Ref ID:	34419
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Yoshinaga, Jun Minagawa, Masao Suzuki, Tsuguyoshi Ohtsuka, Ryutaro Kawabe, Toshio Inaoka, Tsukasa Akimichi, Tomoya
Title:	Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of diet and hair of Gidra-speaking Papuans [published erratum appears in American Journal of Physical Anthropology 1996 Aug 100(4):611]
Date:	1996
Source:	American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Abstract:	The carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic composition of the scalp hair and diet of Gidra-speaking people in four villages in Papua New Guinea is presented. The isotopic composition of hair was measured, while that of the diet was estimated from food consumption survey data and the measured isotopic composition and protein and carbohydrate contents of food items. The average isotopic ratios of the hair samples and of the diet varied among the four study villages, which were selected because of their diverse ecological settings. Comparison was made between hair and calculated dietary isotopic compositions. Two of the four diet-hair enrichment values obtained for 13C (+1.8 and 2.2%) were similar to those previously reported (1.4-2.0%), but the other two values (3.7 and 4.8%) were greater than in earlier reports. 15N enrichment was systematically greater (by 1.0%) than reported values (4.3%) except for one village, where a much greater enrichment (6.9%) was found. The factors potentially relevant to these deviations are discussed. Possible errors in estimating the dietary isotopic composition and minor modifications of dietary habits revealed by food consumption surveys could explain most of the discrepancies. However, the great enrichment of 15N found in one of the villages remains unexplained.
Date Created:	7/5/2001
Volume:	100
Number:	1
Page Start:	23
Page End:	34