Abstract
A yearly cycle of carbon and oxygen isotope composition of shells of the Israeli land snail Xeropicta vestalis is presented. The 18O/16O values indicate that the snails use water from the land-air boundary zone. The 18O/16O ratio of the shells is in isotopic equilibrium with the water condensate from the vapour during the winter months. During the summer months a contribution to the above water from soil water migrating upwards due to evaporation is noticeable. The δ13C values indicate that as in marine molluscs, the carbon isotopic composition in land snails is controlled mainly by the aqueous carbonate compound which is in equilibrium with the land-air boundary CO2.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 101-106 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Earth and Planetary Science Letters |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1981 |