Abstract
The isotopic ecology of terrestrial snails from tropical island settings
is not known despite the importance of such data sets for paleoenvironmental
reconstructions. In this study, variations in carbon (13C/
12C) and oxygen (18O/16O) isotope ratios obtained during whole-shell
and sequential-rib analyses of the modern land snail, Cerion, reveal
a record of diet and local environment on San Salvador, Bahamas.
The mean δ13C value of adult Cerion shells collected from C4 vegetation
is higher by 1.0‰ relative to snails collected from C3 plants,
suggesting that carbon isotopes in shell carbonate reflect the dominant
plant type in the diet, though the broad range of shell carbonate
δ13C confirms a varied diet for this genus. The mean 18O values of
adult Cerion shells collected from the west coast of San Salvador are
0.8‰ higher than those collected from the east coast of the island.
This difference may reflect the incorporation of water vapor derived
from 18O-rich hypersaline lakes located in the island’s western interior.
Sequential-rib analysis of one adult Cerion shell reveals variations
in δ13C and δ18O values through ontogeny that may reflect
changes in food source and rainfall seasonality, respectively. This
study lays the groundwork for future studies to establish fossil Cerion
as a valuable paleoenvironmental proxy for San Salvador and the
Bahamas.
is not known despite the importance of such data sets for paleoenvironmental
reconstructions. In this study, variations in carbon (13C/
12C) and oxygen (18O/16O) isotope ratios obtained during whole-shell
and sequential-rib analyses of the modern land snail, Cerion, reveal
a record of diet and local environment on San Salvador, Bahamas.
The mean δ13C value of adult Cerion shells collected from C4 vegetation
is higher by 1.0‰ relative to snails collected from C3 plants,
suggesting that carbon isotopes in shell carbonate reflect the dominant
plant type in the diet, though the broad range of shell carbonate
δ13C confirms a varied diet for this genus. The mean 18O values of
adult Cerion shells collected from the west coast of San Salvador are
0.8‰ higher than those collected from the east coast of the island.
This difference may reflect the incorporation of water vapor derived
from 18O-rich hypersaline lakes located in the island’s western interior.
Sequential-rib analysis of one adult Cerion shell reveals variations
in δ13C and δ18O values through ontogeny that may reflect
changes in food source and rainfall seasonality, respectively. This
study lays the groundwork for future studies to establish fossil Cerion
as a valuable paleoenvironmental proxy for San Salvador and the
Bahamas.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 174-187 |
Journal | Palaios |
Volume | 22 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |