Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
J Hum Evol. 2012 Jan;62(1):59-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.09.005. Epub 2011 Nov 23.
The δ(13)C(en) and δ(18)O(en) values of goat and gazelle enamel carbonate indicate that Neandertals at Amud Cave, Israel (53-70 ka) lived under different ecological conditions than did anatomically modern humans at Qafzeh Cave, Israel (approximately 92 ka). During the Last Glacial Period, Neandertals at Amud Cave lived under wetter conditions than those in the region today. Neither faunal species ate arid-adapted C(4) plants or drought-stressed C(3) plants. The variation in gazelle δ(18)O(en) values suggests multiple birth seasons, which today occur under wetter than normal conditions. The magnitude and pattern of intra-tooth variation in goat δ(18)O(en) values indicate that rain fell throughout the year unlike today. Anatomically modern humans encountered a Qafzeh Cave region that was more open and arid than Glacial Period Amud Cave, and more open than today's Upper Galilee region. Goat δ(13)C(en) values indicate feeding on varying amounts of C(4) plants throughout the year. The climate apparently ameliorated higher in the sequence; but habitats remained more open than at Amud Cave. Both gazelles and goats fed on C(3) plants in brushy habitats without any inclusion of C(4) plants. The magnitude of intra-tooth variation in goat δ(18)O(en) values, however, suggest that some rain fell throughout the year, and the relative representation of woodland dwelling species indicates the occurrence of woodlands in the region. Climate differences affecting the distribution of plants and animals appear to be the significant factor contributing to behavioral differences previously documented between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans in the region. Climate forcing probably affected the early appearances of anatomically modern humans, although not the disappearance of Neandertals from the Levant.
以色列阿穆德洞穴的尼安德特人与以色列卡夫泽洞穴的解剖学意义上的现代人（约 92ka）生活在不同的生态环境中，其羊和瞪羚的釉质碳酸盐的 δ(13)C(en)和 δ(18)O(en)值表明。在末次冰期期间，阿穆德洞穴的尼安德特人生活在比该地区现今更湿润的条件下。这两种动物都没有食用干旱适应的 C(4)植物或干旱胁迫的 C(3)植物。瞪羚 δ(18)O(en)值的变化表明存在多个出生季节，这些季节现今出现在比正常情况更湿润的条件下。羊 δ(18)O(en)值的牙齿内变化幅度和模式表明，降雨全年都在发生，与现今不同。解剖学意义上的现代人遇到的卡夫泽洞穴地区比冰期的阿穆德洞穴更开放、更干旱，也比现今的上加利利地区更开放。羊的 δ(13)C(en)值表明全年都在食用不同数量的 C(4)植物。气候显然在序列中更高处得到改善；但栖息地仍然比阿穆德洞穴更开阔。瞪羚和山羊都在无 C(4)植物的灌木丛栖息地中以 C(3)植物为食。然而，羊 δ(18)O(en)值的牙齿内变化幅度表明，全年都有一些降雨，林地栖息物种的相对代表表明该地区存在林地。影响动植物分布的气候差异似乎是导致该地区尼安德特人和解剖学意义上的现代人之间先前记录的行为差异的重要因素。气候因素可能影响了解剖学意义上的现代人的早期出现，尽管尼安德特人并没有从黎凡特地区消失。
