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Calcium isotopic ecology of Turkana Basin hominins

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy E. Martin

    (CNRS, ENSL, LGL-TPE, Univ Lyon, Univ Lyon 1)

  • Théo Tacail

    (University of Bristol)

  • José Braga

    (University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits
    CNRS UMR 5288, University of Paul Sabatier)

  • Thure E. Cerling

    (University of Utah)

  • Vincent Balter

    (CNRS, ENSL, LGL-TPE, Univ Lyon, Univ Lyon 1)

Abstract

Diet is a major driver of hominin evolution, but most of the geochemical evidence relies on carbon isotopes (δ13C). Here, we report enamel stable calcium isotope (δ44/42Ca) values against δ13C values for several hominins and co-existing primates in the Turkana Basin area, circa 4 to 2 Ma. Australopithecus anamensis clusters with mammal browsers, Kenyanthropus platyops is distinct from A. anamensis in foraging into more open environments and the coexisting Theropithecus brumpti encompasses both the grazer and omnivore/carnivore domains. Early Homo is remarkable for its wide distribution in δ44/42Ca values, possibly reflecting omnivorous and opportunistic preferences. Paranthropus boisei is uniquely distributed in the δ13C versus δ44/42Ca iso-space being distinct from all other hominins from the Turkana Basin area as well as from the co-existing Theropithecus oswaldi. Several hypotheses are explored to discuss the unique δ44/42Ca values of Paranthropus boisei including significant differences observed with δ44/42Ca values recently reported for P. robustus from South Africa, questioning the monophyly of this genus.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy E. Martin & Théo Tacail & José Braga & Thure E. Cerling & Vincent Balter, 2020. "Calcium isotopic ecology of Turkana Basin hominins," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17427-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17427-7
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