Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of diet and hair of Gidra-speaking Papuans

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 C-13 (+1.8 and 2.2 parts per thousand) were similar to those previously reported (1.4-2.0 parts per thousand), but the other two values (3.7 and 4.8 parts per thousand) were greater than in earlier reports. N-15 enrichment was systematically greater (by 1 parts per thousand) than reported values (similar to 4.3 parts per thousand) except for one village, where a much greater enrichment (6.9 parts per thousand) 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 N-15 found in one of the villages remains unexplained. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.