The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa

The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa

We report δ13C and δ18O results from carbonate-cemented cave sediments at Malapa in South Africa. The sediments were deposited during a short-period magnetic reversal at 1.977±0.003 Ma, immediately preceding deposition of Facies D sediments that contain the type fossils of Australopithecus sediba. Values of δ13C range between -5.65 and -2.09 with an average of -4.58±0.54°‰(Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite, VPDB) and values of δ18O range between -6.14 and -3.84 with an average of -4.93±0.44°‰(VPDB). Despite signs of diagenetic alteration from metastable aragonite to calcite, the Malapa isotope values are similar to those obtained in two previous studies in South Africa for the same relative time period. Broadly, the Malapa δ13C values provide constraints on the palaeovegetation at Malapa. Because of the complex nature of the carbonate cements and mixed mineralogy in the samples, our estimates of vegetation type (C4-dominant) must be regarded as preliminary only. However, the indication of a mainly C4 landscape is in contrast to the reported diet of A. sediba, and suggests a diverse environment involving both grassland and riparian woodland.

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Main Authors: Holt,Emily, Dirks,Paul, Placzek,Christa, Berger,Lee
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2016
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0038-23532016000400021
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spelling oai:scielo:S0038-235320160004000212016-08-11The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South AfricaHolt,EmilyDirks,PaulPlaczek,ChristaBerger,Lee palaeovegetation carbonate-cemented cave sediments palaeoclimate We report δ13C and δ18O results from carbonate-cemented cave sediments at Malapa in South Africa. The sediments were deposited during a short-period magnetic reversal at 1.977±0.003 Ma, immediately preceding deposition of Facies D sediments that contain the type fossils of Australopithecus sediba. Values of δ13C range between -5.65 and -2.09 with an average of -4.58±0.54°‰(Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite, VPDB) and values of δ18O range between -6.14 and -3.84 with an average of -4.93±0.44°‰(VPDB). Despite signs of diagenetic alteration from metastable aragonite to calcite, the Malapa isotope values are similar to those obtained in two previous studies in South Africa for the same relative time period. Broadly, the Malapa δ13C values provide constraints on the palaeovegetation at Malapa. Because of the complex nature of the carbonate cements and mixed mineralogy in the samples, our estimates of vegetation type (C4-dominant) must be regarded as preliminary only. However, the indication of a mainly C4 landscape is in contrast to the reported diet of A. sediba, and suggests a diverse environment involving both grassland and riparian woodland.Academy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science v.112 n.7-8 20162016-01-01journal articletext/htmlhttp://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0038-23532016000400021en
institution SCIELO
collection OJS
country Sudáfrica
countrycode ZA
component Revista
access En linea
databasecode rev-scielo-za
tag revista
region África del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author Holt,Emily
Dirks,Paul
Placzek,Christa
Berger,Lee
spellingShingle Holt,Emily
Dirks,Paul
Placzek,Christa
Berger,Lee
The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
author_facet Holt,Emily
Dirks,Paul
Placzek,Christa
Berger,Lee
author_sort Holt,Emily
title The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
title_short The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
title_full The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
title_fullStr The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed The stable isotope setting of Australopithecus sediba at Malapa, South Africa
title_sort stable isotope setting of australopithecus sediba at malapa, south africa
description We report δ13C and δ18O results from carbonate-cemented cave sediments at Malapa in South Africa. The sediments were deposited during a short-period magnetic reversal at 1.977±0.003 Ma, immediately preceding deposition of Facies D sediments that contain the type fossils of Australopithecus sediba. Values of δ13C range between -5.65 and -2.09 with an average of -4.58±0.54°‰(Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite, VPDB) and values of δ18O range between -6.14 and -3.84 with an average of -4.93±0.44°‰(VPDB). Despite signs of diagenetic alteration from metastable aragonite to calcite, the Malapa isotope values are similar to those obtained in two previous studies in South Africa for the same relative time period. Broadly, the Malapa δ13C values provide constraints on the palaeovegetation at Malapa. Because of the complex nature of the carbonate cements and mixed mineralogy in the samples, our estimates of vegetation type (C4-dominant) must be regarded as preliminary only. However, the indication of a mainly C4 landscape is in contrast to the reported diet of A. sediba, and suggests a diverse environment involving both grassland and riparian woodland.
publisher Academy of Science of South Africa
publishDate 2016
url http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0038-23532016000400021
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