Stable nitrogen isotope values in arid‐land kangaroos correlated with mean annual rainfall: potential as a palaeoclimatic indicator

Exploring Human Subsistence Strategies and Environmental Change through Stable Isotopes in the Dry Puna of Argentina

“…Taken as a whole, the δ 13 C and δ 15 N values considered here fit the diet expectations for a mixed feeder herbivore species inhabiting an arid setting (Pate & Anson, ; Hartman, ). As can be seen in Table , carbon isotopic compositions ranged between −19.3‰ and −12.4‰ suggesting a diet including both C 3 (shrubs and grasses) and C 4 (mainly grasses) plant species, with a larger contribution of the former.…”

“…This aspect is coherent with paleoclimatic data concerning an increment of arid conditions during the latter period (see previous discussion). In this sense, several studies performed on arid environments, such as South Africa or Australia, point to a negative correlation between δ 15 N values and mean precipitation in soils (Austin & Vitousek, ; Amundson et al ., ), plants (Heaton, ; Hartman & Danin, ) and herbivore bone collagen (Sealy et al ., ; Murphy & Bowman, ; Pate & Anson, ) as well as other animal tissues (Hartman, ). Although some have appealed to physiological mechanisms to explain the high δ 15 N values for animals in arid areas, suggesting the recycling of nitrogen within the body through the kidneys (Ambrose, ), the results of both experimental and field research provide support to reject the physiological hypothesis in favour of those that emphasise changes in the nitrogen balance of the ecosystems (Ambrose, ; Murphy & Bowman, ; Hartman, ).…”

Endangered species, archaeology, and stable isotopes: huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) isotopic ecology in central-western Patagonia (South America)

“…The high moisture that predominates in Aisén could offer an alternative explanation for the depleted d 15 Ncollagen values if we take into consideration that, in certain contexts, a negative correlation with humidity has been registered (Gröcke et al,1997;Schwarcz et al, 1999;Pate and Anson, 2008). Nevertheless, we consider this explanation as inadequate in contexts where mean annual precipitations exceed 400 mm, as in this case (Sealy et al, 1987;Drucker et al, 2003;Stevens et al, 2006; see also Cormie and Schwarcz,1996).…”

Variation in collagen stable nitrogen values in black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in relation to small-scale differences in climate, soil, and topography

“…One of the more interesting relationships involves the observation that soils, plants, and animals often become enriched in 15 N, exhibiting more positive d 15 N values as temperature or aridity increases and nitrogen cycles become more open (Ambrose,1991;Amundson et al, 2003;Aranibar et al, 2004;Gröcke et al, 1997;Handley et al, 1999;Heaton et al, 1986;Heaton, 1987;Murphy and Bowman, 2006;Pate and Anson, 2008;Sealy et al, 1987;Stevens et al, 2006). These relationships have been identified over broad latitudinal, altitudinal, or temporal spans (e.g., Ambrose, 1991;Drucker et al, 2003a,b;Gröcke et al, 1997;Iacumin et al, 2000;Richards and Hedges, 2003;Schwarcz et al, 1999;Stevens and Hedges, 2004;Stevens et al, 2008;van Klinken et al, 1994van Klinken et al, , 2000 as well as seasonally and over small geographic ranges (Handley and Scrimgeour, 1997;Handley et al, 1999;Neilson et al, 1998).…”

“…Since nitrogen isotopes are preserved in bone collagen, there has been increasing interest in using archaeological and paleontological faunas to infer aspects of local and regional environments and to track changes through time (e.g., Drucker et al, 2003b;Gröcke et al, 1997;Iacumin et al, 1997;Iacumin et al, 2000;Pate and Anson, 2008;Richards and Hedges, 2003;Stevens and Hedges, 2004;Stevens et al, 2006;Stevens et al, 2008). While most studies to date have focused on variation in faunal 15 N in relation to pronounced differences in climate and environment, many interesting archaeological questions turn on the presumed effects of small environmental differences seen regionally or over short time periods, particularly with respect to precipitation.…”