Zinc isotopes from archaeological bones provide reliable tropic level information for marine mammals.

ABSTRACT: In marine ecology, dietary interpretations of faunal assemblages often rely on nitrogen isotopes as the main or only applicable trophic level tracer. We investigate the geographic variability and trophic level isotopic discrimination factors of bone zinc ⁶⁶Zn/⁶⁴Zn ratios (δ⁶⁶Zn value) and compared it to collagen nitrogen and carbon stable isotope (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) values. Focusing on ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from multiple Arctic archaeological sites, we investigate trophic interactions between predator and prey over a broad geographic area. All proxies show variability among sites, influenced by the regional food web baselines. However, δ⁶⁶Zn shows a significantly higher homogeneity among d

SUBMITTER: McCormack J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8175341 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature