Author: Stephanie Killingsworth, Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, University of Florida

The ratios of strontium isotopes in fossil shark teeth can be used to better understand how coastal environments evolved in ancient times, according to our newly published work. As paleontologists with the Florida Museum of Natural History, we’re interested in understanding ancient Florida environments. Our study was one of the first to date Florida coastal deposits using fossil shark teeth and a technique that looks at variations in ocean strontium. Strontium is a chemical element that occurs naturally in rock, soil and water. By analyzing the strontium levels in fossilized shark teeth, scientists can determine the age of the fossil…