Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain)
Trace element analysis of fossil bone and enamel constitutes a useful tool to characterize the paleoecological behavior of mammals. Up to now, most trace element studies have focused on Plio-Pleistocene fossils. Here, we show that paleodietary inferences based on trace element analyses can be also o...
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ftubarceojs:oai:revistes.ub.edu:article/5122 2023-05-15T13:32:26+02:00 Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) DOMINGO, L. LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ, N. GRIMES, S. 2012-10-10 application/pdf http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746 eng eng Universitat de Barcelona http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746/6835 http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746 Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 No 3 (2012); 239-247 Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 No. 3 (2012); 239-247 Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 Núm. 3 (2012); 239-247 1696-5728 1695-6133 Geochemistry Tooth enamel Diagenesis Paleoecology Herbivores info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2012 ftubarceojs 2022-12-26T13:37:19Z Trace element analysis of fossil bone and enamel constitutes a useful tool to characterize the paleoecological behavior of mammals. Up to now, most trace element studies have focused on Plio-Pleistocene fossils. Here, we show that paleodietary inferences based on trace element analyses can be also obtained from ~14Ma old Miocene mammals, in a period of time when important paleoclimatic changes took place due to the development of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Trace element ratio (Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca) analyses have been performed on herbivore tooth enamel (gomphothere Gomphotherium angustidens, equid Anchitherium cf. A. cursor, suid Conohyus simorrensis and ruminants) across three stratigraphic levels from the Somosaguas site (Middle Miocene, Madrid Basin, Spain). Previous scanning electron microscope, rare earth element and stable isotope analyses suggested minimal diagenetic alteration of the tooth enamel samples. Trace element analyses reported here show different paleoecological behavior among the studied fossil taxa. Anchitherium cf. A. cursor shows higher Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios than Gomphotherium angustidens, indicating the equid was a mixed-feeder, while the gomphothere was a browser. The enrichment in Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in the ruminants is attributed to differences in their gastrointestinal tracts and to a more grazing diet. A high variability in trace element values characterizes the suid Conohyus simorrensis, which is believed to be connected to some degree of omnivory. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet Revistes Científiques de la Universitat de Barcelona Antarctic East Antarctic Ice Sheet |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Revistes Científiques de la Universitat de Barcelona |
op_collection_id |
ftubarceojs |
language |
English |
topic |
Geochemistry Tooth enamel Diagenesis Paleoecology Herbivores |
spellingShingle |
Geochemistry Tooth enamel Diagenesis Paleoecology Herbivores DOMINGO, L. LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ, N. GRIMES, S. Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
topic_facet |
Geochemistry Tooth enamel Diagenesis Paleoecology Herbivores |
description |
Trace element analysis of fossil bone and enamel constitutes a useful tool to characterize the paleoecological behavior of mammals. Up to now, most trace element studies have focused on Plio-Pleistocene fossils. Here, we show that paleodietary inferences based on trace element analyses can be also obtained from ~14Ma old Miocene mammals, in a period of time when important paleoclimatic changes took place due to the development of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Trace element ratio (Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca) analyses have been performed on herbivore tooth enamel (gomphothere Gomphotherium angustidens, equid Anchitherium cf. A. cursor, suid Conohyus simorrensis and ruminants) across three stratigraphic levels from the Somosaguas site (Middle Miocene, Madrid Basin, Spain). Previous scanning electron microscope, rare earth element and stable isotope analyses suggested minimal diagenetic alteration of the tooth enamel samples. Trace element analyses reported here show different paleoecological behavior among the studied fossil taxa. Anchitherium cf. A. cursor shows higher Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios than Gomphotherium angustidens, indicating the equid was a mixed-feeder, while the gomphothere was a browser. The enrichment in Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in the ruminants is attributed to differences in their gastrointestinal tracts and to a more grazing diet. A high variability in trace element values characterizes the suid Conohyus simorrensis, which is believed to be connected to some degree of omnivory. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
DOMINGO, L. LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ, N. GRIMES, S. |
author_facet |
DOMINGO, L. LÓPEZ-MARTÍNEZ, N. GRIMES, S. |
author_sort |
DOMINGO, L. |
title |
Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
title_short |
Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
title_full |
Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
title_fullStr |
Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in Middle Miocene mammals from the Somosaguas site (Madrid, Spain) |
title_sort |
trace element analyses indicative of paleodiets in middle miocene mammals from the somosaguas site (madrid, spain) |
publisher |
Universitat de Barcelona |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746 |
geographic |
Antarctic East Antarctic Ice Sheet |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic East Antarctic Ice Sheet |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet |
op_source |
Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 No 3 (2012); 239-247 Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 No. 3 (2012); 239-247 Geologica Acta; Vol. 10 Núm. 3 (2012); 239-247 1696-5728 1695-6133 |
op_relation |
http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746/6835 http://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/GEOACTA/article/view/105.000001746 |
_version_ |
1766026978285060096 |