While ammonites are diverse and abundant in the fossil record, the lack of clear modern analogues makes interpretation of their lifestyle quite challenging. Nick Ellis, a former undergraduate at the University of Alabama, generated sequentially sampled isotopic profiles from ammonite shell carbonate. Periodicity in these records is indicative of seasonal variation, which may allow us to estimate the growth rate and age of these extinct organisms. Ongoing projects from Jessie McCraw, Sam Stanford, and Gozde Degirmen are pursuing other projects related to ammonite metabolism, living environment, and ecosystem position.
Ammonite Paleoecology
