How reliable are stable isotope measurements from killer whale teeth? 🐋 Maeva Terrapon's study tests dentine pre-treatment methods and identifies approaches that minimise alteration of δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values—helping improve reconstructions of killer whale ecology.
doi.org/10.1002/rcm....
doi.org
Stable Isotope Analysis (δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>18</sup>O) of Killer Whale Dentine: Evaluating Treatment Methods and Establishing Best Practices
Rationale Stable isotope measurements in odontocete teeth can be used to reconstruct lifetime ecology, but some pre-treatments may introduce bias. Isolating dentine collagen with HCl decalcification...