Shell organic matrix proteins in fossils are valuable geochemical archives for studying ancient environments and food webs. Compound-specific studies of stable carbon isotope ratios offer particularly good resolution of trophic level of consumers and the identities of primary producers and can be used to detect diagenetic alteration of isotopic ratios. To interpret compound specific isotope data, however, controlled diet studies in the laboratory are needed to reveal trophic enrichment patterns of 13C in tissues and shell organic matter. This study examines the relationship between d 13C of 11 amino acids in diet, soft tissues, and shell organic matter in laboratory-cultured Strombus alatus, an herbivorous marine gastropod. The d 13C values of amino acids in this animal's foot and mantle tissues are consistently enriched in 13C relative to the diet. Phenylalanine (+1.8 ppm) and alanine (+3.8 ppm) showed the least fractionation between diet and tissues, while aspartic acid (+10.7 ppm) and glutamic acid (+14.6 ppm) showed the greatest enrichment. On average, nonessential amino acids exhibited greater enrichment than did essential amino acids (+7.1 ppm vs. + 4.1 ppm). Shell organic matter amino acids showed a very similar pattern, with aspartic and glutamic acids again showing the greatest enrichment (+7.2 ppm and +11.1 ppm respectively). Nonessential amino acids in shell (+4.9 ppm) were also more enriched than the essential amino acids (+3.5 ppm). Overall, the carbon isotopic compositions of amino acids in shell organic matrix appear to parallel those in animal tissue, validating the utility of employing this material as a surrogate for animal tissue in fossil samples. Interpreting trophic position information in consumers is difficult, however, as the variation in the magnitude of trophic enrichments for glutamic and aspartic acids between species, tissue types and diet is still poorly understood. As phenylalanine has the most consistent diet-consumer enrichments, the most suitable application for d 13C isotope analysis at this time is the reconstruction of base food sources.

Los suelos arcillosos tienen la característica de hincharse cuando son expuestos a la humedad y de contraerse cuando existe sequedad, esto representa un problema especialmente en las cimentaciones que se construyen sobre este tipo de suelo. Por ello, la presente investigación tiene como finalidad evaluar el efecto en las propiedades mecánicas al adicionar vidrio y valvas de molusco triturados a este suelo problemático. La presente tesis tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo, ya que el estudio del suelo arcilloso se realizó mediante la medición de indicadores tales como Corte directo, Proctor Modificado, Límites de Atterberg y Granulometría. Además, el uso del vidrio y valvas de molusco disminuirá los costos de mejoramiento del suelo arcilloso, ya que son materiales que se encuentran por abundancia en la zona de estudio. Y los costos para adquirir estos productos son mínimos. Con esta clase de mejora presentada en la investigación, el suelo arcilloso mejora notablemente, ya que este aumenta su capacidad de soporte. Los resultados muestran que el uso de las valvas de molusco y polvo de vidrio brindan un aumento de la resistencia del suelo arcilloso, además muestra una disminución de las deformaciones transversales que están presentes por la aplicación de cargas sobre el terreno arcilloso. Finalmente, se observó que, al combinar el suelo arcilloso con el polvo de valvas de molusco y polvo de vidrio, esta mezcla disminuye la absorción de agua, convirtiendo de esta manera más estable al terreno arcilloso. / Clayey soils have the characteristic of swelling when exposed to moisture and shrinking when there is dryness, this represents a problem especially in foundations that are built on this type of soil. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect on mechanical properties by adding glass powder and mollusk shell powder to this problem soil. The present thesis had a quantitative focus, since the study of clay soil was carried out by measuring indicators such as Direct Cut, Modified Proctor, Atterberg Limits and Granulometry. In addition, the use of glass powder and mollusk shells will decrease the costs of clay soil improvement, since they are materials found in abundance in the study area. And the costs to purchase these products are minimal. With this kind of improvement presented in research, clayey soil improves markedly as it increases its bearing capacity. The results show that the use of mollusk shells and glass powder provide an increase in the resistance of the clay soil, in addition it shows a decrease in the transverse deformations that are present by the application of loads on the clay soil. Finally, it was observed that, when combining clay soil with shellfish powder and glass powder, this mixture decreases the absorption of water, thus making clay soil more stable. / Tesis