Isotope Ecology

Isotope ecology studies how the different forms of elements, called isotopes, in plants and animals reveal information about their environment and interactions. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different weights, and their ratios can shift depending on factors like diet, climate, or water sources. By analyzing these isotope signatures in organisms, scientists can trace food webs, migration patterns, and environmental changes over time. This field helps us understand ecological processes more precisely by providing chemical clues about how living things interact with their surroundings and each other.