Stable isotopes also provide critical constraints on (paleo)ecological and biological systems, including: (i) terrestrial and marine food webs, both in modern environments and the geologic past; (ii) the evolution of early humans; (iii) the behavior of key nutrients in humans and other animals; and (iv) applications in forensic science. Through analyses of δ⁴⁴Ca in distinct brain regions of Göttingen minipigs, Dr. Antonelli demonstrated that measurable Ca isotope shifts may occur in the blood of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, potentially linked to the formation of amyloid plaques (Mahan, Antonelli, et al., 2020, Metallomics).

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Antonelli has also contributed to a project measuring H, C, N, O, and S isotope compositions in hair samples from African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), in collaboration with A. Del-Razo and T. Dawson (University of California, Berkeley). These data indicate a dramatic shift in hunting strategies over the past century, likely driven by anthropogenic habitat disruption (Del-Razo, Antonelli, et al., 2015, Ecological Society of America Meeting; publication pending receipt of permits from the Kenyan government). Looking ahead, he is keen to participate in future interdisciplinary projects addressing questions in marine and terrestrial ecology, anthropology, and biology, and welcomes collaborative inquiries in these areas.