The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of calcareous shells are frequently used to make inferences about the physical and chemical surroundings of growth of marine organisms and have contributed significantly to the understanding of environmental change by analysis of the geological record. With increasingly better constrained data, spatial and temporal changes at the regional and global-scale can be now more rigorously evaluated.
Isotopic paleontology has also the potential, on the other hand, to inform about life history and mode of growth of organisms, which are reflected in isotopic ratios of carbon and oxygen.
This session aims to explore the full potential of isotope palaeontology and welcomes contributions focusing on stable isotopes of macro- and microfossils, with examples from the fossil record and modern analogs, to help assess our understanding of past environmental and climate change, and the palaeoecology and evolution of the organisms themselves.