Scientists have developed a model to study oxygen isotopes in animals, which can help us understand past climates and ecosystems. By looking at the 17O isotope, they can better determine factors like climate, water sources, and animal behavior that affect the isotopic composition of body water. The model predicts that animals in dry areas will have different isotopic values than those in wet areas. This research shows that analyzing 17O in animal tissues can be a useful tool for studying ancient climates and animal ecology.