% pubman genre = article @article{item_3352365, title = {{Zinc isotopes from archaeological bones provide reliable trophic level information for marine mammals}}, author = {McCormack, Jeremy and Szpak, Paul and Bourgon, Nicolas and Richards, Michael and Hyland, Corrie and M{\'e}jean, Pauline and Hublin, Jean-Jacques and Jaouen, Klervia}, language = {eng}, isbn = {2399-3642}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-021-02212-z}, year = {2021}, abstract = {{In marine ecology, dietary interpretations of faunal assemblages often rely on nitrogen isotopes as the main or only applicable trophic level tracer. We investigate the geographic variability and trophic level isotopic discrimination factors of bone zinc 66Zn/64Zn ratios ($\delta$66Zn value) and compared it to collagen nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ($\delta$15N and $\delta$13C) values. Focusing on ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from multiple Arctic archaeological sites, we investigate trophic interactions between predator and prey over a broad geographic area. All proxies show variability among sites, influenced by the regional food web baselines. However, $\delta$66Zn shows a significantly higher homogeneity among different sites. We observe a clear trophic spacing for $\delta$15N and $\delta$66Zn values in all locations, yet $\delta$66Zn analysis allows a more direct dietary comparability between spatially and temporally distinct locations than what is possible by $\delta$15N and $\delta$13C analysis alone. When combining all three proxies, a more detailed and refined dietary analysis is possible.}}, journal = {{Communications Biology}}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, eid = {683}, }