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Scott, A.; Apperley, D. (2011) Variability in oxidative degradation of charcoal: influence of production variables and environmental exposure., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75, 2361-2378.
- Paterson, E.; Neilson, R.; Midwood, A.J.; Osborne, S.M.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Millard, P. (2011) Altered food web structure and C-flux pathways associated with mineralisation of organic amendments to agricultural soil., Applied Soil Ecology, 48, 107-116.
- Gontikaki, E.; Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Black, K.; Witte, U. (2011) Processing of 13C-labelled diatoms by a bathyal community at sub-zero temperatures., Marine Ecology Progress Series, 421, 39-50.
- Veresoglou, S.D.; Mamolos, A.P.; Thornton, B.; Voulgari, O.K.; Sen, R.; Veresoglou, S. (2011) Medium-term fertilization of grassland plant communities masks plant species linked effects on soil microbial community structure., Plant and Soil, 344, 187-196.
- Zetsche, E.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Witte, U. (2011) Utilisation of different carbon sources in a shallow estuary identified through stable isotope techniques., Continental Shelf Research, 31, 832-840.
- Currey, P.A.; Johnson, D.; Dawson, L.A.; van der Wal, R.; Thornton, B.; Sheppard, L.J.; Leith, I.D.; Artz, R.R.E. (2011) Five years of simulated atmospheric nitrogen deposition have only subtle effects on the fate of newly synthesized carbon in Calluna vulgaris and Eriophorum vaginatum., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43, 495-502.
- Mayor, D.J.; Cook, K.; Thornton, B.; Walsham, P.; Witte, U.F.M.; Zuur, A.F.; Anderson, T.R. (2011) Absorption efficiencies and basal turnover of C, N and fatty acids in a marine Calanoid copepod., Functional Ecology, 25, 509-518.
- Shahbaz, M.; Thornton, B.; Borjesson, G. (2021) Importance of fungi in a 63 years old long-term field experiment with 20 years of maize growth., European Journal of Soil Biology, 102, Article No. 103264.
- Penhaul Smith, J.K.; Hughes, A.D.; McEvoy, L.; Thornton, B.; Day, J.G. (2021) The carbon partitioning of glucose and DIC in mixotrophic, heterotrophic and photoautotrophic cultures of Tetraselmis suecica., Biotechnology Letters. Published online.
- Demars, B.O.L.; Friberg, N.; Thornton, B. (2020) Pulse of dissolved organic matter alters reciprocal carbon subsidies between autotrophs and bacteria in stream food webs., Ecological Monographs, 90, Article No. e01399.
- Vinnepand, M.; Fischer, P.; Fitzsimmons, K.; Thornton, B.; Fiedler, S.; Vott, A. (2020) Combining inorganic and organic carbon stable isotope signatures in the Schwalbenberg Loess-palaeosol-sequence near Remagen (Middle Rhine Valley, Germany)., Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, Article No. 276.
- Jilkova, V.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Jandova, K.; Cajthaml, T.; Paterson, E. (2020) Impact of plant species and atmospheric CO2 concentration on rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity and community composition., Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 183, 327-337.
- Jilkova, V.; Jandova, K.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2019) Soil organic matter decomposition and carbon sequestration in temperate coniferous forest soils affected by soluble and insoluble spruce needle fractions., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 138, Article No. 107595.
- Birkel, C.; Helliwell, R.C.; Thornton, B.; Gibbs, S.; Cooper, P.; Soulsby, C.; Tetzlaff, D.; Spezia, L.; Esquivel-Hernandez, G.; Sanchez-Murillo, R.; Midwood, A. (2018) Characterization of surface water isotope spatial patterns of Scotland., Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 194, 71-80.
- Souza, I.D.; Arrivabene, H.P.; Craig, C-A.; Midwood, A.J.; Thornton, B.; Matsumoto, S.T.; Elliott, M.; Wunderlin, D.A.; Monferran, M.V.; Fernandes, M.N. (2018) Interrogating pollution sources in a mangrove food web using multiple stable isotopes., Science of the Total Environment, 640-641, 501-511.
- Andriukonis, E.; Stirke, A.; Garbaras, A.; Mikoliunaite, L.; Ramanaviciene, A.; Remeikis, V.; Thornton, B.; Ramanavicius, A. (2018) Yeast-assisted synthesis of polypyrrole: quantification and influence on the mechanical properties of the cell wall., Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 164, 224-231.
- Bolscher, T.; Paterson, E.; Freitag, T.; Thornton, B.; Herrmann, A.M. (2017) Temperature sensitivity of substrate-use efficiency can result from altered microbial physiology without change to community composition., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 109, 59-69.
- Mayor, D.J.; Gray, N.B.; Hattich, G.S.I.; Thornton, B. (2017) Detecting the presence of fish farm-derived organic matter at the seafloor using stable isotope analysis of phospholipid fatty acids., Scientific Reports, 7, Article No. 5146.
- Borjesson, G.; Menichetti, L.; Thornton, B.; Campbell, C.D.; Katterer, T. (2016) Seasonal dynamics of the soil microbial community: assimilation of old and young carbon sources in a long-term field experiment as revealed by natural C-13 abundance., European Journal of Soil Science, 67, 79-89.
- Hannam, K.D.; Neilsen, G.H.; Neilsen, D.; Midwood, A.J.; Millard, P.; Zhang, Z.L.; Thornton, B.; Steinke, D. (2016) Amino acid composition of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juice in response to applications of urea to the soil or foliage., American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 67, 47-55.
- Main, C.E.; Ruhl, H.A.; Jones, D.O.B.; Yool, A.; Thornton, B.; Mayor, D.J. (2015) Hydrocarbon contamination affects deep-sea benthic oxygen uptake and microbial community composition., Deep Sea Research Part 1 - Oceanographic Research Papers, 100, 79-87.
- Gontikaki, E.; Thornton, B.; Cornulier, T.; Witte, U. (2015) Occurrence of priming in the degradation of lignocellulose in marine sediments., PLoS ONE, 10, Article No. e0143917.
- Yao, H-Y.; Chapman, S.J.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2015) C-13 PLFAs: a key to open the soil microbial black box?, Plant and Soil, 392, 3-15.
- Thornton, B.; Martin, G.; Procee, M.; Miller, D.R.; Coull, M.C.; Yao, H.-Y.; Chapman, S.J.; Hudson, G.; Midwood, A.J. (2015) Distributions of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Scotland's topsoil: a national-scale study., European Journal of Soil Science, 66, 1002-1011.
- Echavarri-Bravo, V.; Paterson, L.; Aspray, T.J.; Porter, J.S.; Winson, M.K.; Thornton, B.; Hartl, M.G. (2015) Shifts in the metabolic function of benthic estuarine microbial community following a single pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles., Environmental Pollution, 201, 91-99.
- Wang, J.; Thornton, B.; Yao, H. (2014) Incorporation of urea-derived C-13 into microbial communities in four different agriculture soils., Biology and Fertility of Soils, 50, 603-612.
- Mayor, D.J.; Gray, N.B.; Elver-Evans, J.; Midwood, A.J.; Thornton, B. (2013) Metal-macrofauna interactions determine microbial community structure and function in copper contaminated sediments., PLoS ONE, 8, Article No. e64940.
- Reinsch, S.; Ambus, P.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2013) Impact of future climatic conditions on the potential for plant-mediated soil organic matter priming., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 65, 133-140.
- Santos, P.M.; Thornton, B.; Corsi, M. (2012) Adaptation of the C-4 grass panicum maximum to defoliation is related to plasticity of N uptake, mobilisation and allocation patterns., Scientia Agricola, 69, 293-299.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Zuur, A.F. (2012) Resource quantity affects benthic microbial community structure and growth efficiency in a temperate intertidal mudflat., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e38582.
- Veresoglou, S.D.; Thornton, B.; Menexes, G.; Mamolos, A.P.; Veresoglou, D.S. (2012) Soil fertilization leads to a decline in between-samples variability of microbial community delta C-13 profiles in a grassland fertilization experiment., PLoS ONE, 7, Article No. e44203.
- Huaiying, Y.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2012) Incorporation of 13C-labelled rice rhizodeposition carbon into soil microbial communities under different water status., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 53, 72-77.
- Meharg, A.A.; Edwards, K.J.; Schofield, J.E.; Raab, A.; Feldmann, J.; Moran, A.; Bryant, C.L.; Thornton, B.; Dawson, J.J.C. (2012) First comprehensive peat depositional records for tin, lead and copper associated with the antiquity of Europe?s largest cassiterite deposits., Journal of Archaeological Science, 39, 717-727.
- Ascher, J.; Sartori, G.; Graefe, U.; Thornton, B.; Ceccherini, M.T.; Pietramellara, G.; Egli, M. (2012) Are humus forms, mesofauna and microflora in subalpine forest soils sensitive to thermal conditions?, Biology and Fertility of Soils, 48, 709-725.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Hay, S.; Zuur, A.F.; Nicol, G.W.; McWilliam, J.M.; Witte, U.F.M. (2012) Resource quality affects carbon cycling in deep-sea sediments., ISME Journal, 6, 1740-1748.
- Gontikaki, E.; Polymenakou, P.N.; Thornton, B.; Narayanaswamy, B.E.; Black, K.; Tselepides, A.; Witte, U. (2012) Microbial response to organic matter enrichment in the oligotrophic Levantine Basin (Eastern Mediterranean)., Geomicrobiology Journal, 29, 648-655.
- Thornton, B.; Zhang, Z.L.; Mayes, R.W.; Hogberg, M.N.; Midwood, A.J. (2011) Can gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry be used to quantify organic compound abundance?, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 25, 2433-2438.
- Ascough, P.L.; Bird, M.I.; Francis, S.M.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Scott, A.; Apperley, D. (2011) Variability in oxidative degradation of charcoal: influence of production variables and environmental exposure., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75, 2361-2378.
- Paterson, E.; Neilson, R.; Midwood, A.J.; Osborne, S.M.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Millard, P. (2011) Altered food web structure and C-flux pathways associated with mineralisation of organic amendments to agricultural soil., Applied Soil Ecology, 48, 107-116.
- Gontikaki, E.; Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Black, K.; Witte, U. (2011) Processing of 13C-labelled diatoms by a bathyal community at sub-zero temperatures., Marine Ecology Progress Series, 421, 39-50.
- Veresoglou, S.D.; Mamolos, A.P.; Thornton, B.; Voulgari, O.K.; Sen, R.; Veresoglou, S. (2011) Medium-term fertilization of grassland plant communities masks plant species linked effects on soil microbial community structure., Plant and Soil, 344, 187-196.
- Zetsche, E.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Witte, U. (2011) Utilisation of different carbon sources in a shallow estuary identified through stable isotope techniques., Continental Shelf Research, 31, 832-840.
- Currey, P.A.; Johnson, D.; Dawson, L.A.; van der Wal, R.; Thornton, B.; Sheppard, L.J.; Leith, I.D.; Artz, R.R.E. (2011) Five years of simulated atmospheric nitrogen deposition have only subtle effects on the fate of newly synthesized carbon in Calluna vulgaris and Eriophorum vaginatum., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43, 495-502.
- Mayor, D.J.; Cook, K.; Thornton, B.; Walsham, P.; Witte, U.F.M.; Zuur, A.F.; Anderson, T.R. (2011) Absorption efficiencies and basal turnover of C, N and fatty acids in a marine Calanoid copepod., Functional Ecology, 25, 509-518.
- Hogberg, M.N.; Briones, M.J.I.; Keel, S.G.; Metcalfe, D.B.; Campbell, C.; Midwood, A.J.; Thornton, B.; Hurry, V.; Linder, S.; Nasholm, T.; Hogberg, P. (2010) Quantification of effects of season and nitrogen supply on tree belowground carbon transfer., New Phytologist, 187, 485-493.
- Gastal, F.; Dawson, L.A.; Thornton, B. (2010) Responses of plant traits of four grasses from contrasting habitats to defoliation and N supply., Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 88, 245-258.
- Paterson, E.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Osborne, S.M.; Sim, A.; Millard, P. (2008) Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and nutrient additions to planted soil increase mineralisation of soil organic matter, but do not alter microbial utilisation of plant and soil C-sources., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 40, 2434-2440.
- Echavarri-Bravo, V.; Paterson, L.; Aspray, T.J.; Porter, J.S.; Winson, M.K.; Thornton, B.; Hartl, M.G. (2015) Shifts in the metabolic function of benthic estuarine microbial community following a single pulse exposure to silver nanoparticles., Environmental Pollution, 201, 91-99.
- Reinsch, S.; Ambus, P.; Thornton, B.; Paterson, E. (2013) Impact of future climatic conditions on the potential for plant-mediated soil organic matter priming., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 65, 133-140.
- Ascher, J.; Sartori, G.; Graefe, U.; Thornton, B.; Ceccherini, M.T.; Pietramellara, G.; Egli, M. (2012) Are humus forms, mesofauna and microflora in subalpine forest soils sensitive to thermal conditions?, Biology and Fertility of Soils, 48, 709-725.
- Ascough, P.L.; Bird, M.I.; Francis, S.M.; Thornton, B.; Midwood, A.J.; Scott, A.; Apperley, D. (2011) Variability in oxidative degradation of charcoal: influence of production variables and environmental exposure., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75, 2361-2378.
- Paterson, E.; Neilson, R.; Midwood, A.J.; Osborne, S.M.; Sim, A.; Thornton, B.; Millard, P. (2011) Altered food web structure and C-flux pathways associated with mineralisation of organic amendments to agricultural soil., Applied Soil Ecology, 48, 107-116.
- Gontikaki, E.; Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Black, K.; Witte, U. (2011) Processing of 13C-labelled diatoms by a bathyal community at sub-zero temperatures., Marine Ecology Progress Series, 421, 39-50.
- Mayor, D.J.; Thornton, B.; Jenkins, H.; Felgate, S.L. (2019) Microbiota: The living foundation., In: Beninger, P.G. (ed.). Mudflat Ecology. Aquatic Ecology Series, No. 7. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, Chapter 3, pp43-61.
- Miller, D.G.; Matthews, K.B.; Towers, W. (2012) Stocking rate on Land with Environmental Designations: an estimation of stocking rate on land designated as either RAMSAR, SAC, SPA or SSSI., Report to the Scottish Government, Areas of Natural Constraint Working Group, 16pp, 29 October 2012.
- Ourry, A., Thornton, B. and Laine, P. (1997) Field evaluation of the contribution of N reserves versus N uptake for regrowth of the forage species ryegrass., Report for British Council on Alliance project No. PN 9720.