A5002001433- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
Makerere University
2023
The assembly of Africa's iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations many mammal lineages, including hominins. grasses are thought have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than Ma sparse, limiting assessment the timing and nature biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene site complexes across eastern Africa. Results...
Living hominoids are distinguished by upright torsos and versatile locomotion. It is hypothesized that these features evolved for feeding on fruit from terminal branches in forests. To investigate the evolutionary context of hominoid adaptive origins, we analyzed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies conjunction with fossils Moroto II site Uganda. The data indicate seasonally dry woodlands earliest evidence abundant C4 grasses Africa based a confirmed age 21 million years ago (Ma). We...