Strontium isotope mapping of elephant enamel supports an integrated microsampling-modeling workflow to reconstruct herbivore migrations.

ABSTRACT: Strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) in dental tissues are widely used to study animal and human migration. However, questions remain regarding how different biological processes and sampling methods influence measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and subsequent interpretations. We present a unique experiment with the known relocation history of a zoo elephant to evaluate the influence of biological turnover, tissue type, and sampling methods. We collected ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data from the elephant's tusk and molar enamel using in-situ laser ablation microsampling, conventional drilling, and micromilling techniques. Our data comparisons show that the innermost enamel best records the primary ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr turnover history, while enamel

SUBMITTER: Yang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11845587 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature