Relationship between δ18O values for skeletal apatite from reindeer and foxes and yearly mean δ18O values of environmental water

The oxygen isotope composition of bone and tooth phosphate of 50 fox specimens and 30 reindeer specimens from various locations with different climatic and environmental conditions was measured. The existing relationship between these values and the mean oxygen isotope composition of local meteoric water has been calculated. In the case of foxes, specimens belonging to two genera (Vulpes and Alopex) and three different species were measured. The samples fit a straight line whose equation can be used for paleoclimatological studies either in Arctic or in temperate regions. For reindeer (Rangifer), a relatively large range of isotopic values was obtained from each location, suggesting imperfect equilibrium conditions with environmental water. The calculated equation can be used for semi-quantitative information on local paleowaters at high latitudes only.