Browsing by Author "Lee-Thorp, J A"

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    Animal diets in the Waterberg based on stable isotopic composition of faeces
    (2005) Codron, D; Codron, J; Lee-Thorp, J A; Sponheimer, M; DeRuiter, D
    Faecal analysis of diet in free-ranging mammals can provide insight into local habitat conditions by reflecting the resources actually utilized. Here we used stable light isotope analysis of faeces to qualify, as well as quantify, certain aspects of mammal food selection in a recovering, nutrient-poor, savanna habitat in the Waterberg. Stable carbon isotope ratios in faeces reflect proportions of C3-foods (browse) to C4-foods (grass) consumed, whereas stable nitrogen isotope ratios reflect a combination of trophic behaviour, protein intake, and water and nutritional stress. Percentage nitrogen indicates the nutritional quality of the diet, at least in terms of crude protein intake. We used these data to reconstruct and compare the diets of various mammal species from two reserves in the Waterberg: the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve and Zoetfontein Private Game Farm.
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    Carbon isotope ratios of Sterkfontein fossils indicate a marked shift to open environments c.1.7 Myr ago
    (2003) Luyt, C J; Lee-Thorp, J A
    Sterkfontein straddles a period in the Plio-Pleistocene in which the effects of global-scale climate shifts on continental environments and biota are not yet well understood. Reconstructions based on faunal indicators have suggested incremental shifts from relatively closed, mesic landscapes to open, arid environments at this time. We examined environmental shifts from ~2.5 to 1.7 million years ago (Myr) using a C3 / C4 index derived from 13C / 12C data on bovid fossils from Sterkfontein. Data for Member 4 and the Member 5 East infill indicate persistence of a wooded to moderately wooded environment until about 2.0-1.8 Myr. Data indicating a marked shift to open environments are observed only for the younger Member 5 West infill. We conclude that the major shift to open environments occurred near 1.7 Myr rather than at c. 2.5 Myr.
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    Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in the shallow-water cape hake, merluccius capensis (castelnau) as indicators of trophic position and diet on the west and south coasts of South Africa
    (1993) Parkins, Colleen Ann; Field, John G; Lee-Thorp, J A
    13C/12C and 15N/14N were used to indicate the trophic levels of the shallow-water Cape hake, Merluccius capensis (Castelnau) at three sites on the west coast of South Africa, and five sites on the south coast. Gut content analyses show only the very recent diet of hake, therefore stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were used to show the longer-term diet, integrated over the turnover time of the muscle tissue and bone collagen analysed. 13C/12C is 1-2%₀ higher in the tissues of a consumer than its diet (DeNiro and Epstein 1978), the difference in 15N/14N between a consumer and its food being 3-4%₀ (DeNiro and Epstein 1981). Both 13C/12C and 15N/14N indicate trophic enrichment between hake muscle tissue and bone collagen, and the gut contents and prey, and show that small and large hake feed at different trophic levels, large hake tissues being slightly heavier in 13C than small hake tissues, and containing 2-4%₀ more 15N than muscle tissue and bone collagen, and the gut contents and prey, and show that small and large hake feed at different trophic levels, large hake tissues being slightly heavier in 13C than small hake tissues, and containing 2-4%₀ and more 15N than muscle tissue and bone collagen of small hake.