Multiproxy evidence for leaf-browsing and closed habitats in extinct proboscideans (Mammalia, Proboscidea) from Central Chile

González-Guarda, Erwin; Petermann-Pichincura, Alia; Tornero, Carlos; Domingo, Laura; Agustı́, Jordi; Pino, Mario; Abarzúa, Ana M.; Capriles, José M.; Villavicencio, Natalia A.; Labarca, Rafael; Tolorza, Violeta; Sevilla, Paloma; Rivals, Florent

doi:10.1073/pnas.1804642115

Cited by 34 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Dietary flexibility evidenced by northern immigrants (proboscideans, perissodactyls and artiodactyls) as shown by our δ 13 C values and other isotopic studies from North and South America 13,15,[30][31][32][33] , and by extension, their plasticity in niche occupation, is in agreement with the habitat theory proposed by Vrba 34 according to which generalists and open biome specialists from North America experienced a successful radiation throughout South America 34,35 .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

The Great American Biotic Interchange revisited: a new perspective from the stable isotope record of Argentine Pampas fossil mammals

Domingo

Tomassini

Montalvo

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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This study aims at assessing resource and habitat use, niche occupation and trophic interactions from a stable isotope perspective on fossil mammals from the Argentine pampas during the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI). We present stable isotope data of more than 400 samples belonging to 10 mammalian orders and spanning a temporal range from ~9.5 Ma to ~12 ky. Rodents, notoungulates and pilosians record an increase in the consumption of c 4 plants, whereas litopterns and cingulates show δ 13 c values that remain mostly within a c 3 -dominated diet. Our stable isotope data indicates that the expansion of c 4 vegetation opened up new niche opportunities, probably alleviating resource competition among endemic taxa. Gomphothere, equid and camelid δ 13 c records show a broad variability pointing to consumption of c 3 and mixed c 3 -c 4 vegetation. This flexible dietary behavior may have facilitated the successful settlement of immigrant groups in South America. In the case of carnivorous taxa, Late Miocene pre-GABI endemic sparassodonts consumed prey from C 3 environments, whereas immigrant carnivorans preferred prey from mixed C 3 -c 4 areas. Our research contributes to the study of the GABI from a different perspective as stable isotope records permit to characterize, from a (semi)quantitative standpoint, ecological traits within extinct fauna.Understanding the evolution of mammalian communities throughout the history of Earth, their resource and habitat use, niche occupation and trophic relationships play fundamental roles as these variables determine interaction among species, which ultimately trigger profound changes in community structure leading to modern faunal structure 1 .The Late Cenozoic fossil record of South America provides a unique natural laboratory to investigate faunal response in the context of changing biotic and abiotic forces 2 . Recent works on the tectonism, paleoceanography, paleobiogeography and paleobiology of the Isthmus of Panama have refined our knowledge of its final formation, although not without controversy and sometimes opposing views about its tempo and mode 3 . Despite debates about tectonic vs. ecological barriers to intercontinental faunal exchange, most workers accept that South America was mostly isolated from other continents for more than 50 Ma, from the Late Paleocene until regular terrestrial faunal exchange began following the establishment of the Panama corridor 4,5 .The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) occurred in pulses, reflecting intermittent connections due to sea level lowstands and glacial-interglacial climatic dynamics 4,6-8 . The first arrival of North American taxa into South America took place in the Late Miocene (Huayquerian) before the total establishment of the Panama corridor. Herald taxa were procyonids, cricetids and later on, tayassuids. Then, once the land bridge was completed

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

The Great American Biotic Interchange revisited: a new perspective from the stable isotope record of Argentine Pampas fossil mammals

Domingo

Tomassini

Montalvo

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…Several large herbivore mammals such as Gomphotheres became extinct in Pleistocene times [33], and probably some of them ate cactus fruits as they have been suggested to have generalist trophic habits [34]. One of the few large-sized mammal groups that survived megafauna Pleistocene extinctions was the genus Lama [35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frugivory and seed dispersal in the endemic cactus Eulychnia acida: extending the anachronism hypothesis to the Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem

Cares

Sáez-Cordovez

Valiente‐Banuet

et al. 2018

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

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Background: Eulychnia acida is an endemic Chilean cactus species whose fruits show several traits that, taken as a whole, are compatible with a seed dispersal syndrome by large herbivore vertebrates. Since only a few large native mammals exist in Chile at present, cactus fruit consumption and seed dispersal may be coopted by introduced mammals as predicted by Janzen and Martin's (1982) hypothesis for tropical ecosystems. Findings: We describe the current frugivore species of E. acida in a protected semiarid-Mediterranean ecosystem using field measurements and feeding experiments. In addition, to examine a potential role as seed dispersers of the cactus species, we offered fruits and performed germination tests on seeds defecated by Lama guanicoe and the introduced goat Capra a. hircus under captivity conditions. Our data indicate that while fruits of E. acida are pecked by the Chilean tinamou, Nothoprocta perdicaria, and the Chilean mockingbird, Mimus thenca, and eaten by the brush-tailed rodent, Octodon degus, none of these species could be considered a legitimate seed disperser. Unlike L. guanicoe, the goat C. a. hircus did not reduce seed germination, having a neutral effect. Conclusions: Results from this study indicate that introduced C. a. hircus was the only species showing a potential role in the seed dispersal process of E. acida. In the absence of native frugivore species, goats might play an important role in population recruitment of the endemic cactus. These results extend Janzen and Martin's (1982) anachronism hypothesis to the Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem.

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“…The xerophytic vegetation described in palynological studies suggests the predominance of an arid climate during the LGM. During the Pleistocene/Holocene transition in northern Chile, González-Guarda et al (2018) suggested the predominance of a woodland-mesic environment C 3 grassland with a significant presence of trees. For the south-central Chile region, González-Guarda et al (2018) suggested a temperate environment, with a cold and humid climate, dominated by C 3 plants and with a significant woodland cover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paleoecological inferences suggest that N . platensis had an opportunistic/generalist feeding habit, consuming grasses, branches, leaves, and fruits (Mothé et al, 2017b; González-Guarda et al, 2018), which may have influenced its wide geographic distribution in South America.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species distribution modeling reveals the ecological niche of extinct megafauna from South America

et al. 2021

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Climatic and environmental changes, as well as human action, have been cited as potential causes for the extinction of megafauna in South America at the end of the Pleistocene. Among megamammals lineages with Holarctic origin, only horses and proboscideans went extinct in South America during this period. This study aims to understand how the spatial extent of habitats suitable for Equus neogeus and Notiomastodon platensis changed between the last glacial maximum (LGM) and the middle Holocene in order to determine the impact that climatic and environmental changes had on these taxa. We used species distribution modeling to estimate their potential extent on the continent and found that both species occupied arid and semiarid open lands during the LGM, mainly in the Pampean region of Argentina, southern and northeastern Brazil, and parts of the Andes. However, when climate conditions changed from dry and cold during the LGM to humid and warm during the middle Holocene, the areas suitable for these taxa were reduced dramatically. These results support the hypothesis that climatic changes were a driving cause of extinction of these megamammals in South America, although we cannot rule out the impact of human actions or other potential causes for their extinction.

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Multiproxy evidence for leaf-browsing and closed habitats in extinct proboscideans (Mammalia, Proboscidea) from Central Chile

Cited by 34 publications

References 48 publications

The Great American Biotic Interchange revisited: a new perspective from the stable isotope record of Argentine Pampas fossil mammals

The Great American Biotic Interchange revisited: a new perspective from the stable isotope record of Argentine Pampas fossil mammals

Frugivory and seed dispersal in the endemic cactus Eulychnia acida: extending the anachronism hypothesis to the Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem

Species distribution modeling reveals the ecological niche of extinct megafauna from South America

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