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Title: STABLE ISOTOPE EVIDENCE FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC ORIGINS AND MILITARY MOVEMENT OF NAPOLEONIC SOLIDERS DURING THE MARCH FROM MOSCOW IN 1812.
Creator: Pelier, Serenela, Dupras , Tosha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In 2001, 3269 unidentified individuals were found in a mass grave on the Northern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Artifactual context indicates that these individuals were likely soldiers that were a part of Napoleon's Grand Army. Stable oxygen isotope analysis was performed on bone apatite from 9 femoral bone samples to determine whether or not these individuals were Lithuanian locals and to test ratio variation. If individuals were foreigners, then geographical origins were approximated...
Show moreIn 2001, 3269 unidentified individuals were found in a mass grave on the Northern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Artifactual context indicates that these individuals were likely soldiers that were a part of Napoleon's Grand Army. Stable oxygen isotope analysis was performed on bone apatite from 9 femoral bone samples to determine whether or not these individuals were Lithuanian locals and to test ratio variation. If individuals were foreigners, then geographical origins were approximated utilizing percentages of C4 plants from Holder (2013) and [delta]18O values that were extracted from bone apatite. The carbonate oxygen isotope compositions ([delta]18Ocarbonate) of bone apatite from the femoral samples (-4.4â€° to -6.2â€°) indicate that these individuals were from central and western Europe (-4.0â€° to -6.9â€°). It is significant that none of the individuals have values consistent with the area around Lithuania (-10.0â€° to -11.9â€°), because it means that they all were non-local. It is also indicative that the Lithuanians were not burying their citizens in the grave and therefore strongly support that these individuals were Napoleonic soldiers. Additionally, although C4 percentages in the diet ranged from 17.8% to 31.7%, which overlaps with eastern European consumption patterns (approximately 15% to 25% of C4 plants) (Reitsema et al., 2010), the slight shift towards a higher C4 percentage is more representative of a central and western European diet. These results are significant because they provide stable isotopic evidence that these individuals were Napoleon's soldiers whom participated in the Russian campaign of 1812.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004822, ucf:45454
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004822

Title: The Elite Meroitic Experience on Sai Island, Sudan: Using Stable Isotope Analysis to Identify Patterns related to Sex and Age for the Interpretation of Social Identity.
Creator: Brock, Alexandria, Dupras, Tosha, Schultz, John, Zavodny, Emily, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The research conducted for this thesis utilized stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the diet of 35 individuals from an elite Meroitic (350 BC (-) 300 AD) cemetery (site 8.B.5A) located on Sai Island, Sudan, with a focus on adult age categories and biological sex, to understand intra-class variation in diet. Stable carbon and nitrogen values from human bone collagen were used to understand elite social organization, social practice, and gender roles in the Meroitic period through the lens...
Show moreThe research conducted for this thesis utilized stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the diet of 35 individuals from an elite Meroitic (350 BC (-) 300 AD) cemetery (site 8.B.5A) located on Sai Island, Sudan, with a focus on adult age categories and biological sex, to understand intra-class variation in diet. Stable carbon and nitrogen values from human bone collagen were used to understand elite social organization, social practice, and gender roles in the Meroitic period through the lens of social identity and post-processual theories. The samples were grouped based on biological sex, median age, and assigned age categories (young, middle, and old adult). The isotopic values of each group were compared to determine if any differences could be identified to create social identity profiles. Carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 stable isotope values indicate that the elite class was relatively homogenous in their diet, but there were some statistically significant differences. The percentage of C4 plants in the diet showed that the majority of females had a diet of approximately 25% C4 plants, while the majority of the males had a diet of 25-50% C4 plants. These values suggest females were eating a more homogeneous diet possibly based on lower status foods, which are primarily in the C3 plant category. The different ranges of nitrogen and carbon isotope values in the male (-18.05‰ to -12.66‰ ?13C and 8.62‰ to 11.94‰ ?15N) and female (-17.92‰ to -16.43‰ ?13C and 11.05‰ to 14.59‰ ?15N) samples may indicate a much broader diet in males and/or differential geographic origins and residency patterns between males and females. The isotopic values may indicate particular Meroitic and Nubian cultural practices such as the production and consumption of a C4 plant based beer. Lastly, this research demonstrates the ability to ascertain intra-class differences from isotope values derived from human bone collagen.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007434, ucf:52723
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007434

Title: Exploring Social Identity through Stable Isotope Analysis in the Kellis 2 Cemetery.
Creator: East, Kaitlin, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Toyne, J. Marla, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The material remains of ancient Egypt provide extensive and wide ranging data about the empire throughout its history. However, little evidence is available from ancient Egypt, or any past culture, with which to rebuild an image of social identity or individual experiences. This is especially problematic when the dominant narrative ignores experiences of minorities and minimizes the variation existing throughout the empire. Stable isotope analysis has the potential to reveal variability in...
Show moreThe material remains of ancient Egypt provide extensive and wide ranging data about the empire throughout its history. However, little evidence is available from ancient Egypt, or any past culture, with which to rebuild an image of social identity or individual experiences. This is especially problematic when the dominant narrative ignores experiences of minorities and minimizes the variation existing throughout the empire. Stable isotope analysis has the potential to reveal variability in lived experience of past peoples by acting as a proxy for behavior that can be analyzed from bone. Such an approach has been applied on individuals from the Romano-Christian Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis to explore diversity of lived experiences in relation to age, sex, and gender. Analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen values from bone collagen of 138 adults revealed a predominately C3 (&)#172;plant based diet with the addition of some animal protein. Statistical analysis of these values uncovered discernable differences in the values of young males and older adults which may suggest differences in the biological experiences of these groups and unique social experiences for those individuals. These findings offer a starting point with which to explore social organization at this site and others in ancient Egypt and the methods provide a useful approach to exploring individual experience in the past in ways not possible from other sources.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005790, ucf:52865
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005790

Title: STABLE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPE ANALYSES OF SUBFOSSIL RATS FROM LIANG BUA (FLORES, INDONESIA).
Creator: Anderson, Kelly, Dupras, Tosha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research study investigated the level of bone collagen preservation of rat femora from Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, as well as conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses on well preserved samples. Although Flores is located in a hot intermediate tropical zone and the burial environment of the bone samples within the cave is considered less than optimal for collagen preservation, significant preservation of the bone collagen was found. Collagen yields, C...
Show moreThis research study investigated the level of bone collagen preservation of rat femora from Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, as well as conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses on well preserved samples. Although Flores is located in a hot intermediate tropical zone and the burial environment of the bone samples within the cave is considered less than optimal for collagen preservation, significant preservation of the bone collagen was found. Collagen yields, C:N ratio and carbon and nitrogen concentrations were investigated. However, this research study argues that carbon and nitrogen concentrations are an appropriate means to determine preservation on its own. According to the carbon and nitrogen concentration data 32 samples were considered well preserved. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses were conducted on the 32 preserved samples. According to the carbon data a significant shift in the [delta]13C values from a C3 signature to a C4 signature occurred prior to 2,750 years ago. This shift is indicative of the introduction of a non-endemic C4 plant, which is believed to be either foxtail millet or sugarcane. Since this shift occurs abruptly it indicates that the introduction of agriculture to Flores occurred at one time and has continued to present day.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003894, ucf:48748
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003894

Title: Diet and Migration in Coastal Oaxaca: Identifying Effects of Political and Social Collapse through the Utilization of Stable Isotope Analysis.
Creator: Rumberger, Jacklyn, Barber, Sarah, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study involves the investigation of diet and mobility among people living in the lower R(&)#237;o Verde Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Late Classic (AD 500-800) and Early Postclassic (AD 800-1200) periods. Specifically, this research focuses on how political and social collapse affected subsistence practices and diet, particularly maize agriculture and consumption, as well as human migration. Archaeological evidence suggests that R(&)#237;o Viejo, the region's largest urban center...
Show moreThis study involves the investigation of diet and mobility among people living in the lower R(&)#237;o Verde Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Late Classic (AD 500-800) and Early Postclassic (AD 800-1200) periods. Specifically, this research focuses on how political and social collapse affected subsistence practices and diet, particularly maize agriculture and consumption, as well as human migration. Archaeological evidence suggests that R(&)#237;o Viejo, the region's largest urban center before AD 800, experienced multiple periods of political fragmentation and instability during its long history, specifically during the Early Classic (AD 250 - 500) and Early Postclassic periods, making it an ideal place to test these relationships. Stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic analyses of human bone and tooth samples were used to reconstruct diet and create a life history for sampled individuals. Samples were extracted from the skeletal remains of individuals dating to the Late Classic (n=11) and Early Postclassic (n=11) periods. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values provide insight into maize consumption; in addition stable nitrogen isotope values also indicate the extent that aquatic resources were being exploited. Stable oxygen isotope values are used to determine if any of the individuals were foreigners and had migrated to the valley during their lifetime. Results demonstrate collapse following the Classic period led to a slight dietary shift that included a wider variety of resources, possibly aquatic. Human mobility also increased during this time as oxygen values display a wider range and indicate movement within the valley and along the coast.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006491, ucf:51399
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006491

Title: The Crypt People from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Vladislaus, Vilnius, Lithuania: Reconstruction of Life Histories Using Stable Isotope Analysis.
Creator: Schotten, Kaylee, Dupras, Tosha, Schultz, John, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Stable isotope analyses of multiple tissue types have been used to reconstruct life histories of individuals from past populations. This thesis presents the life history reconstructions of a unique population recovered from a 16th to 18th century cathedral crypt located in Vilnius, Lithuania. The sample consists of 23 individuals (21 males, one possible female, and one juvenile). Stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analyses were performed on bone and dentin collagen, and on bone and...
Show moreStable isotope analyses of multiple tissue types have been used to reconstruct life histories of individuals from past populations. This thesis presents the life history reconstructions of a unique population recovered from a 16th to 18th century cathedral crypt located in Vilnius, Lithuania. The sample consists of 23 individuals (21 males, one possible female, and one juvenile). Stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analyses were performed on bone and dentin collagen, and on bone and enamel hydroxyapatite, resulting in eight isotope values per individual, providing both childhood and adult dietary and migration information. For bone collagen the average ?13C isotope ratio is -19.9‰ +/- 0.4 and for ?15N is 11.8‰ +/- 0.9. The average ?13C isotope ratio for collagen extracted from dentin is -19.5‰ +/- 0.4 and for ?15N is 11.4‰ +/- 0.9. The bone apatite average ?13C ratio is -14.2‰ +/- 0.9, and the average ?13C enamel ratio enamel is -13.5‰ +/- 1.5. These values indicate a diet in both early childhood and adulthood that was heavily reliant on C3 plants; a result supported by previous isotopic studies from Lithuania and surrounding countries. The average ?18OVSMOW bone apatite ratio is 26.1‰ +/- 1.0 and the average enamel ?18OVSMOW ratio is 24.9‰ +/- 1.5. The ?18O isotope values suggest that the majority of these individuals were born elsewhere and migrated to the city of Vilnius sometime after their childhood years. Stable isotope analyses, in combination with macroscopic examination, aids in the understanding of those who were buried in this unique location.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0006230, ucf:51057
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006230

Title: Diet at medieval Alytus, Lithuania: Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone and dentin collagen.
Creator: Whitmore, Katie, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Schultz, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The Baltic region was a vibrant center of power and economic prosperity in medieval Europe; Lithuania in particular. Until now, little stable isotopic analysis has been utilized to assess diet in this region during this time period. The aim of this study was to undertake a preliminary assessment of the composition of diet at late medieval Alytus (late 14th to early 18th centuries) from bone (N=35) and dentin (N=38) collagen samples. The stable carbon isotopic data suggest a diet primarily...
Show moreThe Baltic region was a vibrant center of power and economic prosperity in medieval Europe; Lithuania in particular. Until now, little stable isotopic analysis has been utilized to assess diet in this region during this time period. The aim of this study was to undertake a preliminary assessment of the composition of diet at late medieval Alytus (late 14th to early 18th centuries) from bone (N=35) and dentin (N=38) collagen samples. The stable carbon isotopic data suggest a diet primarily comprised of C3 plants such as barley, rye, wheat, and flax, and animals consuming C3 plants. The stable nitrogen isotopic data indicate the use of aquatic resources, and reflects the protein portion of the diet as including mainly terrestrial non-legumes. There are no significant differences in the pattern of resource consumption between juvenile males and females. There is a significant difference between adult males and adult females; the more depleted bone collagen ?15N values indicates that adult females were consuming less protein resources, or protein resources of a lower trophic level, compared to their male counterparts. This difference could also be affected by physiological factors such as pregnancy or disease. A difference between juvenile and adult stable nitrogen isotope values might indicate latter weaning of juvenile males, the incorporation of more terrestrial or aquatic protein into juvenile male diet, the incorporation of less terrestrial or aquatic protein into adult female diet, or a combination of the three.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005738, ucf:50106
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005738

Title: Stable Isotopes and Multiple Tissue Analysis: Reconstructing Life Histories for Individuals from Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
Creator: Johns, Noel, Dupras, Tosha, Walker, John, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Stable isotope analysis is often used to evaluate elements of the lives of past peoples, such as diet and health status, at a societal level. Analysis at an individual level is exceptionally rare, and has not been conducted using a variety of tissues representing both early life and life approximate to death. In this study, ?13C and ?15N isotope signatures are used to create life histories for single individuals from Romano-Christian period Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt....
Show moreStable isotope analysis is often used to evaluate elements of the lives of past peoples, such as diet and health status, at a societal level. Analysis at an individual level is exceptionally rare, and has not been conducted using a variety of tissues representing both early life and life approximate to death. In this study, ?13C and ?15N isotope signatures are used to create life histories for single individuals from Romano-Christian period Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. Samples are obtained from several different tissues, including tooth dentin, bone collagen, hair, nail, skin, and gut content, all of which have been previously researched, but have not been studied at such an individualistic level. By using data and previous research conducted by Drs. Tosha Dupras and Lana Williams, this research uses isotopic values from the aforementioned tissues, and the differing turnover rates of these tissues, to develop lifetime timetables for 15 individuals (female, male, and juvenile). Results show that individual analysis is possible, informative, and can enlighten researchers not just concerning the individual, but about the population as a whole. The methods presented can serve as a model for reconstructing individual life histories using isotope data from multiple tissues.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004216, ucf:49020
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004216

Title: TROPHIC STATUS OF A SMALL MAMMAL ASSEMBLAGE ON CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PEROMYSCUS POLIONOTUS NIVEIVENTRIS (SOUTHEASTERN BEACH MOUSE).
Creator: Keserauskis, Megan, Stout, I. Jack, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Successful translocation of a listed species into an area of previous occupation requires knowledge of the habitat needs. The presence of the necessary food items is critical to the successful establishment of a new population; this information is unknown for Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris, the southeastern beach mouse, a threatened subspecies on the east coast of Florida. I used fecal and stable isotope analysis to determine the diet of this subspecies at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station...
Show moreSuccessful translocation of a listed species into an area of previous occupation requires knowledge of the habitat needs. The presence of the necessary food items is critical to the successful establishment of a new population; this information is unknown for Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris, the southeastern beach mouse, a threatened subspecies on the east coast of Florida. I used fecal and stable isotope analysis to determine the diet of this subspecies at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida, between the autumn of 2003 and the spring of 2005. Six trapping grids were established, three in the dune/swale and three in the coastal scrub communities. Fecal and hair samples were collected and analyzed. The diet varied in the amount of 13C consumed between habitats and in the amount of both 15N and 13C consumed among grids within a habitat. There was no significant interaction between habitat and sex in the amount of either 15N or 13C consumed, and sexes also did not differ significantly. Fecal analysis uncovered the dominance in the diet of C3 plants. My data refuted the current belief, that the southeastern beach mouse prefers beach grass seeds of C4 plants, which were consumed but not in the frequency or quantity expected. I also analyzed the diet of Peromyscus gossypinus, the cotton mouse, and Sigmodon hispidus, the hispid cotton rat, using the two techniques. Both species consumed a combination of plant and arthropod material. Their diets varied between dune/swale and coastal scrub habitats. All three species' diets were significantly different, with Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris and Peromyscus gossypinus being the most similar. Both consume a greater proportion of arthropod material compared to the hispid cotton rat. Interspecific competition between the southeastern beach mouse and the cotton mouse may occur in times of limited resources.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001756, ucf:47290
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001756

Title: FEEDING THE CHILDREN: A PALEODIETARY RECONSTRUCTION OF JUVENILES FROM KUELAP, PERU.
Creator: Denierio, Marley, Toyne, J. Marla, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Before reaching adulthood, every individual experiences a period of dependency, the juvenile period, during which they rely on the older, more experienced members of their society for their security, subsistence and care. This juvenile period is an important stage of life for human physical and physiological development. In bioarchaeology, there has been limited research conducted on juveniles, particularly, the development of their own social identity and influences. The research method of...
Show moreBefore reaching adulthood, every individual experiences a period of dependency, the juvenile period, during which they rely on the older, more experienced members of their society for their security, subsistence and care. This juvenile period is an important stage of life for human physical and physiological development. In bioarchaeology, there has been limited research conducted on juveniles, particularly, the development of their own social identity and influences. The research method of stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope analysis is used to reconstruct the paleodiet of juveniles to determine their dietary composition. Specifically, this research is focused on Kuelap, located in the highlands of Peru, a large settlement inhabited from 900-1535 AD, including pre-Inca (900-1469 AD) and Inca periods (1470-1535 AD). The primary aim of this research is to determine if juveniles consumed different foods through different time periods. Another aim of this research is to determine if juveniles were treated differently than their adult counterparts. Bone collagen samples, primarily ribs, from 32 juveniles were analyzed. The average ?13C value for the pre-Inca juveniles was -13.1%, and -13.4% for the Inca period juveniles. There was no statistically significant difference in ?13C values between juvenile groups or between adult and juvenile subsamples. The average ?15N for the pre-Inca juveniles was +8.1% and +7.8% for the Inca period juveniles. The Mann-Whitney U test determined there was not a statistically significant difference in ?15N values between the juvenile burial groups; however, there was a statistically significant difference between the juvenile and adult subgroups. The findings suggest that there may have been preferential treatment toward or metabolic stressors on the juvenile. The results of this study offer insights to availability of dietary components, societal roles based on developmental age stages, and the potential role of parenting in Kuelap.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000415, ucf:45758
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000415

Title: MOBILITY AND COLLAPSE: STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS OF OXYGEN-18 ISOTOPES FROM ANCIENT MEXICO.
Creator: St. Pierre, Melanie L, Barber, Sarah B., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: When a society experiences a collapse, political authority becomes decentralized, large settlements often become abandoned, economic specialization decreases; and monumental building projects, artistic, and literary achievements slow drastically. The Rio Verde Valley, a coastal floodplain located in the region of Oaxaca in Southwest Mexico, experienced such a collapse at the end of the Terminal Formative period (150 BC to 250 AD). A period of decentralization followed, with regional centers...
Show moreWhen a society experiences a collapse, political authority becomes decentralized, large settlements often become abandoned, economic specialization decreases; and monumental building projects, artistic, and literary achievements slow drastically. The Rio Verde Valley, a coastal floodplain located in the region of Oaxaca in Southwest Mexico, experienced such a collapse at the end of the Terminal Formative period (150 BC to 250 AD). A period of decentralization followed, with regional centers becoming the main seats of authority throughout the region. My aim is to understand how this collapse affected residential population mobility in the lower Rio Verde Valley between the pre-collapse Terminal Formative and post-collapse Early Classic periods. I seek to answer the question: could this political collapse have caused intra-regional migration amongst the people of Ancient Oaxaca? To answer this, I analyzed the stable 18O and 13O isotopes in a set of 21 samples of human long bone excavated from the Terminal Formative archaeological site of Yugue and the Early Classic site of Charco Redondo. Oxygen isotope analysis is based on the principle that bone apatite and tooth enamel hold traces of oxygen isotopes found in the water that people drink, and that varying values of those isotopes reflect that the water was obtained from different sources. Based on literature surrounding the process of political collapse in ancient Mesoamerica and beyond, I expected to find evidence that intra-regional population mobility increased after the Terminal Formative period collapse. Instead, I found evidence of little to no mobility in both the Terminal Formative period site and the Early Classic period site, showing that the political collapse likely did not affect intra-regional mobility. These findings provide valuable insight into how human migration patterns correspond with political changes, both in the archaeological record of past civilizations and in modern societies.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000379, ucf:45864
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000379

Title: USING STABLE ISOTOPES TO ASSESS THE POPULATION STRUCTURE AND FEEDING ECOLOGY OF NORTH PACIFIC HUMPBACK WHALES (MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE).
Creator: Witteveen, Briana, Worthy, Graham, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a wide-ranging baleen whale species with a complex life history and population structure. As seasonal migrants, humpback whales are known to inhabit cooler, high-latitude waters when foraging and low-latitudes for mating and calving. Beyond this general migratory pattern, a number of demographic characteristics including, abundance, distribution, seasonal occurrence, and prey preferences remain unknown or poorly described. A...
Show moreThe North Pacific humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a wide-ranging baleen whale species with a complex life history and population structure. As seasonal migrants, humpback whales are known to inhabit cooler, high-latitude waters when foraging and low-latitudes for mating and calving. Beyond this general migratory pattern, a number of demographic characteristics including, abundance, distribution, seasonal occurrence, and prey preferences remain unknown or poorly described. A complete understanding of humpback whale ecology is therefore lacking. Many methods used to explore these aspects of cetacean ecology are either prohibitively expensive or limited in the scope of what can be learned from their use. Fortunately, in recent years, the analysis of stable isotope ratios of animal tissues has proved a valuable and relatively inexpensive technique for providing information on trophic position, diet, and feeding origins of migratory populations. This study employed techniques in stable isotope ecology to increase knowledge of the population structure, migration routes, and foraging ecology of North Pacific humpback whales. Skin samples were collected from free-ranging humpback whales throughout all known feeding and breeding grounds and were analyzed for stable carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15N) isotope ratios. The population structure of humpback whales was first explored through geographic differences in stable isotope ratios. Stable isotope ratios varied significantly with location of sample collection. Based on this analysis, foraging animals were separated into six feeding groups. Classification tree analysis was then used to determine which isotopic variables could be used to predict group membership. Probable migratory linkages were then described by applying results of classification trees to 13C and 15N of animals sampled on breeding grounds. Strong migratory connections between the eastern-most foraging and breeding areas and the western-most areas were reflected in similarities of stable isotope ratios. Foraging ecology was then examined through calculation and comparison of the relative trophic levels of the six feeding groups. Isotopic values suggest some feeding groups are piscivorous, while others feed on a more mixed diet. These results can be used to determine if differences in diet composition between groups result in differences in accrued nutritional benefits, negatively impacting reproductive success and survival relative to fish eating groups. Finally, to gain insight into specific foraging habits, the diet of one group of humpback whales was modeled using an isotope mixing model. The 13C and 15N of Kodiak Island, Alaska humpback whales and several species of potential prey indicate that these animals likely rely heavily on euphausiids (Thysanoessa spinifera), Pacific sandlance (Ammodytes hexapterus), and capelin (Mallotus villosus). This study represents the first application of stable isotope ecology to an entire population of marine mammals. Stable isotope analysis was successfully applied to describe and improve understanding of the demographics of North Pacific humpback whales.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002386, ucf:47774
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002386

Title: Estimation of Weaning Patterns in the Elite Meroitic Population (8-B-5.A) from Sai Island, Sudan Using Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopes.
Creator: Gregoire, Rachel, Dupras, Tosha, Toyne, J. Marla, Zavodny, Emily, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research explores dietary patterns of elite non-adults from the Meroitic period (300 BC (-) AD 350) located in Sai Island, Sudan. The cemetery (8-B-5.A) is believed to have been in use during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Non-adults were chosen because they offer a unique, and often ignored, perspective into customs of past populations. Children require significant energy, which impacts how society feeds and cares for their young. Knowledge of their elite status in society will be...
Show moreThis research explores dietary patterns of elite non-adults from the Meroitic period (300 BC (-) AD 350) located in Sai Island, Sudan. The cemetery (8-B-5.A) is believed to have been in use during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Non-adults were chosen because they offer a unique, and often ignored, perspective into customs of past populations. Children require significant energy, which impacts how society feeds and cares for their young. Knowledge of their elite status in society will be consider to explore how this subset of the population may have differed in behavior. A significant factor of child life is access to food. One way to examine this aspect of past populations is to reconstruct infant weaning and feeding patterns using stable isotope analysis. This study analyzes stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes from the bone collagen of 31 non-adult individuals, ranging in age from 38 weeks to 16 years. Stable nitrogen isotopes are used to identify if the infants have higher trophic levels than their mothers, an indication of breastfeeding, and stable carbon isotopes are used to identify potential weaning foods. Taken together, and compared against sample ages, the longevity of the weaning process is considered, particularly when compared to adult male and female isotope values. Isotopic results indicate that non-adults in this population were weaned between 2-4 years of age and weaning foods were a combination of C3 and C4 plant food sources. Significant variation in isotope values was found in the younger non-adults, which indicates a potential difference in weaning style. These results can be built upon in further studies to further explore the motives of elite Meroitic parents.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007639, ucf:52491
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007639

Title: ESTIMATING DIET AND FOOD SELECTIVITY OF THE LOWER KEYS MARSH RABBIT USING STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS.
Creator: Gordon, Matthew, Hoffman, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Understanding the effect of food abundance on feeding behavior can benefit conservation efforts in many ways, such as to determine whether impacted environments need food supplementation, whether different locations of threatened species contain different food abundances, or whether reintroduction sites are missing key components of a species' diet. I studied the relationship between feeding behavior and food abundance in the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), an...
Show moreUnderstanding the effect of food abundance on feeding behavior can benefit conservation efforts in many ways, such as to determine whether impacted environments need food supplementation, whether different locations of threatened species contain different food abundances, or whether reintroduction sites are missing key components of a species' diet. I studied the relationship between feeding behavior and food abundance in the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), an endangered subspecies endemic to the lower Florida Keys. Specifically, my study set out to measure the relative abundance of the primary plants within the natural habitat of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit and estimate the proportion of each of these plants within the rabbit's diet. With this information, I tested the following hypotheses: first, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit selectively feeds on specific plants; second, that diet does not differ among sites; and third, that diet is not affected by food abundance. Using stable isotope analysis, I determined that two plants were prominent in the rabbit's diet: a shrub, Borrichia frutescens, and a grass, Spartina spartinae. These two species were prominent in the rabbit's diet in most patches, even where they were relatively rare, suggesting the rabbits are indeed selectively feeding on these species. In addition, although diet did differ among patches, selective feeding was apparent in all cases. Overall, this study determined that certain food types are important food sources for the federally endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit and that these rabbits do not feed on plants based on plant abundance. This knowledge can be directly applied to reintroduction and restoration efforts for the Lower Keys marsh rabbit. More generally, the methods used in this study can be applied to other species of concern in order to address questions associated with diet requirements and foraging behavior.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003471, ucf:48952
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003471

Title: Fine-scale geographic variation of stable isotope and fatty acid signatures of three fish species in the Indian River Lagoon, FL.
Creator: Odom, Jennifer, Worthy, Graham, Jenkins, David, Paperno, Richard, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, is a unique closed (")bar built(") estuary system that has little interchange with the Atlantic Ocean and which is home to many resident species. Three fish species were investigated to see if their isotopic and fatty acid signatures differed based on geographic location. The goal was to assess the degree of resolution of spatial variation that is possible when using stable isotope and fatty acid signature analysis to interpret feeding habits and potential...
Show moreThe Indian River Lagoon, Florida, is a unique closed (")bar built(") estuary system that has little interchange with the Atlantic Ocean and which is home to many resident species. Three fish species were investigated to see if their isotopic and fatty acid signatures differed based on geographic location. The goal was to assess the degree of resolution of spatial variation that is possible when using stable isotope and fatty acid signature analysis to interpret feeding habits and potential linkages between feeding habits and health status. Spotted seatrout (n=40), pinfish (n=60) and white mullet (n=60) were collected over a 4 week period at sites 30 km apart in two distinct biogeographic regions of the IRL. Fish were analyzed for stable isotope (?13C and ?15N) and fatty acid composition. All three species were significantly different from each other in both isotopic and fatty acid signatures. In the North Indian River segment, spotted seatrout, white mullet and pinfish had mean values ((&)#177; SE) for ?13C of -18.00 (&)#177; 0.08, -14.59 (&)#177; 0.07 and -16.88 (&)#177; 0.04 respectively and for ?15N, mean values were 14.43 (&)#177; 0.05, 8.30 (&)#177; 0.04 and 10.43 (&)#177; 0.03 respectively. For the North-Central Indian River segment, spotted seatrout, white mullet and pinfish had mean values for ?13C of -18.98 (&)#177; 0.02, -16.25 (&)#177;0.06 and -16.94 (&)#177; 0.04 respectively and for ?15N, mean values were 14.21 (&)#177; 0.02, 8.07 (&)#177; 0.03 and 10.64 (&)#177;0.03 respectively. When species and location interactions were examined using ANCOVA, a post-hoc Tukey's HSD test showed that ?13C was significantly affected by sampling segment only for spotted seatrout and that there was no significant effect of location on ?15N values. Spotted seatrout was the only species that differed between segments for ?13C. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis was then performed on the (")extended dietary fatty acids(") for each individual species and collection location. In this analysis, all three species were correctly identified to segment (white mullet - MR 2/53 p~ 0.03; spotted seatrout (MR 0/40), and pinfish (MR 0/56) indicating that individual species were exhibiting significant differences in their fatty acid signature over distances of 30 km. The ability to discern fine-scale differences in potential prey allows for the possibility of better resolution of dolphin feeding habits and hence a better understanding of both habitat utilization and health impacts. Due to limited exchange of clean salt water, contaminants can theoretically become a problem and there are indications that the health of the resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has been declining over recent years.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004329, ucf:49434
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004329

Title: Habitat Use and Feeding Ecology of Delphinids Inferred from Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acid Signatures.
Creator: Browning, Nicole, Worthy, Graham, Jenkins, David, Hinkle, Charles, Cockcroft, Victor, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Prey availability, directly or indirectly, affects all aspects of a predator's life history and is a primary factor influencing habitat selection and movements. This is especially true for delphinid species where it has been documented that the behaviors and movements of dolphins are strongly influenced by food availability. Unfortunately, the feeding ecology and habitat use patterns of many of these species are poorly understood. Many methodologies that have been employed to explore these...
Show morePrey availability, directly or indirectly, affects all aspects of a predator's life history and is a primary factor influencing habitat selection and movements. This is especially true for delphinid species where it has been documented that the behaviors and movements of dolphins are strongly influenced by food availability. Unfortunately, the feeding ecology and habitat use patterns of many of these species are poorly understood. Many methodologies that have been employed to explore these facets of dolphin ecology have limitations and constraints or are logistically infeasible. Stable isotope and fatty acid signature analyses have been used extensively on a wide variety of species and have been shown to be methodologies that overcome some of these limitations. These approaches can provide information on feeding habits and the geographic origin of the prey thereby giving tremendous insight into habitat usage patterns. The present study applied stable isotope and fatty acid signature methodologies to gain insight into the feeding ecology and habitat usage of various dolphin species to improve upon our understanding of these important facets of their life histories.The application of stable isotope analysis in ecological studies relies on both species and tissue specific measurements of parameters such as diet-tissue discrimination factors, the difference in stable isotope ratio between a consumer and its prey, and turnover rates, the change in tissue isotopic composition attributable to growth and tissue replacement. Initially, controlled studies were conducted and animals were switched from one isotopically distinct diet to another which allowed for the calculation of these values in bottlenose dolphin skin. Diet-tissue discrimination factors for dolphin skin averaged 2.20° for nitrogen and 0.82° for carbon. Average turnover rates (expressed in half-lives) in dolphin skin were 17 days for nitrogen and 16.5 days for carbon. The present study represents the first reported diet-tissue discrimination factors and turnover rates for carbon and nitrogen in the skin of any cetacean.Next, skin samples were collected from net-entangled and free-ranging dolphin species off the coast of South Africa and analyzed for stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope ratios. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), the common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), and the humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) all occur off the southeastern coast of South Africa with overlapping distributions. Isotopic signatures revealed resource partitioning among these four species of dolphins with differences in diets, as well as differences in the use of habitat. Mean values for ? 15N ranged from 11.92 (&)#177; 0.11° (n=3) for striped dolphins to 14.95 (&)#177; 0.19° (n=27) for humpback dolphins, indicating that these species are feeding at different trophic levels. Striped dolphin carbon isotope signatures were consistent with evidence that they typically forage further offshore (-17.94 (&)#177; 0.14°) and the carbon isotope values of the humpback dolphins reflected their use of inshore habitats by comparison (-15.16 (&)#177; 0.12°). Common and bottlenose dolphins for nitrogen (13.66 (&)#177; 0.08°, 14.35 (&)#177; 0.07° respectively) and carbon (-15.48 (&)#177; 0.07°, -15.76 (&)#177; 0.06° respectively) fell in between these two extremes. Analyses also revealed that males and females have differences in their diets. On average, males were enriched in ?15N by 0.74° compared to females suggesting some dietary differences in prey composition. Isotopic niche width has been compared to traditional measures of niches used by ecologists and was measured for these South African dolphins. Humpback and bottlenose dolphins had the largest standard elliptical area (SEA), striped dolphins had the smallest SEA, and the SEA for common dolphins was intermediate. Larger SEA values reflect a broader trophic diversity, while smaller SEA values reflect a narrower trophic diversity or a more specialized niche. Finally, a resident group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) in east central Florida were sampled and explored for differences in isotopic signatures based on sex, age category, season, and location within the IRL. In addition to stable isotope analysis, fatty acid analysis was also used to compare and contrast the findings between the two techniques. Comparison of stable isotopic signatures revealed differences among age categories and among locations. Fatty acid analysis was able to discern further and found differences in the signatures between male and female dolphins. The combination of both techniques allowed for an extensive examination into the feeding ecology and habitat utilization of these resident dolphins. The Bayesian mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R- SIAR) was validated using controlled study data and was found to be accurate when inputting isotopically distinct prey items (sources). The mixing model was then used to estimate the proportions of prey items that make up the diet of Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins. Two models were run in which dolphins were grouped together (model 1) and dolphins were separated by year (model 2). Results of the model reaffirm stomach content analysis results previously obtained.Stable isotope techniques were applied to various dolphin species to gain better understanding of their feeding ecology and habitat utilization. Resource partitioning was suggested for four South African dolphin species which gives crucial insight into the ecology of both at-risk and data-deficient species. These discernments will provide much needed data to conservationists and managers and contributes to our general understanding of these species. This is the first study of its kind to undertake controlled diet studies with bottlenose dolphins which determined diet-tissue discrimination values and turnover rates for carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the skin of any cetacean. The current study is also the first of its kind to attempt to model bottlenose dolphin diet in the Indian River using stable isotopes. Food, being a primary driver for many species, can lend explanation of things like movement patterns, habitat usage, competition, reproductive success, survival, and the spread of diseases, which has been an issue in Indian River dolphins in recent years. Dietary information modeled in this study provided new data for the relative contribution of a suite of potential prey to an apex predator in the Indian River. Data produced through the current study contributes towards a large, unprecedented step forward in understanding dolphin ecology and the roll of cetacean stable isotope ecology.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004823, ucf:49733
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004823

Title: Interpreting Diet and Nutritional Stress in Napoleon's Grand Army using Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis.
Creator: Holder, Sammantha, Dupras, Tosha, Schultz, John, Williams, Lana, Toyne, Jennifer, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A mass grave containing the remains of at least 3269 Napoleonic soldiers from 1812 was discovered in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2001. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses were performed on collagen from 78 femoral samples to explore dietary variation within the sample. Starvation and nutritional distress were also evaluated through the examination of nitrogen enrichment in bone collagen. Clinical studies have demonstrated that enriched nitrogen isotope values can indicate periods of...
Show moreA mass grave containing the remains of at least 3269 Napoleonic soldiers from 1812 was discovered in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2001. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses were performed on collagen from 78 femoral samples to explore dietary variation within the sample. Starvation and nutritional distress were also evaluated through the examination of nitrogen enrichment in bone collagen. Clinical studies have demonstrated that enriched nitrogen isotope values can indicate periods of nutritional stress and starvation; however, this is the first study to examine its use as a diagnostic indicator of starvation in a historical population using bone tissue. According to the carbon isotope data, a vast majority of the soldiers in this sample consumed predominantly C3 plants with only five individuals consuming more than 50% of their plant dietary protein in the form of C4 plants, with ?13C ratios for this sample ranging from -19.22‰ to -11.76‰ and a mean of -17.18‰. This conforms to expectations given that a majority of human plant consumption in Europe is C3 pathway plants. Twenty-nine individuals exhibit enriched ?15N values, with ?15N values for this sample ranging from 7.14‰ to 13.63‰ and a mean of 10.49‰. The combination of historical and isotopic evidence suggests prolonged nutritional stress may be the cause of enrichment in this sample. The results of this study demonstrate the applicability of this method on archaeological samples as a line of evidence in the investigation of starvation and famine.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005004, ucf:49982
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005004

Title: Bioarchaeological assessment of diet and changes in femoral and humeral stable isotopic values among subadults at Medieval Alytus, Lithuania.
Creator: Page, Katherine, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Wheeler, Sandra, Schultz, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Establishing a chronology of variation in isotopic values can reveal frailty associated with biological and social age, as well as highlight individuals who vary from typical patterns. Although general dietary characteristics and infant feeding practices were previously unknown for subadults excavated from the cemetery at Alytus, Lithuania (14th-18th centuries), previous research concludes that Alytus' subadults experienced high rates of physiological, metabolic, non-specific stress, in...
Show moreEstablishing a chronology of variation in isotopic values can reveal frailty associated with biological and social age, as well as highlight individuals who vary from typical patterns. Although general dietary characteristics and infant feeding practices were previously unknown for subadults excavated from the cemetery at Alytus, Lithuania (14th-18th centuries), previous research concludes that Alytus' subadults experienced high rates of physiological, metabolic, non-specific stress, in addition to specific diseases like tuberculosis. To investigate nuanced relationships between diet and mortality, nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes from the femoral and humeral midshaft diaphyses of 70 subadults (32 weeks gestation to16 years) were analyzed. Dietary reconstruction reveals that on average, exclusive breastfeeding continued until around 2 years of age when enriched ?13C (-19.6â€°) and ?15N values (12.7â€°) begin to deplete suggesting introduction of C3 grain gruels and potential weaning-associated infirmity. Nitrogen values remained slightly elevated in children (3-5 years, 11.2â€°) until the beginning of juvenility (5-8 years, 10.3â€°) when ?15N more closely mirrored adult values (16 years, 10.2â€°), consistent with predominant consumption of terrestrial animal protein, possibly with riverine influence. The difference between femoral to humeral ? F-H 13C (-0.05 (&)#177;0.25â€°, 1?) and ? F-H 15N (- 0.01(&)#177;0.45â€°, 1?) was not significant, though humeral values were on average more enriched. Enrichments in humeral nitrogen and carbon coincided with estimated weaning age. Cohorts experiencing childhood and adolescent growth spurts experienced higher femoral ?13C and ?15N values. Examining dietary experience and physiological changes contributes a holistic understanding of subadult morbidity and mortality experiences in Medieval Lithuania.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005679, ucf:50192
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005679

Title: STABLE ISOTOPE TURNOVER RATES AND DIET-TISSUE DISCRIMINATION IN THE SKIN OF WEST INDIAN MANATEES: IMPLICATIONS FOR EVALUATING THEIR FEEDING ECOLOGY AND HABITAT USE.
Creator: Alves, Christy, Worthy, Graham, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an herbivorous marine mammal that occupies freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. Despite being considered endangered, relatively little is known about the feeding ecology of either of the two recognized subspecies, the Florida manatee (T.m. latirostris) and Caribbean or Antillean manatee (T.m. manatus). A better understanding of their respective feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation...
Show moreThe West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an herbivorous marine mammal that occupies freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. Despite being considered endangered, relatively little is known about the feeding ecology of either of the two recognized subspecies, the Florida manatee (T.m. latirostris) and Caribbean or Antillean manatee (T.m. manatus). A better understanding of their respective feeding preferences and habitat use is essential to establish criteria on which conservation plans can be based. The present study expands on previous work on manatee feeding ecology by both assessing the application of stable isotope analysis to manatee tissue and providing critical baseline parameters for accurate isotopic data interpretation. The present study was the first to calculate stable isotope turnover rate in the skin of any marine mammal. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were examined over a period of more than one year in the epidermis of rescued Florida manatees that were transitioning from a diet of aquatic forage to terrestrial forage (lettuce) in captivity. Mean half-life for 13C turnover in manatee epidermis was 55 days and mean half-life for 15N turnover was 42 days. Due to these slow turnover rates, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis in manatee epidermis is useful in summarizing average dietary intake over a long period of time rather than assessing recent diet. In addition to turnover rate, a diet-tissue discrimination value of 2.8‰ for 13C was calculated for long-term captive manatees on a lettuce diet. Turnover and diet-tissue discrimination results were subsequently used to interpret carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data in epidermis samples collected from free-ranging manatees in Florida, Belize, and Puerto Rico. This study was the first application of stable isotope analysis to Antillean manatees. Regional differences in stable isotope ratios in manatee skin were consistent with ratios in plant samples collected in those regions. Signatures in the skin of manatees sampled in Belize and Puerto Rico indicated a diet composed mainly of seagrasses, whereas those of Florida manatees exhibited greater variation. Mixing model results indicated manatees sampled from Crystal River and Homosassa Springs had an overall average intake of primarily freshwater vegetation whereas manatees sampled from Big Bend Power Plant, Ten Thousand Islands, and Warm Mineral Springs fed primarily on seagrasses. Possible diet-tissue discrimination values for 15N ranged from 1.0 to 1.5‰. Stable isotope analysis can be successfully applied to interpret manatee feeding behavior over a long period of time, specifically the use of freshwater vegetation vs. seagrasses, and can aid in improving conservation efforts.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001599, ucf:47161
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001599

Title: Investigations of possible cases of scurvy in juveniles from the Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, through stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of multiple tissues.
Creator: Chasse, Georgina, Schultz, John, Wheeler, Sandra, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, is a disease that can occur in humans at any age and has been seen throughout time. Scurvy affects the production of connective tissues, including collagen, which leads to the many symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums and lost teeth, skeletal changes, and even death. The Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in use from approximately AD 50-360, contains the remains of many juveniles who exhibit skeletal indicators of...
Show moreVitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, is a disease that can occur in humans at any age and has been seen throughout time. Scurvy affects the production of connective tissues, including collagen, which leads to the many symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums and lost teeth, skeletal changes, and even death. The Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in use from approximately AD 50-360, contains the remains of many juveniles who exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy. Tissue samples from juveniles who did (n=31) and did not (n=117) exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy were analyzed isotopically, with the sample including stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope values of bone collagen (scurvy =11, non-scurvy =13), hair (scurvy=21, non-scurvy=112), nail (scurvy =10, non-scurvy =44), and skin (scurvy =19, non-scurvy =59). Intra-tissue comparisons were conducted to determine whether this disease affects ?13C and ?15N values sufficiently to distinguish these two groups from one another isotopically. Inter-tissue comparisons between bone collagen and hair were also conducted, with emphasis placed on inter-tissue spacing results and outliers. Mean ?13C and ?15N values for each hair segment were compared to look for early isotopic signals of scurvy. No statistically significant differences were found between any intra-tissue scurvy and non-scurvy cohorts and no obvious indications of the onset of scurvy were seen in the hair segment analyses. The inter-tissue spacing results, however, highlighted some interesting patterns in the bone collagen-to-hair values, especially in regards to the identified outliers that are discussed in more detail. While this study did not detect any significant differences between scurvy and non-scurvy cohorts or early isotopic signals of the disease in hair segments, the inter-tissue spacing results do point to changes between the cohorts that may be attributable to the physiological stress of scurvy and therefore warrants further investigation.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007164, ucf:52273
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007164

stable isotope analysis (10)	+ -
diet (7)	+ -
bioarchaeology (5)	+ -
stable isotopes (5)	+ -
Stable Isotopes (4)	+ -

feeding ecology (4)	+ -
stable isotope (4)	+ -
carbon (3)	+ -
migration (3)	+ -
nitrogen (3)	+ -
Bioarchaeology (2)	+ -
Diet (2)	+ -
Egypt (2)	+ -
Lithuania (2)	+ -
Medieval (2)	+ -
Meroitic (2)	+ -
Oaxaca (2)	+ -
Social Identity (2)	+ -
Stable isotope analysis (2)	+ -
archaeology (2)	+ -
inter-tissue spacing (2)	+ -
migratory connectivity (2)	+ -
?13C and ?15N isotopes (1)	+ -
Agriculture (1)	+ -
Alytus (1)	+ -
Alzheimer's Disease (1)	+ -
Amyloid beta (1)	+ -
Amyloid fibrillization (1)	+ -
Austronesian (1)	+ -
Bachman's Sparrow (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (27)	+ -
Honors Collection (3)	+ -

University of Central Florida (30)	+ -
Dupras, Tosha (15)	+ -
Williams, Lana (11)	+ -
Schultz, John (8)	+ -
Worthy, Graham (5)	+ -

Toyne, J. Marla (4)	+ -
Jenkins, David (2)	+ -
Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro (2)	+ -
Roth, James (2)	+ -
Tatulian, Suren (2)	+ -
Teter, Kenneth (2)	+ -
Wheeler, Sandra (2)	+ -
Zavodny, Emily (2)	+ -
Alves, Christy (1)	+ -
Anderson, Kelly (1)	+ -
Barber, Sarah (1)	+ -
Barber, Sarah B. (1)	+ -
Bowman, Reed (1)	+ -
Brock, Alexandria (1)	+ -
Browning, Nicole (1)	+ -
Burress, Helen (1)	+ -
Ceriani, Simona (1)	+ -
Chabot, Ryan (1)	+ -
Chase, Dr. Arlen (1)	+ -
Chasse, Georgina (1)	+ -
Cockcroft, Victor (1)	+ -
Davidson, Victor (1)	+ -
Denierio, Marley (1)	+ -
Duncan, Neil (1)	+ -
Dupras , Tosha (1)	+ -

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