van der Merwe Nikolaas J, Thackeray J Francis, Lee-Thorp Julia A, Luyt Julie
Archaeometry Research Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, 7701 Rondebosch, South Africa.
J Hum Evol. 2003 May;44(5):581-97. doi: 10.1016/s0047-2484(03)00050-2.
The stable carbon isotope ratio of fossil tooth enamel carbonate is determined by the photosynthetic systems of plants at the base of the animal's foodweb. In subtropical Africa, grasses and many sedges have C(4)photosynthesis and transmit their characteristically enriched 13C/(12)C ratios (more positive delta13C values) along the foodchain to consumers. We report here a carbon isotope study of ten specimens of Australopithecus africanus from Member 4, Sterkfontein (ca. 2.5 to 2.0Ma), compared with other fossil mammals from the same deposit. This is the most extensive isotopic study of an early hominin species that has been achieved so far. The results show that this hominin was intensively engaged with the savanna foodweb and that the dietary variation between individuals was more pronounced than for any other early hominin or non-human primate species on record. Suggestions that more than one species have been incuded in this taxon are not supported by the isotopic evidence. We conclude that Australopithecus africanus was highly opportunistic and adaptable in its feeding habits.
化石牙釉质碳酸盐的稳定碳同位素比率由动物食物网底层植物的光合系统决定。在亚热带非洲，禾本科植物和许多莎草科植物具有C4光合作用，并将其特征性富集的13C/12C比率（更正向的δ13C值）沿着食物链传递给消费者。我们在此报告了一项对来自斯泰克方丹4号成员（约250万至200万年前）的10个南方古猿标本的碳同位素研究，并与同一沉积物中的其他化石哺乳动物进行了比较。这是迄今为止对早期古人类物种进行的最广泛的同位素研究。结果表明，这种古人类与稀树草原食物网密切相关，而且个体之间的饮食差异比有记录的任何其他早期古人类或非人类灵长类物种都更为显著。该分类单元包含多个物种的说法没有得到同位素证据的支持。我们得出结论，南方古猿在饮食习惯上具有高度的机会主义和适应性。
