Paleoecology and Taphonomy of Fossil Localities in the Manonga Valley, Tanzania

摘要: One of the major objectives paleontological fieldwork in Manonga Valley has been to obtain data that would be relevant for reconstructing paleoecology and depositional setting fossil localities region (see Harrison & Mbago, this volume, Chapter 1). It is become evident recent years a sound appreciation environmental context paramount importance understanding observed changes adaptive strategies individual mammalian lineages or structure faunal community general. Information kind might contribute significantly, example, proposal testing hypotheses models seek understand critical factors underlie divergence differentiation earliest hominids Harrison, 14). Traditionally, paleoanthropologists have viewed unique specializations as adaptations open country habitats, led development various scenarios which human ancestors diverged from forest-dwelling last common ancestor African hominoids by exploiting an entirely new set resources were available on grasslands Brain, 1981; Vrba, 1985; Hill Ward, 1988; Hill, 1994).