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Trophic position of Otodus megalodon and great white sharks through time revealed by zinc isotopes

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy McCormack

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    Goethe-University Frankfurt)

  • Michael L. Griffiths

    (William Paterson University)

  • Sora L. Kim

    (University of California Merced)

  • Kenshu Shimada

    (DePaul University
    Fort Hays State University)

  • Molly Karnes

    (University of California Merced)

  • Harry Maisch

    (Florida Gulf Coast University)

  • Sarah Pederzani

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Nicolas Bourgon

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    Johannes Gutenberg-University)

  • Klervia Jaouen

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    Observatoire Midi Pyrénées)

  • Martin A. Becker

    (William Paterson University)

  • Niels Jöns

    (Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Guy Sisma-Ventura

    (Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research Institute)

  • Nicolas Straube

    (University Museum of Bergen)

  • Jürgen Pollerspöck

    (Bavarian State Collection of Zoology)

  • Jean-Jacques Hublin

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    Collège de France)

  • Robert A. Eagle

    (University of California)

  • Thomas Tütken

    (Johannes Gutenberg-University)

Abstract

Diet is a crucial trait of an animal’s lifestyle and ecology. The trophic level of an organism indicates its functional position within an ecosystem and holds significance for its ecology and evolution. Here, we demonstrate the use of zinc isotopes (δ66Zn) to geochemically assess the trophic level in diverse extant and extinct sharks, including the Neogene megatooth shark (Otodus megalodon) and the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). We reveal that dietary δ66Zn signatures are preserved in fossil shark tooth enameloid over deep geologic time and are robust recorders of each species’ trophic level. We observe significant δ66Zn differences among the Otodus and Carcharodon populations implying dietary shifts throughout the Neogene in both genera. Notably, Early Pliocene sympatric C. carcharias and O. megalodon appear to have occupied a similar mean trophic level, a finding that may hold clues to the extinction of the gigantic Neogene megatooth shark.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy McCormack & Michael L. Griffiths & Sora L. Kim & Kenshu Shimada & Molly Karnes & Harry Maisch & Sarah Pederzani & Nicolas Bourgon & Klervia Jaouen & Martin A. Becker & Niels Jöns & Guy Sisma-Ve, 2022. "Trophic position of Otodus megalodon and great white sharks through time revealed by zinc isotopes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30528-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30528-9
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