1997/10/02 by Darren R. Gröcke · 2 citations
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Biodiversity #Biogeochemistry #Biology #Ecology #Isotope Analysis in Ecology #Megafauna #Paleobotany #Paleoecology #Paleontology #Pleistocene #Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology #Stable isotope ratio #Vegetation (pathology) #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #δ13C
paper · doi:10.1071/bt96040
openalex publication_date 1997/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Stable carbon-isotope analyses (expressed as a 13C:12C ratio relative to that of a standard: d13C) on fossilised collagenic material in megafaunal bones can provide information regarding the palaeodiet (e.g. C3 and/or C4 plants) of these animals. Isotope analyses were performed on collagenic material extracted from bones of Sthenurus spp., Diprotodon spp. and Macropus spp. from Cooper Creek, Henschke Cave, Baldina Creek, Dempsey’s Lake and Rocky River in South Australia. The percentage of trees and shrubs estimated from palaeofloral records in south-eastern Australia and the dietary preferences of megafauna were found to be positively correlated. The dietary preferences of megafauna analysed from South Australian localities indicate that megafauna were opportunistic and changed their diet in response to environmental change. This suggests that megafauna diet can not be founded on dental morphology alone. Fossilised collagenic material in vertebrate remains can provide an insight into the broadscale nature of the vegetation. This approach is a good compliment for other palaeoecological data (e.g. sedimentology, spore–pollen, diatoms) by providing evidence for past climates in relation to the proportion of C3 and C4 plants.