To better constrain the timing of panda's dietary shift from omnivorous to bamboo-exclusive herbivores, this study analyzed
stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen in tooth enamel samples from two pygmy pandas from Yanliang Cave (early Pleistocene), three baconi
pandas from Gongjishan Cave (late middle Pleistocene to early late Pleistocene), and five giant pandas from Baxian Cave (late Pleistocene)
in the Chongzuo Ecological Park of Guangxi Province in South China. In addition, the carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of enamel
samples from other mammals associated with the pygmy panda at Yanliang Cave were also analyzed. The results show that the pygmy panda,
Ailuropod microta, had the lowest enamel-δ13C values compared to other coexisting mammals at -19‰, suggesting that the pygmy panda had a
pure C3 diet composed of plants growing in the understory of a closed-canopy forest. A pure C3 diet for the pygmy panda, if confirmed by
more data, would be consistent with an already established dietary niche of bamboo (a C3 plant). Reconstructed δ13C values of diets for
the Yanliang fauna range from -25.6 to -32.1‰, indicating that these early Pleistocene mammals ate predominantly C3 vegetation and lived
in an environment dominated by C3 plants. This suggests that the area was comprised of wooded habitats ranging from closed canopy forests
to woodlands. Significant intra-tooth δ13C variations observed in some grazing animals suggest that a small amount of C4 grasses may be
present in patches of open areas in a predominantly forested landscape. The reconstructed δ18O values of meteoric water in the area during
the early Pleistocene fall within the range of -7.6 to -7.8‰; lower than the present-day mean annual precipitation δ18O values in the
region, suggesting a wetter climate or stronger monsoon season in the early Pleistocene than today. The baconi panda (Ailuropod baconi)
and giant panda (Ailuropod melanoleuca), had less depleted δ13C values with an average of -16.7‰ and -17.2‰, respectively, compared to the
early Pleistocene panda. Assuming they also consumed bamboo exclusively, this would suggest an ecologic shift to a more open woodland
environment towards the end of the Pleistocene. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2016. / April 6, 2016. / paleoclimate, paleodiet, panda, stable isotopes / Includes bibliographical references. / Yang Wang, Professor Directing Thesis; A. Leroy Odom, Committee Member; William C. Parker,
Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_360448 |
| Contributors | Stacklyn, Shannon (authoraut), Wang, Yang (professor directing thesis), Odom, A. L. (A. Leroy) (committee member), Parker, William C. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (46 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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