A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2016. / Stable isotope analyses have been used to infer diets of organisms, define trophic partitioning, and infer geographic origins of species. It has further been applied to forensic ecology to infer the origins of deceased humans and illegally traded animal (elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn) and plant (cycads, coca, and cannabis) material. However, no research has focused on the isotope analysis of avian material in forensic ecology. African grey parrots Psittacus erithacus are one of the most traded species in the world, with the trade often being illegal, and the origins of confiscated or deceased specimens being unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if stable isotopes (δ 13C, δ 15N, and δ 2H) in African grey parrot feathers could be used to determine the wild or captive origins of birds. African grey parrot feathers (primary, body, and tail) differed isotopically so standardising isotope values of African grey parrot feathers to a single feather type was recommended, to maintain consistent sampling and allow for comparisons to be drawn between different feather types. African grey parrot feathers from unknown origins can be identified as wild or captive using δ 13C and δ 2H values, but not δ 15N values. Known wild and captive feathers possibly differ isotopically from one another because of dietary and location differences. Wild African grey parrots inhabit and feed in isotopically depleted C3 forests compared to captive African grey parrots which are usually fed C4 based foods with more positive isotope values. Wild African grey parrot δ 2H isotope values were the most negative in the central region of their native distribution. The ability to differentiate wild from captive African grey parrots, as well as infer basic origins (East from West Africa) may improve the monitoring of the illegal trade as well as help in tracing illegally traded parrots. / LG2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. August 2014. / The Central African Copperbelt is located in the Lufilian Arc which straddles the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mineralisation of the cupriferous Arc is found in basal Neoproterozoic Katangan Supergroup sedimentary rocks, which in DRC are termed the Mines Series Subgroup. The Mines Series is divided into the dolomitic and carbonaceous GRAT, DStrat RSF, RSC, SD and CMN units. The composition of the units is homogeneous across the Lubumbashi district and potentially across the Katangan basin. This study focussed on the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits in the Lubumbashi district, which are approximately 50 km apart. The study confirmed that relative eustatic sea level changes resulted in the non-deposition of the RSF and RSC stratigraphic units at Kinsevere. Sedimentation was followed by early pervasive potassic alteration and silicification at the diagenetic stage whilst a magnesian dolomitisation event resulted in alteration of potassic feldspars and recrystallisation of carbonates. Albitisation was veincontrolled and late-stage scapolitisation altered evaporitic nodules. Finally, haematisation by late iron-rich fluids circulating through the Roan Group strata resulted in oxidation of sulphides. The structural analysis of Kinsevere Central pit indicates E-W and N-S shortening whereas the Ruashi pit 1 deposit underwent NE-SW and N-S shortening. Initial shortening, associated with Kolwezian deformation (D1), resulted in the formation of NE-thrust folds and a primary set of joints. The Kolwezian deformation event (D2), reoriented the shortening direction from E-W to N-S, creating interference folds and possibly a second set of joints. The final phase in the structural evolution of the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits was late-stage brittle deformation (faulting). Mineralisation was a multi-stage process. Disseminated chalcopyrite and carrollite were deposited from formation waters during diagenesis in a stable basin environment. Chalcopyrite, carrollite, chalcocite and bornite are predominantly located at the base of the DStrat, whereas chalcopyrite and pyrite dominate the stratigraphically higher portions of the deposits. Hypogene vein mineralisation began at the syn- to late- orogenic stage with carrollite and chalcopyrite in beddingparallel veins. Possible changes in the compression direction created the perpendicularly oriented veins that host chalcopyrite, carrollite, bornite, covellite, digenite and chalcocite. Finally a late stage of chalcopyrite and pyrite deposition occurred in and around the evaporites, indicating a strong correlation between mineralisation, evaporites and scapolitisation. iii Near-surface supergene alteration of hypogene sulphide ores, resulted in Cu-Co carbonates and oxides, such as malachite, azurite, cobaltiferous malachite, chrysocolla, kolwezite and sphaerocobaltite being deposited in vugs and pore spaces above the meteoric water line. Faulted and brecciated zones tend to have deeper supergene alteration. Between the sulphide facies at depth and the supergene oxide facies at surface is a transition zone which marks the depth to which oxidation has penetrated. Sulphur isotope analysis from the Kinsevere and Ruashi deposits suggests a sulphur contribution from a continental Red-Bed sedimentary source and from an evaporitic source.

A dissolução do carbonato está ligada à circulação dos oceanos e às variações climáticas. Através desse estudo foi possível identificar, durante o último ciclo glacial (150 mil anos), três eventos de dissolução na Bacia de Santos, durantes os estágios isotópicos marinhos 5d, 5b e 4. Para isso foram utilizados indicadores de dissolução micropaleontológicos, geoquímicos e sedimentares. Através destes indicadores foi possível inferir quais processos estão associados à dissolução do carbonato durante estes períodos. Os indicadores micropaleontológicos densidade área (ρA), espécies resistentes à dissolução (ERD e BDI) e índice de fragmentação (IF) foram capazes de identificar o início dos eventos de dissolução, enquanto os indicadores de variação tamanho de grão no sedimento bruto, teor de carbonato de cálcio (%CaCO3) em diferentes frações de tamanho, razão entre foraminíferos bentônicos e planctônicos (B/P) e peso normalizado (SBW) foram relacionados ao auge da dissolução. Os indicadores com base em cocolitoforídeos (CEX\'), índice Broecker/Clark e índice Chiu/Broecker apresentaram resultados inconclusivos. Observou-se que durante os três eventos de dissolução houve um aumento na contribuição de uma massa d\'água de origem sul (mais corrosiva ao carbonato) na região, indicado a partir da variação de δ13Cbentônico. Os eventos de dissolução também coincidiram com o aumento do aporte de sedimento não-carbonático (indicador de aporte continental, Fe/Ti e Ti/Ca). Os indicadores de paleoprodutividade (PP, RN e razão G. bulloides/G. ruber) não indicaram um aumento de produtividade primária durante os eventos de dissolução, de modo que a produtividade não foi considerada como um dos processos principais que induziram os eventos de dissolução neste estudo. As profundidades em que estes testemunhos se encontram (∼2000 m) também eliminam a possibilidade de que a dissolução tenha ocorrido em função da variação da posição da lisoclina, mesmo considerando que esta tenha estado ∼1000 m mais rasa durante o último período glacial. Desta forma, acreditamos que os eventos de dissolução estejam relacionados com a maior contribuição de uma massa d\'água de sul, mais corrosiva ao carbonato, em torno de 2000 m de profundidade, durante os MIS 5d, 5b e 4, como resultado da reorganização das massas d\'água profundas na região (uma redução na intensidade da AMOC) nestes períodos. / The calcium carbonate dissolution is linked to ocean circulation and climate change. Through this study it was possible to identify, during last glacial cycle (150 kyrs), three dissolution events occurring in the Santos Basin, during MIS 5d, 5b and 4. For this, micropaleontological, geochemical and sedimentary proxies were used. Through these proxies it was possible to infer which processes are associated with the carbonate dissolution during this period. The micropaleontological proxies of area density (ρA), dissolution resistent species (ERD and BDI) and fragmentation index (IF), were able to identify the beginning of the dissolution events, while the proxies of grain size variation, calcium carbonate content in different size fractions, benthic/planktonic ratio (B/P) and size normalized weight (SBW) were related with the dissolution peak. The proxies based in cocoliths (CEX\'), Broecker/Clark Index and Chiu/Broecker Index presented inconclusive results. It was observed that during the three dissolution events there was an increase in the contribution of the water mass of southern origin (more corrosive to the carbonate) in the region, indicated from the variation of δ13C in benthic foraminifera. This increase also coincided with the increase in the contribution of non-carbonate sediment (continental input indicator -IAC, Fe/Ca and Ti/Ca). The paleoproductivity proxies (based in cocoliths - PP, RN, and G. bulloides/G. ruber ratio) did not indicate an increase in primary productivity during dissolution events, therefore productivity was not considered as one of the processes that led to dissolution in this study. The depths at which these sediment cores are found (∼2000 m) also eliminate the possibility that the dissolution occurred as a function of the variation of the position of the lysocline, even if considering that it was ∼1000 m shallower during the last glacial period. In this way, we believe that the dissolution events are related to an increased southern-sourced water mass more corrosive to the carbonate during MIS 5d, 5b and 4, which implies the reorganization of the water masses in the region and a reduction in the strength of AMOC during these periods.

O delta do rio Tubarão, situado na costa centro-sul catarinense entre os municípios de Tubarão, Jaguaruna e Laguna, constitui raro exemplo de delta lagunar ativo no Brasil. Sua planície deltaica cobre área aproximada de 250km2, onde são encontradas evidências de migração de canais fluviais dadas por séries de truncamentos de antigos distributários, alguns ainda ativos. Dez testemunhos foram obtidos junto aos principais canais distributários do rio Tubarão, a partir dos quais foram realizadas análises de fácies, granulométrica, de minerais pesados, de teor de matéria orgânica e de relações químio-isotópicas, além de datações 14C. Também foram levantados acervos históricos de fotografias aéreas e de dados de prospecção mineral de subsuperfície. Cerca de 5000 anos atrás, na região de seu ápice, próximo ao rio tributário Capivari de Baixo, o delta do rio Tubarão ingressou numa antiga baía lagunar e ramificou-se em sete distributários principais que, desde seus momentos iniciais de migração, foram controlados por avulsões autogênicas rumo a antigas depressões do fundo da bacia receptora. Tais avulsões progradaram o delta inicialmente para SW, depois para ENE, e então para NNE, favorecendo a fragmentação da antiga baía lagunar em uma série de lagos e lagunas menores. Diante deste cenário dinâmico, sambaquis foram erigidos no entorno do sistema lagunar, constituindo importantes registros arqueológicos de interação entre evolução sedimentar e ocupação humana pré-histórica. O resultado das análises granulométricas indicou que a sedimentação deltaica, nas proximidades de encostas de morros, foi misturada com colúvio e/ou depósitos de fluxos gravitacionais, como evidenciado pela presença de intervalos texturalmente muito imaturos em alguns testemunhos. Em relação à análise de minerais pesados, o principal fator de controle nas variações da assembleia em depósitos de delta e de bacia é a proveniência sedimentar. Em termos mediatos, essa proveniência reflete fontes plutônicas e metamórficas (médio a alto grau) do Batólito de Florianópolis (e xenólitos associados) e do Complexo Granito-Gnáissico, e rochas arenáceas alteradas da Bacia do Paraná. Em termos imediatos, depósitos deltaicos destacam-se pela afinidade mineralógica com as areias do rio Tubarão, inferida sobretudo a partir da presença mútua de grãos alterados de cianita e estaurolita, enquanto que depósitos da bacia lagunar destacam-se por sua similaridade mineralógica com areias dos rios tributários Braço do Norte e Capivari de Baixo, neste caso principalmente pela presença de zircão. A matéria orgânica presente nos depósitos do delta e de sua bacia receptora resulta do aporte de fontes terrestres (fornecido pelos rios) e marinhas (trazido via desembocaduras lagunares), fato que é evidenciado pelos resultados de \'delta\'\'POT.13 C\', \'delta\'\'POT.15 N\' e razão \'C IND.ORG\'/\'N IND.TOTAL\'. Particularmente, nos sedimentos da bacia, variações entre diferentes tipos de matéria orgânica têm ocorrido ao longo do Holoceno, as quais são atribuídas tanto ao isolamento físico progressivo do sistema lagunar em relação ao mar aberto como por mudança climática regional (aumento destacado de precipitação). A análise isotópica de oxigênio (\'delta\'\'POT 18 O\') de conchas de moluscos em depósitos da bacia indicou enriquecimento relativo em \'ANTPOT.16 O\' durante o Holoceno. Este resultado, a exemplo daquele dos isótopos de carbono e de nitrogênio dos sedimentos, sugere isolamento gradual das águas lagunares em relação às de mar aberto. / The Tubarão river delta, located on the centre-south coast of Santa Catarina State, among the municipalities of Tubarão, Jaguaruna and Laguna, is rare example of active lagoonal delta in Brazil. Its delta plain covers an area of about 250km2, where there are evidences of migration of fluvial channels in a set of truncations of ancient distributaries, some of these still in activity. Ten cores were acquired adjacent to the main distributary channels of the Tubarão river, from which analyses of facies, grain size, heavy minerals, organic matter, chemistry-isotope ratios, and radiocarbon datings were performed. Also, aerial photographies and data of subsurface mining were surveyed from historical collections. Thereabout 5,000 years ago, in the region of its apex, near Capivari de Baixo tributary river, the Tubarão river delta entered an ancient lagoonal bay and branched seven main distributaries. Since the beginning of its migration, these distributaries were controlled by autogenic avulsions towards ancient depressions in the bottom of the basin. Initially, these avulsions prograded the delta towards SW, afterwards to ENE, and then to NNE, favoring the fragmentation of the ancient lagoonal bay in a set of smaller lakes and lagoons. Faced with this dynamical scenario, shellmounds were erected surrounding the lagoon system, composing important archaeological records of the interaction between sedimentary evolution and prehistoric human occupation. The results of the grain size analysis showed that the deltaic sedimentation, in the vicinity of slopes of hills, was mixed with colluvium and/or gravity flow deposits, that is evidenced by the presence of texturally very immature intervals in some cores. The analysis of heavy minerals, by its turn, showed that the main controlling factor in the variations of its assemblage in deposits of delta and basin is the sedimentary provenance. In terms of mediate sources, this provenance reflects plutonic and metamorphic (medium to high grade) rocks of the Florianópolis batholith (including its xenoliths) and of the Granite-Gneiss Complex, and weathered sedimentary sandstones of the Palaeozoic Paraná basin. Regarding immediate sources, deltaic deposits stand out by its mineralogical affinity with sands of the Tubarão river, mainly by the mutual presence of weathered grains of kyanite and staurolite, whereas deposits of the lagoon have mineralogical similarity with the sands of Braço do Norte and Capivari de Baixo tributary rivers, especially in relation to the presence of zircon. The origin of the organic matter found in the deposits of the delta and in its lagoonal basin is both from sedimentary input of terrestrial sources (provided by rivers) and marine (brought via inlets), fact evidenced by results of \'delta\'\'POT.13 C\', \'delta\'\' POT.15 N\', and \'C IND.ORG\'/\'N IND. TOTAL\' ratio. Particularly, in the sediments of the basin, variations between different types of organic matter have occurred during the Holocene, and are attributed both to the progressive physical isolament of the lagoon system from the open sea, and by local climate change (pronounced augment of precipitation). The isotope analyses of oxygen (\'delta\'\'POT.18 O\') of molluskan shells from the deposits of the basin present relative enrichment in \'ANTPOT.16 O\' during the Holocene. This result, as well as the one from isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen of sediments, suggests gradual isolation of the lagoonal waters of influence of waters from the open sea.

Thesis advisor: Ethan F. Baxter / Subduction zones are the primary areas of chemical and mass transfer between the Earth’s surface and the mantle. Dehydration during subduction has been linked to subduction seismicity, arc volcanism, and redox (fO2) changes in the subducting slab and overlying mantle wedge. Despite this, no petrologic record tracing the source of oxidizing fluids from the down going slab has yet been observed. To address this, this study shows a direct record of progressive redox change recorded in zoned garnet crystals from Sifnos and Syros, Greece that grew through the breakdown of the hydrous mineral lawsonite during subduction. Oxygen fugacities (fO2) calculated using garnet-epidote oxybarometry for multiple growth zones within single garnet grains have been compared with stable iron isotope compositions in the same growth zone. These combined measurements reveal that garnet cores grew under oxidized conditions, recording higher fO2 and lower 56Fe values, whereas garnet rims grew under more reduced conditions with lower fO2 and higher 56Fe values. This is consistent with the release of oxidizing fluids into the sub-arc mantle accompanying lawsonite breakdown and dehydration, leaving behind a progressively reduced residual slab mineral assemblage. These coupled fO2 and Fe isotope data show that slab dehydration accompanying lawsonite breakdown plays an important and measureable role in the global redox budget, and provides a mechanism for sub-arc mantle oxidation. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Rhyolites of the Picabo volcanic field (10.4-6.6 Ma) of the Yellowstone hotspot in eastern Idaho are preserved as thick ignimbrites and lavas along the margins of the Snake River Plain. This study presents new O and Hf isotope data and U-Pb geochronology from individual zircons, O isotope data from major phenocrysts, whole rock Sr and Nd isotope data, whole rock geochemistry, and trace element and volatile analyses of quartz-hosted melt inclusions, which were used to characterize the evolution of rhyolite generation through the eruptive sequence. The chemical composition of the first eruption of the caldera complex, the Tuff of Arbon Valley, suggests magma generation through repeated magma injection into the crust, remelting, crystallization, mixing, and crustal assimilation. Subsequent eruptions have diverse and low δ18O signatures indicating rhyolite generation through the remelting of variably hydrothermally altered volcanics, followed by rapid batch assembly. This thesis includes co-authored material previously published.

A utilização de traçadores como os isótopos estáveis de carbono e nitrogênio, é crescente e complementa as técnicas convencionais nos estudos referentes à dieta em animais silvestres. Isso é possível pois o valor isotópico dos itens utilizados na alimentação é refletido nos tecidos. A diferença isotópica resultante chamada de fator de discriminação ou fracionamento, está associada aos processos metabólicos necessários para que ocorra a incorporação de nutrientes. O estudo teve como objetivo medir o tempo de incorporação dos isótopos no plasma e nas células sanguíneas, componentes de \"tecido\" não mortal reamostrável, e determinar o fator de discriminação em cinco espécies de quelônios de água doce: Podocnemis expansa (tartaruga-da-Amazônia), Podocnemis unifilis (tracajá), Phrynops geofroanus (cágado-de-barbicha), Trachemys scripta (tartaruga-de-orelha-vermelha) e Trachemys dorbigni (tigre-d\'água). Os animais foram mantidos em cativeiro e as diferenças isotópicas dos 10 indivíduos adultos de cada espécie, foram medidas a partir da troca de dietas com valores isotópicos distintos. Com a mudança da dieta, o turnover do carbono e nitrogênio foram estimados entre 7 e 185 dias por meio de regressão exponencial não linear, quando os novos fatores de fracionamento foram estimados. O tempo de turnover para as espécies de quelônios variou de 72 a 337 dias para o carbono, e de 29 a 270 dias para o nitrogênio no plasma. Nas células sanguíneas o turnover variou de 3 a 373 dias para o carbono, e de 51 a 216 dias para o nitrogênio. Os fatores de discriminação que eram em média próximos a zero para o carbono, e entre 3-4‰ para o nitrogênio, variaram de 1,01 a 3,28‰ para o 13C e -0,76 a 0,49‰ para o 15N no plasma, e de 1,49 a 3,98‰ para o 13C e 0,99‰ a 4,69 para o 15N nas células sanguíneas, com a diminuição de 3,7‰ e aumento de 6,2‰, respectivamente para carbono e nitrogênio, na nova dieta. A diferença encontrada entre os fatores de discriminação calculados anteriormente a troca da dieta e após a troca, mostraram que provavelmente a incorporação dos isótopos estáveis se dá de forma heterogênea nos tecidos. De acordo com a literatura foi possível analisar que fatores como a memória isotópica, as rotas metabólicas e elementos característicos dos répteis possivelmente estão ligados ao turnover mais lento, diferente dos animais endotérmicos em que esse processo é mais rápido. / The use of tracers such as stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes is crescent and complements the conventional techniques used in the studies referring to the diet in wild animals. This is possible because the isotopic value of the items used in the diet reflects their isotopic values on the tissues. The resulting isotopic difference called the discrimination factor or fractionation is associated with the metabolic processes required for nutrient incorporation to occur. The object of the study was to measure the incorporation time of isotopes into plasma and blood cells, components of re-portable non-lethal \"tissue\", and to determine the discriminant factor of five species of freshwater chelonians: Podocnemis expansa (Amazonia tortoise), Podocnemis unifilis (tracajá), Phrynops geofroanus (geoffroy´s side necked turtle), Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider turtle) and Trachemys dorbigni (d\'orbigny\'s slider). The isotopic differences of 10 adult individuals of each species kept in captivity were measured through shifting diets with different isotopic values. With the diet variation, carbon and nitrogen turnover was estimated between 7 and 185 days by non-linear exponential regression, when the new fractionation factors were estimated. The turnover time for the chelonians species varied from 72 to 337 days for carbon, and from 29 to 270 days for the plasma nitrogen. In blood cells, the turnover ranged from 3 to 373 days for carbon, and from 51 to 216 days for nitrogen. Discrimination factors that were, in average, close to zero for carbon and between 3 and 4‰ for nitrogen ranged from 1.01 to 3.28‰ for 13C and -0.76 to 0.49‰ for 15N in plasma, and from 1.49 to 3.98‰ for 13C and 0.99 to 4.69 for 15N in blood cells, with a decrease of 3.7‰ and an increase of 6.2‰, respectively for carbon and nitrogen in the new diet. The difference found between the discrimination factors calculated before and after the diet shift, showed that stable isotopes incorporation probably occurs in a heterogenous way in tissues. According to the literature it was possible to analyze that factors such as isotopic memory, metabolic routes and reptiles characteristic elements are possibly linked to slower turnover, different from endothermic animals in which this process is faster.

Thesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Radiostrontium (90Sr and 89Sr) has been released to the environment by global fall-out following atmospheric nuclear explosions, by waste discharges and fall-out from the Chernobyl. 89Sr, with a half-life of 50.5 days, quickly decays to undetectable levels, while 90Sr is radiobiologically more important because of its longer half-life of 28.78 years, and because it behaves chemically similar to Ca, and accumulates in bones and teeth. Cost effective and relatively simple procedures for determination of radiostrontium are desirable. An accurate determination of radionuclides from various sources in the environment is essential for assessment of the potential hazards and suitable countermeasures both in case of accidents, authorised releases and routine surveillances. Reliable radiochemical separation and detection techniques are needed for accurate determination of alpha and beta emitters. Rapid analytical methods are needed in case of an accident for early decision-making. At the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS), 90Sr analysis are performed on liquid effluent samples making use of the traditional fuming nitric acid method, and subsequent counting of particulate samples on an alpha/beta proportional counter. This method is often at times very time – consuming, and involves many precipitation steps. The use of fuming nitric acid is also very dangerous and could lead to severe personnel injuries in the event of an accident. This project focussed on the application of Sr-Spec resin in the analysis of 90Sr. This work presents the methods for 90Sr analysis for both effluent samples as well as environmental samples. This research also focussed on the calibration of the different radiometric instruments, which are the Liquid Scintillation Counter, the Alpha/Beta Counter as well as the Gamma Detector.

Thesis (MTech (Nature Conservation))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Stable isotope analysis (SIA) of whiskers has been used to identify temporal feeding habits, intra-population diet variation, as well as individual dietary specialisation of marine and terrestrial carnivores. However, the potential of the method to disclose such dietary information for large wild felids has been little explored. The accurate interpretation of stable isotope ratios along serially sampled whiskers is hampered by lack of information on species-specific whisker growth rates, whisker growth patterns and whisker-diet trophic discrimination factors (TDFs). Whisker growth rate and growth pattern informs on the time period encapsulated in the analysed segment of a whisker, while whisker-diet TDFs are required to make correct deductions of the prey species consumed by a predator. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the technique of using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of felid whiskers to quantify the diet of wild felids and in particular, to identify diet variation among individuals. To achieve this, lion Panthera leo and leopard Panthera pardus whisker growth rate and growth pattern, and lion whisker-diet TDFs were measured, using captive individuals held at the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria. The viability and applicability of the technique was then explored on six free-ranging leopards in Phinda Private Game Reserve (hereafter Phinda), northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) whose diets have been intensively studied using traditional methods. Whisker growth rates and growth patterns were measured for four lions (three sub-adult females and one adult male) and an adult male leopard over 185 days using giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis meat as an endogenous biomarker to consecutively mark whiskers as they grew. The 13C-depleted, C3-derived giraffe meat with its characteristic isotopic signature could be discerned from the 13C-enriched diet of C4 grain-fed beef and chicken the felids were sustained on. Two whiskers were removed from each felid at the beginning of the experiment, and felids were fed the giraffe meat at four predetermined periods to mark the whiskers replacing the removed ones. The periods with low δ13C values, identified following serial sectioning of the regrown whiskers at 1 mm intervals (and stable isotope analysis of these sections), were then correlated to specific giraffe meat feeding bouts and hence growth periods. Knowledge of the duration between giraffe meat feeding bouts enabled the calculation of whisker growth rate and determination of growth pattern. δ13C and δ15N whisker-diet TDFs were estimated for five lions whose diet remained consistent over multiple years. Whiskers removed from four lions at the beginning of the whisker growth experiment, a whisker removed from a female lion as part of a pilot study a year before the experiment and the diet (chicken and beef) samples collected during the experiment were analysed for their isotopic ratios. These were used to calculate isotopic differences between lion whiskers and diet.

Human and faunal osteological material from the southeastern Carpathian Bend area, Romania, was analysed for δ13C, δ15N and δ34S to reconstruct the dietary practices of the Middle Bronze Age Monteoru culture. As a secondary objective, the extent of intraskeletal variation in stable isotope values was investigated by comparing skeletal elements with differing collagen turnover rates. The intraskeletal isotope results revealed a pattern where cortical bone samples produced statistically lower δ13C values compared to trabecular bone samples, highlighting the necessity for more systematic research to understand how stable isotopes are incorporated into bone collagen of various skeletal elements. Diet in the Monteoru culture was shown to be exclusively or predominantly terrestrial in origin with no detectable input of C4 or marine resources. Differences in average δ13C and δ15N values between the two sites included in the study (representing distinct phases of the culture) suggest a shift in dietary preferences from a more meat-based economy to a more dairy- and plant-based economy. The dissimilar contribution of animal foods to overall diet between the two sites was supported by estimates generated by the Bayesian mixing model FRUITS, which also showed that in both sites plant foods accounted for most of the calories consumed. The faunal isotopic data contained a few outliers, suggestive of deliberate movement of livestock, either through long-distance herding or trade. A combined approach using juvenile bone collagen and incrementally sectioned tooth dentine from adults demonstrates that the duration of breastfeeding varied between individuals, but that there were no significant differences in weaning practices between survivors and non-survivors. Sulphur isotopes reflect a population that was relatively homogeneous in its isotopic composition and local in origin, except for the presence of two possible migrants. The δ13C and δ15N data from the Carpathian Bend are comparable to those from contemporaneous sites in coastal and inland Greece and Croatia, suggesting a broad uniformity in Bronze Age dietary practices across Southeast Europe. As the first major stable isotope study conducted on osteological material from the Romanian Sub- Carpathians, this thesis provides new insights into the lives of these communities, expands our knowledge of Bronze Age subsistence strategies in Southeast Europe, and establishes a foundation for further isotopic investigations in the region.