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On diving and diet: resource partitioning in type-Maastrichtian mosasaurs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2014

A.S. Schulp*
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6–7, 6211 KJ Maastricht, the Netherlands Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
H.B. Vonhof
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
J.H.J.L. van der Lubbe
Affiliation:
Marine Climate Research, Institute of Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Straße 10, 24118 Kiel, Germany
R. Janssen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
R.R. van Baal
Affiliation:
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Abstract

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The carbon isotope composition of tooth enamel from all five mosasaur taxa known to date from the type Maastrichtian (southeast Netherlands, northeast Belgium) has been analysed. Differences in enamel δ13C values between taxa suggest resource partitioning. Body size and δ13C value correlate surprisingly well, with larger taxa having δ13C values more depleted in the heavier 13C isotope.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2013

Footnotes

In: Mulder, E.W.A., Jagt, J.W.M. & Schulp, A.S. (eds): The Sunday's child of Dutch earth sciences - a tribute to Bert Boekschoten on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

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