AAVAR | University of Tübingen

AAVAR Project: Isotopic variability of bone collagen essential amino acids in mammals within an ecosystem – actualistic approach with implications for paleoecological reconstructions

The AAVAR Project includes Maciej Krajcarz’s fellowship in Biogeology Research Group at the University of Tübingen and his research activity. The purpose is to obtain new and unique isotopic data that will be further used to refine paleoecological reconstructions. The project aims at preliminary estimation of the isotopic diversity of essential amino acids (EAAs) in bone collagen of herbivorous animals within a single ecosystem. The research method is spectrometric analysis (GC/C/IRMS) of single AAs extracted from bone collagen. The project is of a pilot nature; it is expected to be further continued. Learning analytical techniques will allow the fellow to implement this method in his home unit, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland. Setting an international consortium of two labs focused on AAs analysis in fossil bones – in Tübingen and in Warsaw – is our long-term goal.