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Fractionation of oxygen isotopes between mammalian bone-phosphate and environmental drinking water

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

717 Scopus citations

Abstract

The δ18O of mammalian bone-phosphate varies linearly with δ18O of environmental water, but is not in isotopic equilibrium with that water. This situation is explained by a model of δ18O in body water in which the important fluxes of exchangeable oxygen through the body are taken into account. Fractionation of oxygen isotopes between body and environmental drinking water is dependent on the rates of drinking and respiration. Isotopic fractionation can be estimated from physiological data and the estimates correlate very well with observed fractionation. Species whose water consumption is large relatively to its energy expenditure is sensitive to isotopic ratio changes in environmental water.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1689-1693
Number of pages5
JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume48
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1984

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation

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