title: Macrovertebrate paleontology and the Pliocene habitat of Ardipithecus ramidus.
abstract: A diverse assemblage of large mammals is spatially and stratigraphically associated with Ardipithecus ramidus at Aramis. The most common species are tragelaphine antelope and colobine monkeys. Analyses of their postcranial remains situate them in a closed habitat. Assessment of dental mesowear, microwear, and stable isotopes from these and a wider range of abundant associated larger mammals indicates that the local habitat at Aramis was predominantly woodland. The Ar. ramidus enamel isotope values indicate a minimal C4 vegetation component in its diet (plants using the C4 photosynthetic pathway), which is consistent with predominantly forest/woodland feeding. Although the Early Pliocene Afar included a range of environments, and the local environment at Aramis and its vicinity ranged from forests to wooded grasslands, the integration of available physical and biological evidence establishes Ar. ramidus as a denizen of the closed habitats along this continuum.
authors.affiliation: Human Evolution Research Center and Department of Integrative Biology, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Stanley H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suwa
authors.forename: Denise F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeGusta
authors.forename: Raymond L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bernor
authors.forename: Jean-Renaud
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boisserie
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Ioannis X
authors.initials: IX
authors.lastname: Giaourtsakis
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haile-Selassie
authors.forename: F Clark
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Andossa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Likius
authors.forename: Cesur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pehlevan
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saegusa
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Semprebon
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teaford
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vrba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002520:Cercopithecidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004032:Diet; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005002:Ethiopia; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000145:classification; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification; D010161:Paleodontology; D010944:Plants; D011156:Population Density; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014197:Trees