Cooperative Research in Sub-Saharan Africa on Oxygen Isotope Ratios in Freshwater Gastropods as Paleoclimatic Indicators

这项提案要求为NSF补助金编号补充资金。EAR8416071允许罗德岛大学化学教授Paul I.Abell博士与尼日利亚巴耶罗大学Christine Betterton博士、津巴布韦大学H.V.Clarke博士以及撒哈拉以南非洲的其他科学家开展为期6个月的淡水腹足类氧同位素比率作为古气候指标的合作研究计划。首先将研究现代腹足类贝壳及其水环境的样本，以提供基线数据。然后，这项技术将被应用于撒哈拉以南非洲不同地点的古环境研究中选定的腹足类化石。淡水腹足类在其壳的稳定氧同位素比率中记录了环境信息。这些信息包括贝壳碳酸钙分解过程中对温度的敏感性，以及腹足类动物生活的宿主水体产生的蒸发效应。这项研究可能会对古环境提供更多的见解。该项目与发展中国家科学计划的目标相关，该计划旨在通过交流科学信息、思想、技能和技术，以及通过在互利问题上的合作，提高美国科学家和工程师与发展中国家同行之间的合作水平。

This proposal requests supplemental funds for NSF Grant No. EAR8416071 to permit Dr. Paul I. Abell, Professor of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, to pursue with Dr. Christine Betterton, Bayero University, Nigeria, Dr. H. V. Clarke, University of Zimbabwe, and other scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa, for a period of 6 months, a program of cooperative research on oxygen isotope ratios in freshwater gastropods as a paleoclimatic indicator. Samples of modern gastropod shells and their aqueous environments will be studied first to provide base line data. The technique then will be applied to selected fossil gastropods in studies of paleoenvironments from a variety of locations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Freshwater gastropods record environmental information in the stable oxygen isotope ratios of their shells. This information includes a sensitivity toward temperature in the decomposition of the calcium carbonate of the shell as well as evaporative effects stemming from the host body of water in which the gastropod lived. This study may provide additional insights into paleoenvironments. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit.