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Pigati, Jeffrey S.

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The isotopic values of fossil snail shells can be important archives of past climate. Here we present the first carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope values of radiocarbon-dated and live-collected snails in interior Alaska to explore changes in vegetation and humidity through the late glacial period (14-11.7 ka). Snail shell δ13C values were relatively consistent through the late glacial. However, late glacial shell δ13C values are 2.8‰ higher than modern shells. This offset is best explained by changes in the δ13C values of plants consumed by snails. Snail shell δ18O values varied through the late glacial, which can be partially explained by changes in relative humidity (RH). RH during the snail growing period...
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