FRACTIONATION OF STABLE CALCIUM ISOTOPES IN TISSUES OF DATE PALM TREES

Calcium is an important element in animal and plant tissues, but nothing is known with regard to the fractionation of its stable isotopes in biological systems. In this work the results of calcium isotope fractionation in date palms are reported. The palm is a dioecious tree, and thus its pollen is easily collected. A comparison was made between leaves and pollen from two trees that are approximately 70 km apart, growing in different geographical locations. Fruit pulp and seeds from the same fruit were also compared. The results of this work imply preferential depletion of the heavy calcium isotopes in tissues associated with reproduction.