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Effects of acidification on the isotopic ratios of Neotropical otter tooth dentin
Author(s) -
Carrasco Thayara S.,
Botta Silvina,
Machado Rodrigo,
Colares Elton P.,
Secchi Eduardo R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8097
Subject(s) - chemistry , environmental chemistry , isotopes of nitrogen , dentin , nitrogen , isotope analysis , stable isotope ratio , carbon fibers , sulfur , isotopes of carbon , δ13c , ocean acidification , total organic carbon , ecology , seawater , biology , medicine , physics , materials science , organic chemistry , pathology , quantum mechanics , composite number , composite material
Rationale Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios are widely used in ecological studies providing important information on the trophic ecology and habitat use of consumers. However, some factors may lead to isotopic variability, which makes difficult the interpretation of data, such as the presence of inorganic carbon in mineralized tissues. In order to remove the inorganic carbon, acidification is a commonly used treatment. Methods The effects of two methods of acidification were tested: (i) dentin acidification with 10% HCl using the ‘drop‐by‐drop’ technique, and (ii) dentin acidification in an ‘HCl atmosphere’, by exposing the dentin to vaporous 30% hydrochloric acid. Results were compared with untreated subsamples. The stable carbon and nitrogen ratios of untreated and acidified subsamples were measured using an elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Results The nitrogen isotopic ratios were statistically different between the two acidification treatments, but no significant changes in carbon isotopic ratios were found in acidified and untreated samples. Conclusions The results indicated that acidification had no effect on carbon isotopic ratios of Neotropical otter tooth dentin, while introducing a source of error in nitrogen isotopic ratios. Therefore, we conclude that acidification is an unnecessary step for C and N stable isotope analysis.