Assessment of trophic structure of Cretaceous communities based on stable nitrogen isotope analyses

Research Article| June 01, 1993 Assessment of trophic structure of Cretaceous communities based on stable nitrogen isotope analyses P. H. Ostrom; P. H. Ostrom 1Department of Geological Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. A. Macko; S. A. Macko 2Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. H. Engel; M. H. Engel 3School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73019 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. A. Russell D. A. Russell 4Canadian Museum of Nature, Research Division, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario K1 P 6P4, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information P. H. Ostrom 1Department of Geological Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 S. A. Macko 2Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 M. H. Engel 3School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73019 D. A. Russell 4Canadian Museum of Nature, Research Division, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario K1 P 6P4, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1993) 21 (6): 491–494. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)0212.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation P. H. Ostrom, S. A. Macko, M. H. Engel, D. A. Russell; Assessment of trophic structure of Cretaceous communities based on stable nitrogen isotope analyses. Geology 1993;; 21 (6): 491–494. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)0212.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract New δ15N data suggest the retention of an indigenous signal in ancient high molecular weight organic material. These data open the possibility of obtaining new paleoecological information, based on isotopic analyses, on ancient, well-preserved fossil communities. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were performed on high molecular weight organic material isolated from 22 taxa of Late Cretaceous vertebrates (Judith River Formation, Alberta,Canada). The majority of δ13C and δ15N values (-27‰ to -23‰ and 4‰ to 12‰, for δ13C and δ15N, respectively) are similar to those reported for modern consumers. An assessment of trophic levels based on δ15N is consistent with previous interpretations of food web structure derived from paleoecological interpretations. Among terrestrial consumers, carnivorous theropods (tyrannosaurids and dromaeosaurids) have high δ15N values (6.6‰ ±0.4‰ and 7.9‰, respectively) relative to those of the dominant megaherbivore (hadrosaurids, 4.7‰ ±0.5‰). Within aquatic environments, the values of δ15N of the bowfin Amia (11.6‰) and plesiosaur (11.0‰),distinguish the piscivorous tendencies of these organisms from those of tower trophic level consumers such as the benthic feeding sturgeon Acipenser and the turtle Aspideretes (δ15N = 5.1‰ and 4.5‰, respectively). The correlation in trophic position between δ15N values and paleoecological evidence is unlikely to be coincidental. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.