Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Winter 2015

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Resource Management

Committee Chair

Patrick Labinski

Second Committee Member

Steven Hackenberger

Third Committee Member

Carey Gazis

Abstract

I analyze stable oxygen isotope ([delta]180) and stable carbon isotope ([delta]13C) data from shell at two study sites in the Hells Canyon in Oregon and Idaho. Mussel shell isotope data from two species, Margaritifera falcata and Gonidea angulata, are compared with a terrestrial snail species Oreohelix strigosa from the Tryon Creek site (35WA288) and the Bernard Creek Rockshelter (1 0IH483). There were five methodological hypotheses to test with these data. Three tests yielded no significant correlation in isotope values: M falcata vs. G. angulata, mussels vs. snails, and winter vs. summer increments of snails. A fourth test showed mixed results: isotope variability was not significantly different between strata for all samples except for [delta]180 winter snail increments. The fifth test showed a significant positive correlation between mussel shell size and [delta]13C. A paleoprecipitation proxy for each of the two study sites is proposed

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