Sources of carbon isotope variation in kangaroo bone collagen and tooth enamel

The stable carbon isotopic composition (expressed as δ¹³C) of herbivore remains is commonly used to reconstruct past changes in the relative abundance of C₄ versus C₃ grass biomass (C₄ relative abundance). However, the strength of the relationship between herbivore δ¹³C and C₄ relative abundance in extant ecosystems has not been thoroughly examined. We determined sources of variation in δ¹³C of bone collagen and tooth enamel of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) collected throughout Australia by measuring δ¹³C of bone collagen (779 individuals) and tooth enamel (694 individuals). An index of seasonal water availability, i.e. the distribution of rainfall in the C₄ versus C₃ growing seasons, was used as a proxy for C₄ relative abundance, and this variable explained a large proportion of the variation in both collagen δ¹³C (68%) and enamel δ¹³C (68%). These figures increased to 78% and 77%, respectively, when differences between kangaroo species were accounted for. Vegetation characteristics, such as woodiness and the presence of an open forest canopy, had no effect on collagen or enamel δ¹³C. While there was no relationship between collagen δ¹³C and kangaroo age at death, tooth enamel produced later in life, following weaning, was enriched in ¹³C by 3.5‰ relative to enamel produced prior to weaning. From the observed relationships between seasonal water availability and collagen and enamel δ¹³C, enrichment factors (ε^∗) for collagen-diet and enamel-diet (post-weaning) were estimated to be 5.2‰ ± 0.5 (95% CI) and 11.7‰ ± 0.6 (95% CI), respectively. The findings of this study confirm that at a continental scale, collagen and enamel δ¹³C of a group of large herbivores closely reflect C₄ relative abundance. This validates a fundamental assumption underpinning the use of isotopic analysis of herbivore remains to reconstruct changes in C₄ relative abundance.     

Seasonal variability of soil phosphate stable oxygen isotopes in rainfall manipulation experiments

Phosphorus (P) availability limits productivity in many ecosystems worldwide. As a result, improved understanding of P cycling through soil and plants is much desirable. The use of the oxygen isotopes associated to phosphate can be used to study the cycle of P in terrestrial systems. However, changes with time in the oxygen isotopes associated to available P have not yet been evaluated under field conditions. Here we present the variations in available-P oxygen isotopes, based on resin extractions, in a semi-arid site that included plots in which the amount of rainfall reaching the soil was modified. In addition, the oxygen isotopes in the less dynamic fraction which is extractable by HCl, were also measured. The δ¹⁸O of the HCl-extractable phosphate shows no seasonal pattern and corresponds to the average value of the available phosphate of 16.5‰. This value is in the expected range for equilibration with soil water at the prevailing temperatures in the site. The δ¹⁸O values of resin-extractable P showed a range of 14.5-19.1‰ (SMOW), and evidence of seasonal variability, as well as variability induced by rainfall manipulation experiments. We present a framework for analyzing the isotopic ratios in soil phosphate and explain the variability as mainly driven by phosphate equilibration with soil water, and by the isotopic effects associated with extracellular mineralization. Additional isotopic effects result from fractionation in uptake, and the input to the soil of phosphate equilibrated in leaves. These results suggest that the δ¹⁸O of resin-extractable P is an interesting marker for the rate of biological P transformations in soil systems.     

Middle Pleistocene climate and habitat change at Zhoukoudian, China, from the carbon and oxygen isotopic record from herbivore tooth enamel

The Pleistocene deposits at Zhoukoudian, often referred to as the “Peking Man” site, contain dental remains from a diverse group of herbivores, including Equus sanmeniensis, Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, Megaloceros pachyosteus, Sus lydekkeri, and Dicerorhinus choukoutienensis. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of structural carbonate within the enamel of these teeth are used to reconstruct the paleodiet and paleoenvironment of the mammals. The δ¹³C values of enamel from Zhoukoudian range from −2.3‰ to −13.0‰, indicating that these mammals consumed between 25% and 100% C₃ plants. The presence of significant amounts of C₄ plants in the diets of some herbivore species indicates that at the onset of the Middle Pleistocene local habitats included mixed C₃/C₄ vegetation. By approximately 470,000 yr ago, C₃ plants dominated the diets of herbivores studied, suggesting that the abundance of C₄ flora had decreased in the area. For all deer analyzed in this study, the values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O decrease substantially from about 720,000 to 470,000 yr ago. This trend may be due to a strengthening of the winter monsoon during the Middle Pleistocene.     

Seasonal patterns of carbon chemistry and isotopes in tufa depositing groundwaters of southwestern Japan

Annually laminated carbonates, known as tufas, commonly develop in limestone areas and typically record seasonal patterns of oxygen- and carbon-isotope compositions. δ¹⁸O values are principally controlled by seasonal changes of water temperature, whereas δ¹³C values are the result of complex reactions among the gaseous, liquid, and solid sources of carbon in the system. We examined the processes that cause the seasonal patterns of δ¹³C in groundwater systems at three tufa-depositing sites in southwestern Japan by applying model calculations to geochemical data. Underground inorganic carbon species are exchanged with gaseous CO₂, which is mainly introduced to the underground hydrological system by natural atmospheric ventilation and by diffusion of soil air. These processes control the seasonal pattern of δ¹³C, which is low in summer and high in winter. Among the three sites we investigated, we identified two extreme cases of the degree of carbon exchange between liquid and gaseous phases. For the case with high radiocarbon composition (Δ¹⁴C) and low pCO₂, there was substantial carbon exchange because of a large contribution of atmospheric CO₂ and a small water mass. For the other extreme case, which was characterized by low Δ¹⁴C and high pCO₂, the contribution of atmospheric CO₂ was small and the water mass was relatively large. Our results suggest that at two of the three sites water residence time within the soil profile was longer than 1 year. Our results also suggested a short residence time (less than 1 year) of water in the soil profile at the site with the smallest water mass, which is consistent with large seasonal amplitude of the springwater temperature variations. The Δ¹⁴C value of tufas is closely related to the hydrological conditions in which they are deposited. If the initial Δ¹⁴C value of a tufa-depositing system is stable, ¹⁴C-chronology can be used to date paleo-tufas.     

徐州地区下古生界碳酸盐岩的碳、氧同位素研究

在已有的对徐州地区下古生界碳酸盐岩详细岩石学研究基础上，系统测试了碳酸盐岩方解石和白云石的碳、氧同位素组成特征；地球化学和岩石学研究相结合，综合提取了碳酸盐岩碳、氧同位素组成的沉积、成岩地质信息；初步探讨了同位素组成的地层变化及其意义。研究结果表明：碳酸盐岩碳同位素组成特征可以指示沉积环境及其演化，开阔陆表海、灰质障壁砂坝、局限陆表海、潮下带、潮渠、藻坪诸沉积相间碳酸盐岩的δ^13C值表现出规律性变化，碳同位素组成变化曲线上的显著正偏移与海侵有关；碳酸盐岩氧同位素组成对成岩环境及其演化有明显响应，淡水成岩环境、潮上成岩环境、潮间成岩环境、潮下成岩环境和埋藏成岩环境具有不同的碳酸盐岩氧同位素组成特征；徐州地区大北望寒武系剖面地层界线附近都有碳、氧同位素组成变化的特征显示，研究工作证实了徐州地区下古生界同位素地层划分的可行性。     

Fractionation of carbon and oxygen isotopes and magnesium between coexisting metamorphic calcite and dolomite

Fractionations of carbon and oxygen isotopes and magnesium between coexisting dolomite and calcite have been determined for marbles and calcareous schists of a wide variety of metamorphic environments from Vermont and the Grenville Province of Ontario. Concordant equilibrium fractionations are given by 83% of the samples. Calibration of the isotopic thermometers using the Mg-calcite solvus thermometer gave in the temperature range: 650°>T°>100°C $$ \begin{gathered} 1,000\ln \alpha _{D - Ct}^{O^{18} } = 0.45 (10^6 T^{ - 2} ) - 0.40 \hfill \\ 1,000\ln \alpha _{D - Ct}^{O^{18} } = 0.18 (10^6 T^{ - 2} ) + 0.17. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ These isotopic fractionation expressions differ significantly from the experimentally derived relations, including the dolomite-Mg-calcite C¹³ partial exchange experiments of this study. Temperature ranges obtained for the metamorphic zones of Vermont are: chlorite zone, 210° to 295° C; biotite zone, 255° to 400° C; staurolite-kyanite zone, 110° to 550° C. In amphibolite-facies rocks the quenched partition relations can be complex. The temperature of quench or recrystallization may be as large as 400° C below the inferred metamorphic maximum. Oxygen isotope disequilibrium in high grade rocks, particularly from the Chester dome area, Vermont, is characterized by large negative δO _D ¹⁸ –δO _Ct ¹⁸ values. The size of the equilibrium exchange system for carbon and oxygen isotopes and magnesium is small, less than a few inches across the inferred relict bedding. This is attributed to the lack of a mobile pore fluid except in systems undergoing decarbonation. C¹³/C¹² ratios in Grenville and Vermont marbles and O¹⁸/O¹⁶ ratios in Grenville and greenschist-facies Vermont carbonates span the range of ancient limestones. Staurolite-kyanite zone calcareous schists and marbles from the Chester dome area, Vermont are depleted in O¹⁸(δO¹⁸=12 to 20‰) due to equilibrium or disequilibrium decarbonation and some partial exchange. Extrapolation of the dolomite-calcite fractionation expressions to 20° C indicates that dolomite is enriched in O¹⁸ by about 4.9‰ and in C¹³ by about 2.4‰.     

黔南坳陷油苗来源:碳、硫同位素及生物标志物证据

为明确黔南坳陷不同层位油苗来源,在广泛采集不同层位烃源岩、油苗样品的基础上,采用GC、GC-MS及GC-IRMS等方法对其碳、硫同位素及生物标志物特征进行系统分析,进而开展了油源对比.结果表明:油苗的δ13C值为-33.04‰～-31.63‰,平均-32.26‰(n=18);δ34S值为+16.06‰～+23.06‰,平均+18.99‰(n=4);油苗遭受不同程度生物降解,常规甾、萜烷面貌特征差异较大,但普遍含有较丰富的三环萜烷、伽玛蜡烷、三芳甾烷、芳基类异戊二烯烃、惹烯和硫芴;C25三环萜烷/C24四环萜烷值、二苯并噻吩/菲与Pr/Ph相关图表明油苗为典型海相原油;Ts/(Ts +Tm)、C29甾烷20S/(20S+ 20R)及甲基菲指数等均表明油苗为成熟-高熟原油.研究区下寒武统牛蹄塘组黑色泥岩干酪根δ13C值为-35.79‰～-29.88‰,平均-32.85‰(n=35),与油苗相关性良好,而泥盆系、石炭系和二叠系烃源岩δ13C值显著偏重,均大于-29‰;下寒武统牛蹄塘组黑色泥岩干酪根δ34S值为+ 14.78‰～+ 17.60‰,平均+16.32‰(n=4),与油苗具有很好的可比性,而下、中泥盆统黑色泥岩干酪根δ34S值分别为-9.10‰～-6.78‰和+0.63‰～ +7.93‰,二叠系煤系地层有机质δ34S值为-7.40‰～+4.00‰,均显著偏轻.此外,下寒武统黑色泥岩普遍含有较丰富的伽玛蜡烷、三芳甾烷、芳基类异戊二烯烃和惹烯,三芴系列中硫芴含量极高,其它几套黑色泥岩则不合或贫含三芳甾烷和惹烯,伽玛蜡烷和硫芴含量亦较低.综合认为油苗具相同来源,且均与研究区下寒武统黑色泥岩具有较好亲缘关系.     

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes distribution in carbonates from the Central Barents Sea shelf sediments

Carbonate macrofaunal remains and diagenetic tubes collected from a number of structures in the Central Barents Sea area during the 18th TTR (Training Through Research) cruise were subdivided into three groups according to the results of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes analysis. The first group includes carbonates that were formed from bicarbonate only from surrounding sea waters. The carbonates of the second group were formed during diagenesis with use of mixed sources of bicarbonate. The fourth group includes methane-derived carbonates that were formed as a result of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM).     

Analysis of carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in carbonate rocks by the laser micro-sampling technique

The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen in different carbonate rocks by the phosphoric acid method is not easier than that by the laser sampling method developed in recent years, which optically focuses laser beams with sufficient energy on a micro area of a thin section in a vacuum sample box via microscope. CO 2 produced by heating decomposition of carbonate was purified by the vacuum system, and the stable isotopic values of carbon and oxygen were calculated and analyzed on a mass spectrometer. This paper adopted the laser micro-sampling technique to analyze the stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen in dolomite, carbonate cement, stromatolite and different forms of dawsonite (donbassite). Results indicated that the laser micro-sampling method is effective in analyzing carbonate composition and could be a convincing proof for justification on carbonate composition analysis.     

Determination of Sr isotopes in calcium phosphates using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and their application to archaeological tooth enamel

The determination of accurate Sr isotope ratios in calcium phosphate matrices by laser ablation multi-collector ICP-MS is demonstrated as possible even with low Sr concentration archaeological material. Multiple on-line interference correction routines for doubly-charged REE, Ca dimers and Rb with additional calibration against TIMS-characterised materials are required to achieve this. The calibration strategy proposed uses both inorganic and biogenic apatite matrices to monitor and correct for a ⁴⁰Ca-³¹P-¹⁶O polyatomic present at levels of 0.3-1% of the non-oxide peak, which interferes on ⁸⁷Sr causing inaccuracies of 0.03-0.4% in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratio. The possibility also exists for synthetic materials to be used in this calibration. After correction for interferences total combined uncertainties of 0.04-0.15% (2SD) are achieved for analyses of 13-24 μg of archaeological tooth enamel with Sr concentrations of ca. 100-500 ppm using MC-ICP-MS. In particular, for samples containing >300 ppm Sr, total uncertainties of ∼0.05% are possible utilising 7-12 ng Sr. Data quality is monitored by determination of ⁸⁴Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios.When applied to an archaeological cattle tooth this approach shows Sr-isotope variations along the length of the tooth in agreement with independent TIMS data. The ⁴⁰Ca-³¹P-¹⁶O polyatomic interference is the root cause of the bias at mass 87 during laser ablation ICP-MS analysis of inorganic and biogenic calcium phosphate (apatite) matrices. This results in inaccurate ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios even after correction of Ca dimers and doubly charged rare earth elements. This interference is essentially constant at specific ablation conditions and therefore the effect on ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data varies in proportion to changes in the Sr concentration of the ablated material. Complete elimination of this interference is unlikely through normal analytical mechanisms and therefore represents a limitation on the achievable accuracy of LA-(MC-)ICP-MS ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data without rigorous calibration to known reference materials.     

鄂尔多斯奥陶系碳酸盐岩碳氧同位素特征及其意义*

鄂尔多斯古生代海相地层沉积厚度巨大。鄂尔多斯奥陶系碳酸盐岩的碳氧同位素组成受后期成岩作用影响较小,基本保留了原始海洋的同位素组成： δ¹³C值分布于-7.30‰～2.26‰之间,均值-0.30‰;δ¹⁸O值分布于-13.14‰～-1.94‰之间,均值-6.38‰,碳氧同位素组成与全球基本一致。区域上,鄂尔多斯西缘具有相对较高的δ¹³C值,南缘次之,而东缘最低。纵向上,碳同位素组成逐渐增重,并在中晚奥陶世发生明显的正向偏移,δ¹³C均值由马家沟组的-0.36‰增加到平凉组的0.15‰,至背锅山组增加至0.68‰。碳同位素的区域分布差异表明鄂尔多斯西缘水体相对较深,南缘次之,东缘相对较浅,由早奥陶世至晚奥陶世水体逐渐加深,碳同位素组成反映的海平面变化趋势与沉积相演化一致。鄂尔多斯西南缘中晚奥陶世碳同位素组成的正向偏移,标志着较高的生产力和有机碳埋藏率,具有重要的石油地质学意义,西南缘的平凉组/乌拉力克组和背锅山组是下古生界最重要和有效的烃源岩层。     

Fractionation of hydrogen,oxygen and carbon isotopes in n-alkanes and cellulose of three Sphagnum species

Compound-specific isotope measurements of organic compounds are increasingly important in palaeoclimate reconstruction. Searching for more accurate peat-based palaeoenvironmental proxies, compound-specific fractionation of stable C, H and O isotopes of organic compounds synthesized by Sphagnum were determined in a greenhouse study. Three Sphagnum species were grown under controlled climate conditions. Stable isotope ratios of cellulose, bulk organic matter (OM) and C₂₁–C₂₅ n-alkanes were measured to explore whether fractionation in Sphagnum is species-specific, as a result of either environmental conditions or genetic variation. The oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O) of cellulose was equal for all species and all treatments. The hydrogen isotopic composition (δD) of the n-alkanes displayed an unexpected variation among the species, with values between −154‰ for Sphagnum rubellum and −184‰ for Sphagnum fallax for the C₂₃ n-alkane, irrespective of groundwater level. The stable carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C) of the latter also showed a species-specific pattern. The pattern was similar for the carbon isotope fractionation of bulk OM, although the C₂₃ n-alkane was >10‰ more depleted than the bulk OM. The variation in H fractionation may originate in the lipid biosynthesis, whereas C fractionation is also related to humidity conditions. Our findings clearly emphasize the importance of species identification in palaeoclimate studies based on stable isotopes from peat cores.     

Seasonal variability of oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes in precipitation and cave drip water at Guilin,southwest China

The interpretation of climatic information from stalagmites has traditionally been a complex research problem, with oxygen isotopes playing a particularly important role in global climate change studies. This study investigates the relationship between oxygen isotope composition of the atmospheric in precipitation and cave drip water at Panlong cave in southwest China on seasonal timescales of variability. Time series seasonal variability was derived from Panlong cave in Guilin by collecting daily precipitation samples for stable isotope analysis during 2012. Results indicate that δ¹⁸O of precipitation contains a clear seasonal variation whereby higher values are mainly distributed during winter and lower values during summer. Seasonal variations in water sources affect the precipitation δ¹⁸O values. Drip water δ¹⁸O also displayed a seasonal cycle which is attenuated relative to δ¹⁸O of precipitation. Drip water time series display seasonal cycle ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 ‰ relative to Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, which mainly follow the precipitation δ¹⁸O seasonal cycle. Seasonal variation in drip water δ¹⁸O supports interpretations of the stalagmite δ¹⁸O record as a paleoclimate proxy sensitive to the local environment. This monitoring experiment revealed that drip water must be transported through the epikarst in approximately 1.5 months during cold periods, and <0.5 months during warm periods. Different residence time percolation is mainly affected by the atmospheric precipitation amount, depending on whether soil moisture reaches saturation.     

广西更新世早期吹风洞的古环境——来自巨猿动物群牙釉质C、O同位素的证据

为更好地了解更新世早期巨猿生活时期的古环境,对广西田东布兵盆地吹风洞21颗哺乳动物化石牙釉质进行了C、O稳定同位素分析。结果显示,牙釉质δ¹³C值为-12.8 ‰~-18.1 ‰,平均值-15.2 ‰,暗示吹风洞巨猿动物群主要以C₃类食物为食;根据C₃和C₄植物种类及分布规律,吹风洞所在区域古环境以森林为主;δ¹⁸O值为-6.4 ‰~-9.3 ‰,平均值为-7.8 ‰。各种动物δ¹⁸O值存在差异,反映了不同种属动物之间存在食性差异。比较更新世早期不同纬度巨猿动物群同位素数据,包括龙骨洞,巨猿洞、么会洞、岩亮洞、三合大洞,显示巨猿生活的更新世早期,气候较为温暖,其古生态环境是以森林环境为主。吹风洞哺乳动物牙釉质稳定同位素数据暗示更新世早期巨猿动物群喜欢生活在C₃植物为主的森林环境,可能源于其对食物和栖息环境的特殊喜好。

     

A 16-Ma record of paleodiet using carbon and oxygen isotopes in fossil teeth from Pakistan

The Siwalik Sequence of northern Pakistan contains a 16-Ma record of paleosol carbonate and fossil teeth from which a record of paleovegetation can potentially be reconstructed and compared. The carbon isotopic composition of paleosol carbonate and organic matter from Siwalik strata reflects a major paleoecological change on the floodplains of major rivers beginning7.3 Ma ago. By 6 Ma C₃-dominated plant communities, probably composed of mostly trees and shrubs, were displaced by nearly continuous C₄ grassland. We find that the carbon isotopic ratios in herbivore tooth enamel reflect this dramatic ecologic shift. Carbonate in enamel older than 7 Ma averages −11‰ in δ¹³C_PDB, consistent with a largely C₃ diet. Enamel from the Plio-PIeistocene averages +1.9‰ in δ¹³C, similar to the value displayed by modern C₄ grazers. Analysis of post-burial carbonate cements, and the concordance with isotopic evidence from paleosols argues strongly against major isotopic alteration of the enamel, while coexisting bone may have been altered early in burial. This study confirms that enamel apatite is useful for paleodietary reconstruction much further back in the geologic record than was previously thought.     

苏皖地区石炭纪海相碳酸盐岩碳和氧同位素演化规律

对江苏南京孔山和安徽巢湖凤凰山石炭系碳酸盐岩C、O稳定同位素进行了测定。结果表明，苏皖地区石炭系δ^13C,δ^18O记录是以4个同位素演化阶段为特征，前3个同位素演化阶段与同时代的北美石炭纪相似，仅仅是内部演化特征略有不同，这反映了区域性的沉积环境的不同变化。在金陵组下部、和州组下部、黄龙组中下部和船山组层段，δ^13C表现出明显的正漂移，这可能是受植物和生物量增长、有机碳储藏量增加所引起的。δ^18O记录总体上与δ^13C值呈相似的变化趋势。δ^18O增加记录了气候变冷和冰川作用的结果。δ^18O负漂移与气候变暖和冰川消融是一致的。在浅水潮坪环境，大气淡水的淋滤作用使δ^13C和δ^18O值明显降低。     

The Variation of Soil Organic Matter in a Forest-Cultivation Sequence Traced by Stable Carbon Isotopes

On the basis of different photosynthetic pathways.there is an obvious difference in δ^13C values between C3 and C4 plants,In terms of this characteristic,we analyzed the organic carbon content (forestlands:1.81%-16.00%;farmland:0.45%-2.22%) and δ^13C values(forestlands:-23.86‰--27.12‰;farmland:-19.66‰--23.26‰)of three profile-soil samples either in farmland or in forestland near the Maolan Karst virgin forest,where there were developed plant C3 plants previously and now are C4 plants.Results showed that the deforestation has accelerated the decomposition rate of soil organic matter and reduced the proportion of active components in soil organic matter and thus soil fertility.     

Carbon and oxygen isotopes: a tool for Jurassic and early Cretaceous pelagic correlation (southern Spain)

The isotopic evolution of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O is reported for the Jurassic and early Cretaceous in two pelagic sections of the External Zones in the Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain). Stable isotope curves from pelagic trough and swell sections display similar patterns. Variations in δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values from strata at equivalent age probably reflect both early diagenetic cementation and later temperature‐related burial diagenesis. Comparison of global isotope curves with those presented in this work allows the differentiation of global from local events. Thus, the anoxic event during the early Toarcian (falciferum Zone) is characterized by elevated δ¹³C and depressed δ¹⁸O values. The isotopic record also allows the detection of the middle Oxfordian transgression. There are other peaks for the late Toarcian, early Bajocian, Callovian and early Berriasian that can also be used as tools for correlation purposes. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

重庆东部地区寒武系龙王庙组碳、氧同位素特征及其意义

在野外露头和镜下薄片观察分析的基础上,对重庆东部地区下寒武统龙王庙组83个碳酸盐岩样品的碳、氧同位素进行测试,并分析了其所保留的海水原始信息的有效性。结果表明,扣除无效数据后,重庆地区龙王庙组δ¹³C值分布在-4.300‰~2.694‰之间,平均值为-0.031‰;δ¹⁸O值分布在-9.880‰~-0.100‰之间,平均值为-7.396‰;纵向上,碳同位素值整体呈现先降低后升高的趋势,底部、中上部及顶部为正值且变化幅度小;中下部整体为负值且波动幅度大,正、负漂移事件频发。古环境恢复结果显示,龙王庙期重庆东部地区整体处于海相沉积环境,海水盐度在龙王庙组早期较低,晚期较高;海水温度主要介于20~30,℃之间,属温暖或炎热的亚热带气候;龙王庙期共经历3期海退—海侵作用,海平面上升、海洋生产力增加、有机碳快速埋藏使得海洋中¹³C含量升高,反之则使其降低。龙王庙组沉积中期与末期,δ¹³C值负偏,水体较浅,盐度较高,是白云岩发育的最有利阶段。