Enamel carbon isotope evidence of diet and habitat of Gigantopithecus blacki and associated mammalian megafauna in the Early Pleistocene of South China

• 来源期刊: 中国科学通报(英文版)
• 学科: 地球科学
• 关键词: 大型哺乳动物 碳同位素分析 中国南方 栖息地 早更新世 搪瓷 饮食 巨型
• 年，卷（期）: 2011,（33）
• 页码范围: 3590-3595
• 页数: 6页
• 分类号: Q959.822|P642.25
• 语种: 中文

摘要

Enamel stable carbon isotope analyses were conducted on the large fossil ape Gigantopithecus blacki and an associated mammalian megafauna from Longgudong Cave in Jianshi and Juyuandong Cave in Liucheng, South China. The range in δ13C values (-18.8‰ to -14.1‰) indicates that G. blacki and other large mammals fed on solely C3 biomass, and lived in forest habitats, and not open country or savannas. These results are consistent with other faunal and floral analyses for that time. The diet and habitat of G. blacki were significantly different from those of early hominins (Australopithecus and Paranthropus) from South and East Africa. Extinction of G. blacki probably was a result of forest habitat fragmentation and deterioration.