Premium
Photosynthetic pathways, spatial distribution, isotopic ecology, and implications for pre‐Hispanic human diets in central‐western Argentina
Author(s) -
Llano C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1051
Subject(s) - trophic level , ecology , subsistence agriculture , fauna , altitude (triangle) , isotope analysis , geography , photosynthesis , biology , agriculture , botany , geometry , mathematics
In a number of areas around the world researchers have begun to use the isotopic values of subsistence resources as a means of determining diets of human populations. The objective of the present study is to classify the plant species present at distinct altitudes in southern Mendoza Province, Argentina, considering photosynthetic pathways in order to determine their δ 13 C isotopic signature. This will help to understand the relationships between diets and the isotopic values observed in archaeological human remains. Data compiled from various sources are used to establish the photosynthetic pathways and mean δ 13 C values. The results indicate that C 3 species are dominant at high‐altitude settings, and that the few identified C 4 species were found primarily at lower altitudes. These results are intended to serve as a foundation for future isotopic studies designed to address relationships among species at different trophic levels. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.