The Palaeontology of Browsing and Grazing

Saarinen, Juha

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-25865-8_2

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 177 publications

(375 reference statements)

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“…In this sense, in the late Oligocene, where trachytheriines were recorded, palaeoenvironmental reconstructions suggest mostly forest and woodland areas, while grasses remained sparse during this epoch (MacFadden et al . 1996; Barreda & Palazzesi 2007; Strömberg 2011; Saarinen 2019). Moreover, arid‐adapted plant taxa (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snout shape and masticatory apparatus of the rodent‐like mesotheriid ungulates (Notoungulata, Typotheria): exploring evolutionary trends in dietary strategies through ancestral reconstructions

Ercoli

Armella

2021

Palaeontology

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Mesotheriidae were small to medium-sized native South American ungulates. Mesotheriids radiated from the early Oligocene epoch to the early-middle Pleistocene, in two subfamilies: Trachytheriinae and Mesotheriinae. Beyond the conspicuous fossil record, little is known about mesotheriid palaeobiology, and particularly, the dietary habits. To date, different studies suggest grazing habits, similar to some extant ungulates, but recent contributions are challenging this vision. Here, we explore dietary preferences in mesotheriids, focusing on food intake and oral processing strategies. We performed a shape analysis of the snout and reconstructed ancestral shapes to assess evolutionary trends within the clade. Also, we considered other morphological variables of the masticatory apparatus to perform a functional characterization. We recognized three snout configurations: Trachytherus, 'Intermediate' and Mesotherium morphotypes that can be associated with different food intake capabilities and, considering other morphological proxies, with the consumption of different food items.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2004; Barreda & Palazzesi 2007; Strömberg 2011); however, these habitats were gradually replaced by dry open grassland or savanna‐type environments (Zachos et al . 2001; Barreda & Palazzesi 2007; Saarinen 2019; Domingo et al . 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snout shape and masticatory apparatus of the rodent‐like mesotheriid ungulates (Notoungulata, Typotheria): exploring evolutionary trends in dietary strategies through ancestral reconstructions

Ercoli

Armella

2021

Palaeontology

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“…large attachment for the masseteric muscles, posteriorly located orbits) (Saarinen, 2019). The large gut volumes associated with large body sizes imply in longer time for the enzymes to digest plant material thus enabling these animals to feed on fibrous and less digestible parts of plants (Geist, 1974;Demment & Van Soest, 1985;Owen-Smith, 1988).…”

Section: Paleobiology Of the Giant Megatheriidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The paleoecology of Pleistocene giant megatheriid sloths: stable isotopes (δ13C, δ18O) of co-occurring Megatherium and Eremotherium from southern Brazil

Lopes

Dillenburg

Pereira³

et al. 2021

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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The Pampa in subtropical Brazil (State of Rio Grande do Sul) is the only area of South America known so far where fossils of the Pleistocene giant megatheriid sloths Megatherium americanum, characteristic of subtropical-temperate areas, and Eremotherium laurillardi, widespread in the tropical zone, were discovered in the same deposits (Pessegueiro Creek and Chuí Creek), but it is not clear whether this co-occurrence is a product of taphonomic mixture, or co-existence, which would imply niche partitioning. In order to understand their paleoecology and reconstruct the associated paleoenvironments, dentin samples of both megatheriids from the two sites were analyzed for their carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios. The δ13C values of Megatherium indicate mixed diet of C3-C4 plants with higher content of the latter in Pessegueiro Creek, whereas the δ13C values of Eremotherium indicate C3-dominated diets, the more negative value in Pessegueiro Creek possibly related to the canopy effect. The δ18O of Eremotherium points to 18O-depleted water sources, possibly also influenced by the diet, whereas Megatherium ingested 18O-enriched water. The results show that co-existence of both megatheriids would have been ecologically possible, and that the Pampa was occupied by open grasslands/woodlands, with closed forests in Pessegueiro Creek. The δ13C of Eremotherium from intertropical Brazil indicate a more generalist habit than Megatherium from subtropical Brazil and Argentina, which probably facilitated its dispersion from the tropics up to subtropical areas along two different routes, one along the coastal plain, and the other along the Paraná River Basin across central South America, following the southward expansion of riparian forests during warmer stages. The reduction of those forests during intervening cold stages possibly led to its disappearance in southern Brazil. Keywords: Quaternary, paleobiogeography, stable isotopes, Pampa, coastal plain, megafauna.

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“…It worth mentioning that the term herbivore comprises a wide range of species, including insects, birds, reptiles, non-ruminant and ruminant mammalians. Indeed, plants and insects have coexisted for at least 350 million years [ 54 ], while the current ruminant families entered in the chronology of ecosystems only 18–23 million years ago [ 55 ], which likely modifies the dynamics and PSC production in landscapes by incorporating a different type of pressure than that of insects (ruminant liveweights ranges from about 2 to more than 800 kg) [ 54 ]. Therefore, the long-term coevolution between herbivores and PSC necessarily entails the triggering of adaptive responses, which correspond mainly to behavioral and physiological mechanisms that involve both pre-ingestive and post-ingestive processes.…”

Section: Unravelling the Heterogeneous Context Of The Low Deciduoumentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants

Torres-Fajardo

González-Pech

Sandoval-Castro

et al. 2020

Animals

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The plant kingdom can influence the productivity and health of herbivores at different levels. However, demonstrating this process in a scientific manner entails substantial endeavors from different disciplines. In the present review, we will describe the features of a native vegetation system traditionally used by small ruminants and use its particularities to build an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate the nutraceutical properties of plants. Initially, we will establish the context of the low deciduous forest (LDF), considering some botanical and nutritional aspects, as well as the presence of plant secondary compounds (PSC) and gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN). Furthermore, we will focus on coevolutionary aspects that undoubtedly shaped the plants–nutrients–PSC–GIN–herbivore relationship. In addition, the concept of nutraceutical will be discussed to provide clarity and aspects to be considered for their evaluation. Then, ethological, agronomical, nutritional, PSC, parasitological and animal species issues are deepened placing emphasis on methodological approaches. Special focus is given to condensed tannins, as they are the fourth largest group of PSCs and the most studied in livestock sciences. Validation of the nutraceutical properties of plants from native vegetation systems should be seen as a process derived from many scientific disciplines that feed into each other in a cyclic manner.

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The Palaeontology of Browsing and Grazing

Cited by 13 publications

References 177 publications

Snout shape and masticatory apparatus of the rodent‐like mesotheriid ungulates (Notoungulata, Typotheria): exploring evolutionary trends in dietary strategies through ancestral reconstructions

Snout shape and masticatory apparatus of the rodent‐like mesotheriid ungulates (Notoungulata, Typotheria): exploring evolutionary trends in dietary strategies through ancestral reconstructions

The paleoecology of Pleistocene giant megatheriid sloths: stable isotopes (δ13C, δ18O) of co-occurring Megatherium and Eremotherium from southern Brazil

Small Ruminant Production Based on Rangelands to Optimize Animal Nutrition and Health: Building an Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluate Nutraceutical Plants

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