Abstract
DETAILED palaeorecords of terrestrial environments are critical for interpretations of the late Miocene mammalian evolution. Here we assess the development of modern tropical grassland (C4) biomes, an important ecosystem for modern faunas. We present enamel apatite 13C/12C isotope ratios of fauna from two sequences, the Siwaliks from the Potwar Plateau in northern Pakistan, and the Tugen Hills Succession in Kenya (Fig. 1). Our data do not support previous suggestions of a restricted global date for C4 emergence associated with decreased atmospheric CO2 around 7 Myr ago1. Instead, C4 grasses are first recorded as a dietary component in Pakistan at 9.4 Myr and increase as a foraging resource over the next few million years. In Kenya, C4 grasses are present by 15.3 Myr but are not the primary dietary resource of herbivores until 7 Myr. A wide range of C3 and C4 dietary signals characterizes the latest Miocene/Pliocene of Kenya.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cerling, T. E., Wang, Y. & Quade, J. Nature 361, 344–345 (1993).
Ambrose, S. H. & DeNiro, M. J. Oecologia 69, 395–406 (1986).
DeNiro, M. J. & Epstein, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 42, 495–506 (1978).
Schoeninger, M. J. & Moore, K. J. World Prehistory 6, 247–296 (1992).
Van der Merwe, N. J. & Vogel, J. C. Nature 276, 815–816 (1978).
Lee-Thorp, J. & van der Merwe, N. J. S. Afr. J. Sci. 83, 712–715 (1987).
Lee-Thorp, J. A., Sealy, J. C. & van der Merwe, N. J. J. Archaeol. Sci. 16, 585–599 (1989).
Koch, P. L., Zachos, J. C. & Gingerich, P. D. Nature 358, 319–322 (1992).
Quade, J. et al. Chem. Geol. 94, 183–192 (1992).
Kreuger, H. W. & Sullivan, C. H. Stable Isotopes in Nutrition. Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 258 (eds Turnland, J. R. & Johnson, P. E.) 205–220 (American Chemical Society, Washington DC, 1984).
Sullivan, C. H. & Kreuger, H. W. Nature 292, 333–335 (1981).
Beshah, K., Rey, C., Glimcher, M. J., Schimizu, M. & Griffin, R. G. J. Solid State Chem. 84, 71–81 (1990).
Rey, C., Renugopalakrishnan, V., Shimuzu, M., Collins, B. & Glimcher, M. J. Calcif. Tissue Int. 49, 259–268 (1991).
Quade, J., Cerling, T. E. & Bowman, J. R. Nature 342, 163–166 (1989).
Cerling, T. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 97, 241–247 (1992).
Kingston, J. D., Hill, A. & Marino, B. Am. J. Phys. Anthrop. 14A, 100 (1992).
Morgan, M. E. & Solounias, N. J. Vert. Paleo. 10, 36A (1990).
Dugas, D. P. & Retallack, G. J. J. Paleont. 67, 113–128 (1993).
Barry, J. C., Lindsay, E. H. & Jacobs, L. L. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 37, 95–130 (1982).
Barry, J. C. et al. Paleobiology 17, 231–245 (1991).
Flynn, L. J. & Jacobs, L. L. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 37, 129–138 (1982).
Hill, A. Anthropologie 89, 275–279 (1985).
Hill, A. J. Hum. Evol. 16, 583–598 (1987).
Freeman, K. H. & Hayes, J. M. Global Biogeochem. Cycles. 6, 185–198 (1992).
Ehleringer, J. R., Sage, R. F., Flanagan, L. B. & Pearcy, R. W. Trends Ecol. Evol. 6, 95–99 (1991).
Peisker, M. Pl. Cell Envir. 9, 627–635 (1986).
Keeling, C. D. et al. Am. Geophys. Monogr. No 55 (ed. Peterson, D. H.) 165–236 (American Geophysical Union, Washington DC, 1989).
Marino, B. D. & McElroy, M. B. Nature 349, 127–131 (1991).
Deines, P. in Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry: The Terrestrial Environment Vol. 1 (eds Fritz, P. & Fontes, J. C.) 329–406 (Elsevier, New York, 1980).
Farquhar, G. D., O'Leary, M. H. & Berry, J. C. Aust. J. Pl. Physiol. 9, 121–137 (1982).
O'Leary, M. H. Phytochemistry 20, 553–567 (1981).
Vogel, J. C. Fractionation of the Carbon Isotopes During Photosynthesis (Springer, Berlin, 1980).
Brudevold, F. & Soremark, R. in Structural and Chemical Organiziation of Teeth Vol. II (ed. Miles, A. E. W.) 247–277 (Academic, New York, 1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morgan, M., Kingston, J. & Marino, B. Carbon isotopic evidence for the emergence of C4 plants in the Neogene from Pakistan and Kenya. Nature 367, 162–165 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/367162a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/367162a0
This article is cited by
-
Integrative Neogene stratigraphy, biotas and paleogeographic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding area
Science China Earth Sciences (2023)
-
Isotopic insights into the Early Acheulean (1.95 Ma–1.66 Ma) high-elevation paleoenvironments at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Valley, Ethiopia)
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2023)
-
Understanding the diversification pattern of three subspecies of swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) during the Pleistocene–Holocene based on mitochondrial and Y chromosome markers
Mammalian Biology (2021)
-
Cryptic lineage diversity within Forest Dormice (Mammalia: Dryomys nitedula) revealed by deep genetic divergence among different subspecies on the Iranian Plateau and in adjacent areas
Mammalian Biology (2021)
-
Inverse gradients in leaf wax δD and δ13C values along grass blades of Miscanthus sinensis: Implications for leaf wax reproduction and plant physiology
Oecologia (2013)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.