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Zinc isotopes in Late Pleistocene fossil teeth from a Southeast Asian cave setting preserve paleodietary information
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Journal article
Zinc isotopes in Late Pleistocene fossil teeth from a Southeast Asian cave setting preserve paleodietary information
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol.117(9), pp.4675-4681
2020
PMID: 32071235
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Abstract
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of collagen from bone and dentin have frequently been used for dietary reconstruction, but this method is limited by protein preservation. Isotopes of the trace element zinc (Zn) in bioapatite constitute a promising proxy to infer dietary information from extant and extinct vertebrates. The66Zn/64Zn ratio (expressed as δ66Zn value) shows an enrichment of the heavy isotope in mammals along each trophic step. However, preservation of diet-related δ66Zn values in fossil teeth has not been assessed yet. Here, we analyzed enamel of fossil teeth from the Late Pleistocene (38.4–13.5 ka) mammalian assemblage of the Tam Hay Marklot (THM) cave in northeastern Laos, to reconstruct the food web and assess the preservation of original δ66Zn values. Distinct enamel δ66Zn values of the fossil taxa (δ66Zncarnivore< δ66Znomnivore< δ66Znherbivore) according to their expected feeding habits were observed, with a trophic carnivore-herbivore spacing of +0.60‰ and omnivores having intermediate values. Zn and trace element concentration profiles similar to those of modern teeth also indicate minimal impact of diagenesis on the enamel. While further work is needed to explore preservation for settings with different taphonomic conditions, the diet-related δ66Zn values in fossil enamel from THM cave suggest an excellent long-term preservation potential, even under tropical conditions that are well known to be adverse for collagen preservation. Zinc isotopes could thus provide a new tool to assess the diet of fossil hominins and associated fauna, as well as trophic relationships in past food webs.
Details
- Title
- Zinc isotopes in Late Pleistocene fossil teeth from a Southeast Asian cave setting preserve paleodietary information
- Creators
- Nicolas Bourgon (Corresponding Author) - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyKlervia Jaouen - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyAnne-Marie Bacon - Université ParisKlaus P Jochum - Max Planck Institute for ChemistryElise Dufour - Muséum National d’Histoire NaturellePhilippe Duringer - Université de StrasbourgJean-Luc Ponche - Institut de GéographieRenaud Joannes-Boyau - Southern Cross UniversityQuentin Boesch - Université de StrasbourgPierre-Olivier Antoine - Southern Cross UniversityManon Hullot - Southern Cross UniversityUlrike Weis - Max Planck Institute for ChemistryEllen Schulz-Kornas - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyManuel Trost - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyDenis Fiorillo - Muséum National d’Histoire NaturelleFabrice Demeter - University of CopenhagenElise Patole-Edoumba - Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de La RochelleLaura L Shackelford - University of IllinoisTyler E Dunn - Creighton UniversitySomoh Duangthongchit - Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Information, Culture and TourismAlexandra Zachwieja - University of IllinoisThongsa Sayavonkhamdy - Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Information, Culture and TourismPhonephanh Sichanthongtip - Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Information, Culture and TourismDaovee Sihanam - Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Information, Culture and TourismViengkeo Souksavatdy - Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ministry of Information, Culture and TourismJean-Jacques Hublin - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyThomas Tütken - Johannes Gutenberg-Universität
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol.117(9), pp.4675-4681
- Identifiers
- 991012862797902368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Southern Cross GeoScience; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article