Late pliocene faunal turnover in the turkana basin, kenya and ethiopia
Analysis of a large sample of well-dated fossil mammals from localities in the Turkana Basin of Kenya and Ethiopia revealed sampling biases that affect patterns of faunal turnover during the late Pliocene. When these biases were accounted for, results indicated that 58 to 77 percent of the mammal species were replaced between 3.0 and 1.8 million years ago (Ma). Overall diversity increased from 3.0 to 2.0 Ma but then declined. No distinct turnover pulse is seen between 2.8 and 2.5 Ma; instead, the most significant period of faunal change began after 2.5 Ma and continued through 1.8 Ma.
Behrensmeyer
AK
The authors are in the Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems Program, National Museum of Natural History, NHB MRC 121, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA.
Todd
NE
Potts
R
McBrinn
GE