Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa

Sewell, Lauren; Garcia, Géraldine; Hopley, Philip J.; Zipfel, Bernhard; Reynolds, Sally C.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.02.009

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In addition, stable-isotope ratios of ungulate tooth enamel can be compared to the dental hypsodonty index, dental mesowear (sharpness of tooth cusps), dental microwear (microscopic abrasion patterns on the occlusal surface), ecomorphological analysis of craniomandibular features, as well as stomachand fecal contents and other types of data that are used to document ungulate dietary ecology. It has been shown that combining results from multiple methods improves accuracy of paleoecological reconstructions (e.g., Rivals and Ziegler, 2018;Sewell et al, 2019). Such cross-method comparisons capture dietary behaviors and adaptations recorded through different processes and over different time scales, thus providing more reliable and detailed dietary information for extant and fossil species (e.g., Sponheimer et al, 2003;Boisserie et al, 2005;Merceron et al, 2006;Louys et al, 2012;Bradham et al, 2018;Uno et al, 2018;Gong et al, 2020).…”

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confidence: 99%

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Wang

Badgley²

2022

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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The stable carbon-isotope composition of mammalian tooth enamel is a powerful tool for reconstructing paleodiet and paleoenvironment. Its application in the fossil record relies on a thorough understanding of the isotopic composition of mammalian diets in modern ecosystems. We compiled and evaluated a global dataset of the carbon-isotope values of artiodactyl tooth enamel, supplemented by new samples, for 79 extant species. After correcting for differences in atmospheric carbon-isotope composition, body mass, and digestive physiology, we compared the inferred carbon-isotope values of ingested forage (δ13Cdiet) among seven feeding categories. The artiodactyl herbivore dietary spectrum is expressed through a wide range of δ13Cdiet values, with the most depleted mean value in frugivores and the most enriched in obligate grazers. In general, grazing species have a broader range of isotope values than browsing species, suggesting a wider dietary niche breadth. Notably, variable grazers exhibit a bimodal distribution of δ13Cdiet values, with North American and Asian taxa consuming C3 diets and African taxa consuming C4 diets, reflecting the amount of C4 vegetation in the environment. Variation in δ13Cdiet values also occurs among terrestrial ecoregions and artiodactyl clades. Grassland ecoregions differ significantly from forest ecoregions. We detected a low but significant phylogenetic signal in the mean δ13Cdiet values of extant species, with some of the oldest ruminant lineages having maintained C3 feeding and pure C4 diets being restricted to two bovid clades. Determining variation in δ13Cdiet values in different feeding categories and lineages will help refine paleoecological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions from the rich fossil record of artiodactyls.

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Section: The Browser-grazer Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Wang

Badgley²

2022

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…Archaeological sites contain records of environmental and ecological change on human timescales, thereby allowing us to reconstruct environments, identify discrete climate events over short-and medium-term scales (4), and relate climate to human behavior. For example, Lambrides and Weisler (5) use tuna remains to study El Niño variability in the Marshall Islands, Sewell et al (6) use springbok teeth from Sterkfontein and Swartkrans to assess the impact of climate-driven environmental changes on hominin evolution in South Africa, Li et al (7) use archaeological phytoliths and charcoal to characterize paleoclimates in central China over the last 3,000 years, and Roffet-Salque et al (8) use lipid residues from Çatalhöyük, Turkey, as proxies for precipitation patterns across the 8.2-ky B.P. (before present) climate event.…”

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Leveraging legacy archaeological collections as proxies for climate and environmental research

Amand

Childs

Reitz

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Understanding the causes and consequences of previous climate changes is essential for testing present-day climate models and projections. Archaeological sites are paleoenvironmental archives containing unique ecological baselines with data on paleoclimate transformations at a human timescale. Anthropogenic and nonanthropogenic forces have destroyed many sites, and others are under immediate threat. In the face of this loss, previously excavated collections from these sites—referred to as legacy collections—offer a source of climate and other paleoenvironmental information that may no longer exist elsewhere. Here, we 1) review obstacles to systematically using data from legacy archaeological collections, such as inconsistent or unreported field methods, inadequate records, unsatisfactory curation, and insufficient public knowledge of relevant collections; 2) suggest best practices for integrating archaeological data into climate and environmental research; and 3) summarize several studies to demonstrate the benefits and challenges of using legacy collections as archives of local and regional environmental proxies. Data from archaeological legacy collections contribute regional ecological baselines as well as serve to correct shifting baselines. They also enable regional climate reconstructions at various timescales and corroborate or refine radiocarbon dates. Such uses of legacy collections raise ethical concerns regarding ownership of and responsibility for cultural resources and highlight the importance of Indigenous involvement in planning and executing fieldwork and stewardship of cultural heritage. Finally, we discuss methodologies, practices, and policies pertaining to archaeological legacy collections and support calls for discipline-wide shifts in collections management to ensure their long-term utility in multidisciplinary research and public engagement.

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Stable carbon isotope and molar microwear variability of South African australopiths in relation to paleohabitats and taxonomy

Grine

Lee‐Thorp

Blumenthal

et al. 2020

Dental Wear in Evolutionary and Biocultural Contexts

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Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa

Cited by 7 publications

References 66 publications

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Leveraging legacy archaeological collections as proxies for climate and environmental research

Stable carbon isotope and molar microwear variability of South African australopiths in relation to paleohabitats and taxonomy

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Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa

Cited by 7 publications

References 66 publications

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Carbon-isotope composition of artiodactyl tooth enamel and its implications for paleodiets

Leveraging legacy archaeological collections as proxies for climate and environmental research

Stable carbon isotope and molar microwear variability of South African australopiths in relation to paleohabitats and taxonomy

Contact Info

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Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa