Sulphur-isotope compositions of pig tissues from a controlled feeding study

Webb, E. C., Newton, J. , Lewis, J., Stewart, A., Miller, B., Tarlton, J. F. and Evershed, R. P. (2017) Sulphur-isotope compositions of pig tissues from a controlled feeding study. STAR: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research, 3(1), pp. 71-79. (doi: 10.1080/20548923.2017.1368821)

Abstract

Sulphur-isotope determinations are becoming increasingly useful for palaeodietary reconstruction, but knowledge of isotopic discrimination between diet and various tissues remains inadequate. In this study, we explore the sensitivity of δ34Stissue values to changes in δ34Sdiet values, sulphur isotopic discrimination between diet and consumer, and the potential impact of terrestrial vs. marine protein consumption on these discrimination offsets. We present new δ34S values of bone collagen, muscle, liver, hair, milk and faeces from ten mature sows, ten piglets and fifteen adolescent pigs from a controlled feeding study. The δ34Stissue values were found to co-vary with the δ34Sdiet values, the δ34Stissue – δ34Sdiet isotopic offsets (Δ34Stissue-diet) are small but consistent, and dietary protein source does not systematically alter the Δ34Stissue-diet isotopic discrimination. The outcomes of this study are of particular relevance to questions that are difficult to resolve using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes alone, and will also be useful in regions where terrestrial, freshwater, and marine resources could have all potentially contributed to human diet.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was conducted as part of responsive mode grants from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC: NE/D004535/1 and NE/J010510/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Newton, Dr Jason
• Authors: Webb, E. C., Newton, J., Lewis, J., Stewart, A., Miller, B., Tarlton, J. F., and Evershed, R. P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: STAR: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 2054-8923
• ISSN (Online): 2054-8923
• Published Online: 04 October 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in STAR: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research 3(1): 71-79
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License