Stable carbon isotope reconstructions of diet and paleoenvironment from the late Middle Pleistocene Snake Cave in Northeastern Thailand

摘要: Thailand’s geographical location in the tropics and almost complete, relatively uninterrupted forest cover makes it valuable for paleodiet paleoclimate research. We present first dietary environmental reconstructions Northeastern Thailand, using stable isotope abundances mammalian tooth enamel from late Middle Pleistocene locality, Tham Wiman Nakin (Snake Cave), which reflect a much higher (over 70%) than modern (13%) occurrence of C4 plants. Bovids cervids appear to have had entirely plant diet. Carnivores consumed mixture C3 (suids) (bovids, cervids) consumers. Rhinoceroses orangutan maintained their preference through time forested or open environment, respectively. 13C/12C bone bioapatite, horn hair Southeast Asian mammals exclusively demonstrate vegetation dominance. consumption is rare analysed species could be related anthropogenic influences such as ingestion domestic crops livestock. Interesting implications emerge distribution southern Eurasian ecosystems, indicating that Asia, south Tibet, part global spread, occurred around 7 Ma. However, percentage ecosystems varied geographically. Despite reversal towards habitats due factors increasing CO2, we think anthropological may responsible habitat changes extant species. most significant shift diet time, C4-dominated C3-dominated indicative dense understory.