Serengeti Micromammal Communities and the Paleoecology of Laetoli, Tanzania

摘要: The fossil deposits at Laetoli provide critical paleoanthropological insights that can be better understood in light of the modern Serengeti ecosystem. Earlier paleoenvironmental reconstructions site depicted it as a semi-arid grassland, similar to plains. Subsequent analyses, however, have converged around an interpretation emphasizing greater wooded component more humid climate, suggesting adaptations A. afarensis remain linked closed and biome. range proposed paleoenvironments encompasses seen Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem today thus serves natural analogy for comparisons with Laetoli. Our understanding past environments is informed by study mammalian communities where possible observe species distributions, community composition. As indicators, micromammals signal local smaller spatial grain than large mammals may prove resolving some ambiguities interpretations This chapter presents findings on rodent biodiversity based material recovered from owl roosting sites distributed throughout experiences strong ecological gradients, which influence vegetation patterns distribution genera. Examining interplay between habitats composition provides necessary baseline perspective interpreting paleoenvironments.