Tracking elephants by their chemical tails
6 January 2006
by Carina
Lee
|
It has been discovered that by analysing the chemical isotopes in the tail hairs of elephants, information about their diet and lifestyle can be formulated. This information can also be used to help conserve these endangered species by protecting their natural habitat. Geochemist, Thure Cerling, explains "This is a new method to understand elephant behaviour and help ensure their survival." By analysing stable isotopes such as carbon and nitrogen, scientists believe that the results will lead to clues about what kind of food the elephants ate as well as the environment they lived in. Stable isotopes are perfect tracking devices, and have been used to track sources of counterfeit money, illicit drugs, explosives, and anthrax. An isotope is an atom containing a fixed number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. A stable isotope is just an isotope that does not undergo radioactive decay. Environmental surroundings affect stable isotopes by changing their proportions in animals, plants, soil, and the atmosphere. This is why stable isotope analysis has been adopted as a way of studying ecosystems. |
|
Related Links
Original press release University of Utah
Nature
& Science News
ClearlyExplained.com