Data from: Non-traditional isotope perspectives in vertebrate palaeobiology

The recent development of multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) notably in the disciplines of earth sciences, now allows the precise measurement of isotope ratios, even at low concentration. Non-traditional isotope systems, such as alkaline earth (Ca, Mg) and transition (Cu, Fe, Zn) metals are now being measured in a variety of biological tissues, including bone and teeth. Although our understanding of the environmental and biological mechanisms behind the fractionation of such elements is still in its infancy, some of these isotopes are suspected to fractionate along the food chain, as has been reported in the literature for calcium, magnesium and zinc. Other geochemical methods, such as concentration analyses, permit a prior assessment of diagenesis in the fossils and such an approach indicates that in some circumstances, not only enamel but also dentine or bone can preserve its original biogenic composition. The aims here are to: review the current knowledge surrounding these various isotopic tools; address their potential preservation in biological apatite; and provide the palaeobiologist with a guide to the different toolkits available, including a discussion of their potential applications in vertebrate palaeobiology with a case study involving two mammal assemblages from the Pleistocene of Europe.

近年来，多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, MC-ICP-MS）技术取得长足进步，尤其在地球科学领域，如今即便在低浓度条件下，也可实现同位素比值的精准测定。非传统同位素体系（如碱土金属Ca、Mg以及过渡金属Cu、Fe、Zn）现已被应用于包括骨骼、牙齿在内的多种生物组织的同位素分析。尽管目前学界对这类元素分馏作用背后的环境与生物机制认知仍处于起步阶段，但已有研究证实，部分同位素会沿食物链发生分馏——这一点在钙、镁和锌的相关文献中已有报道。其他地球化学方法（如浓度分析）可预先评估化石的成岩作用程度，此类研究表明，在特定条件下，不仅牙釉质，牙本质甚至骨骼都能够保留其原始的生物成因组分。本文的研究目标在于：一是梳理当前针对各类同位素分析工具的研究认知与进展；二是探讨这些同位素在生物磷灰石中的潜在保存潜力；三是为古生物学家提供一份可供选用的分析工具指南，并结合欧洲更新世（Pleistocene）两套哺乳动物组合的案例研究，讨论此类手段在脊椎动物古生物学中的潜在应用价值。