Small mammal insectivore stable carbon isotope compositions as habitat proxies in a South African savanna ecosystem

Shrew carbon isotope compositions varied with habitat in a predictable manner within our study area. While taxonomy also influenced δ13C values, this was largely due to differences in habitat preferences of individual taxa and the resultant variation in their relative abundance within each environment. Isotopic differences between habitat types were preserved within taxa where taxa occurred in multiple habitats. To complement this modern study, we performed isotopic analysis of the enamel of insect-eating fossil micromammals from the hominin sites Gladysvale and Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This subset of fossil micromammals consumed primarily C4-derived carbon.