Influence of diet on the distribution of carbon isotopes in animals
The influence of diet on the distribution of carbon isotopes in animals was investigated by analyzing animals grown in the laboratory on diets of constant carbon isotopic composition. The isotopic composition of the whole body of an animal reflects the isotopic composition of its diet, but the animal is on average enriched in delta/sup 13/C by about 1/sup 0///sub 00/ relative to the diet. In three of the four cases examined, the /sup 13/C enrichment of the whole body relative to the diet is balanced by a /sup 13/C depletion of the respired CO/sub 2/. The isotopic relationships between the whole bodies of animals and their diets are similar for different species raised on the same diet and for the same species raised on different diets. However, the delta /sup 13/C values of whole bodies of individuals of a species raised on the same diet may differ by up to 2/sup 0///sub 00/. The relationship between the /sup 13/C//sup 12/C ratio of a tissue and the /sup 13/C//sup 12/C ratio of the diet depends both on the type of tissue and on the nature of the diet. Many of the isotopic relationships among the major biochemical fractions, namely the lipid, carbohydrate, and protein fractions, are qualitatively preserved as diet carbon is incorporated into the animal. However, the difference between the delta/sup 13/C values of a biochemical fraction in an animal and in its diet may be as large as 3/sup 0///sub 00/. The delta /sup 13/C values of the biochemical components collagen, chitin, and the insoluble organic fraction of shells, all of which are often preserved in fossil material, are related to the isotopic composition of the diet. These results indicate that it will be possible to perform dietary analysis based on the determination of the /sup 13/C//sup 12/C ratio of animal carbon. Analysis of the total animal carbon will in most cases provide a better measure of diet than the analysis of individual tissues, biochemical fractions, or biochemical components.
- Research Organization:
- California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena
- OSTI ID:
- 6756796
- Journal Information:
- Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States), Vol. 42:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARTEMIA
ISOTOPE RATIO
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
BEETLES
CARBON 12
CARBON 13
DIET
FLIES
GRASSHOPPERS
INSECTS
MICE
MOTHS
NEMATODES
SNAILS
CORRELATIONS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
CARBON ISOTOPES
CRUSTACEANS
DISTRIBUTION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MOLLUSCS
NUCLEI
RODENTS
STABLE ISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
510302* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)
520302 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)
560172 - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology- Animals- (-1987)