63 D25. Paleontology: Recent Developments in Paleoecology and Taphonomy (Posters)

Sunday, 9 October 2022
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall F

BULK CARBON ISOTOPIC VARIABILITY WITHIN LEAVES

Paper number: 63-16
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

The stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of fossil leaves is a simple and common measurement that provides information about paleophysiology, paleoecology, and paleoclimate. Variance in δ13C is typically assessed across leaves; comparatively little is known about variance within leaves, a potential source of unquantified uncertainty. Here we systematically analyze the spatial patterns of bulk δ13C in fresh leaves of ten tree species (two leaves per species; 21-22 analyses per leaf). We find that samples containing midvein tissue are markedly higher in δ13C than non-midvein tissue from the same leaf (median = +0.85 ‰), with samples containing only midvein tissue offset by as much as +3.01 ‰. The non-midvein samples are less variable—the typical range within a single leaf is <1 ‰—and do not show any consistent spatial patterns. In cases where whole fossil leaves cannot be analyzed, we recommend sampling as many randomized areas without major veins as is feasible.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-381621

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