New-Generation Near Infrared Spectrometer for Ecological Research

Measuring the chemical composition of plant and animal tissues is an important part of many ecological investigations but oftentimes the methods for doing so are too slow, expensive or difficult to be useful. Near infrared spectroscopy is an analytical method that solves these problems and allows large numbers of samples to be analysed quickly, cheaply and for multiple constituents simultaneously. The value of NIRS in ecological studies has already been demonstrated but the old generation instruments that have been used to date are failing. New technology will allow analyses made today to be used as the basis of future analyses, which saves time and resources for all ecologists.