Paleosols, bones, phytoliths, and δ13C signatures of humus and teeth in the alluvial sequence of Axamilpa, Puebla: Inferences for landscape evolution and megafauna paleoecology during MIS 3–2 in Southern Mexico

•Paleosols of Axamilpa, Puebla, Mexico were used for reconstructing past climates.•Paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes were supported trough 14C dates.•Analysis of paleosols micromorphology supported the degree of soil´s development.•Paleovegetation changes were deduced through humus δ13C and silica microfossils.•To support the changes in paleoenvironments the vertebrate fossil record was used.

Alluvial paleosol–sedimentary sequences containing animal fossils, and paleobotanical and paleopedological archives have a potential for reconstructing Quaternary paleoenvironments in Southern Mexico and for understanding the paleoecology of Pleistocene megafauna. In the section of Axamilpa river four pedostratigraphic units were recognized. The lower Gleyic and Vertic pedological Units are at the end of marine isotopic stage (MIS) 3 while the upper Humic and (most probably) Calcic Units correspond to MIS 2 according to the radiocarbon dates of humus. The micromorphological analysis indicates an incipient development and syn-sedimentary character of paleopedogenesis in the periodically water-saturated environment (indicated by redoximorphic features, hydrogenic carbonates and low values of magnetic susceptibility in most strata). The δ13C values of the paleosol humus range from − 22.6 to − 24.7, indicating a C3 vegetation, whereas in the modern soil it is higher (− 15.2) pointing to an abundance of the C4 and CAM plants. The δ13C signature of the vegetation inferred from the teeth enamel of the fossil fauna appeared to be less negative than that of humus from corresponding paleosols. The alimentary preferences of the paleofauna which fed on grasses with high proportion of C4 plants explain this difference. The phytolith analysis shows dominance in conifer forms, followed by C4 and C3 grasses. The content of conifer phytoliths is progressively reduced towards the top of the sequence. We interpret the Late Pleistocene landscape of this area as a heterogeneous forest–grassland landscape with the forest shrinking through time and the grass areas increasing. Swampy floodplain meadows (inferred from paleopedological results) could provide a habitat for grassy vegetation. Both isotope and phytolith records demonstrate a contrasting difference between Pleistocene and recent vegetation dominated by xerophytic shrubs and succulents. This vegetation change could play important role in the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna.