The effect of paleoecology and paleobiogeography on stable isotopes of Quaternary mammals from South America

The modern South American mammalian assemblage was determined by the closure of the Panama isthmus (∼2.7–3.1 Ma) and later on, by profound climatic and environmental fluctuations occurred during the Quaternary as well as by the appearance of humans in the continent. In the present study, stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ18OCO3δ18OCO3 and δ18OPO4δ18OPO4) have been carried out on Pleistocene–Holocene northern inmigrant and endemic taxa from a broad latitudinal and altitudinal distribution in South America with the purpose of characterizing their paleoecology and the effects of the paleobiogeographic distribution on stable isotope results. Equids and gomphotheres show a wide range of δ13C values going from woodlands to pure C4 grasslands. In the case of equids, Hippidion shows lower δ13C values than Equus in the Late Pleistocene, whereas, in the case of gomphotheres, Cuvieronius and Stegomastodon differ in their δ18O values on account on differences in their paleobiogeography with the former found in the Andean corridor and the latter dispersing through an eastern route. Isotope data of the rest of taxa (immigrant and endemic) are in general in good agreement with other previous isotopic and non-isotopic studies. The latitude threshold between mixed C3–C4 and pure C3 conditions have been pinpointed at ∼33°S in the Middle and the Late Pleistocene. Mammalian δ18O values are intimately related to latitudinal and altitudinal distribution, with the latter exerting an overriding influence independently of latitude. Calculated altitudinal gradients (between −0.23‰/100 m and −0.40‰/100 m) are within the range of modern gradients.

► Stable isotope analyses performed on Quaternary South American mammals.
►  Equids and gomphotheres show a wide range of δ13C values.
►  The latitude threshold between mixed C3–C4 and pure C3 feeders pinpointed at ∼33°S.
► Mammalian δ18O values appear greatly influenced by altitude.