A MULTI-ISOTOPE APPROACH FOR CHARACTERIZING SPATIAL VARIABILITY ON TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Quantifying spatial heterogeneity in isotope values among biomes is crucial for interpreting ecological differences among extant and extinct organisms, as well as reconstructing paleoclimatological conditions. The island of Tenerife presents an ideal natural laboratory for this research due to its diverse biomes, high numbers of endemic plants and animals, and geological, paleontological and archeological history. We use a multi-isotope approach to characterize the modern biomes on the island (coastal scrub, thermophilous deciduous forest, evergreen laurel forest, pine forest and subalpine scrub). We sampled the dominant plant species from multiple sites representing each of the five main biozones. We present initial isotopic data from a subset of our localities to assess spatial isotopic variability on the island. Ultimately, we will use stable sulfur (δ³⁴S), strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), oxygen (δ¹⁸O), carbon (δ¹³C), and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotopes in vegetation to tease apart spatial patterns related to temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, elevation, and bedrock geology on Tenerife. Isoscape maps will be generated to visually present these findings. These data will provide a modern comparative isotopic baseline for future ecological, paleoecological and paleoclimatological research on the Canary Islands and nearby localities, such as northwestern Africa and other Macaronesian archipelagos.