The Pleistocene mammalian forest dwellers in monsoon dominated provinces of China as forest dynamics proxies
Received date: 2024-11-29
Online published: 2025-03-11
Copyright
Monsoon has an important impact on the development of vegetation that subsequently has significant influence on the evolution of plant consumers. The diversities of forest dwellers or herbivores follow the evolution of the vegetation, and it is therefore possible to take such diversities as forest or vegetation dynamic proxies. The present work selected 36 Pleistocene faunas of large mammals from monsoon-dominated provinces in China as materials and calculated the diversities of forest dwellers and herbivores with different approaches, as well as the consensus gradient coefficients of all the selected faunas in different flora regionalized subkingdoms. The results show that with the evolution and transitions of the East Asian summer and winter monsoon intensities, the forest vitality decreased while steppe vitality increased gradually in a fluctuated way from the Early Pleistocene to the Late Pleistocene, especially in the provinces north of the Qinling-Huaihe Line. The analyses of such diversities of the faunas can help to determine the forest dynamic proxies. Moreover, the correlation of such proxies to loess-paleosol sequences and marine isotope stages can in turn help to improve the accuracy of dating fauna ages and paleoenvironment reconstruction.
Key words： herbivore; fauna; diversity; paleoenvironment reconstruction; flora regionalization
BAI Wei-Peng , DONG Wei , ZHANG Li-Min , LIU Wen-Hui . The Pleistocene mammalian forest dwellers in monsoon dominated provinces of China as forest dynamics proxies[J]. Vertebrata Palasiatica, 2025 , 63(2) : 133 -158 . DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.250311
| [1] | An Z S, 2000. The history and variability of the East Asian paleomonsoon climate. Quat Sci Rev, 19: 171-187 |
| [2] | An Z S, Gao W Y, Zhu Y Z et al., 1990a. Magnetostratigraphic dates of Lantian Homo erectus. Acta Anthrop Sin, 9(1): 1-7 |
| [3] | An Z S, Liu T S, Lu Y C et al., 1990b. The long-term paleomonsoon variation recorded by the loess-paleosol sequence in central China. Quat Int, 7: 91-95 |
| [4] | An Z S, Wu G X, Li J P et al., 2015. Global monsoon dynamics and climate change. Ann Rev Earth Planet Sci, 43: 29-77 |
| [5] | Barlow A C D, Smith J L D, Ahmad I U et al., 2011. Female tiger Panthera tigris home range size in the Bangladesh Sundarbans: the value of this mangrove ecosystem for the species’ conservation. Oryx, 45: 125-128 |
| [6] | Baskaran N, Balasubramanian M, Swaminathan S et al., 1993. Home range of elephants in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, south India. In: Daniel J C, Datye H S eds. A Week with Elephants. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. 296-313 |
| [7] | Belmaker M, Hovers E, 2011. Ecological change and the extinction of the Levantine Neanderthals: implications from a diachronic study of micromammals from Amud Cave, Israel. Quat Sci Rev, 30: 3196-3209 |
| [8] | Caley P, 1997. Movements, activity patterns and habitat use of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical habitat. Wildlife Res, 24: 77-87 |
| [9] | Chen T M, 2005. Quantitative Archaeology. Beijing: Peking University Press. 1-287 |
| [10] | Chen T M, Yang Q, Hu Y Q, 1996. Dating report on locality of the Nanjing Man fossils. In: The Tangshan archaeological team from Nanjing Municipal Museum, Archaeology Department of Peking University eds. Locality of the Nanjing Man fossils 1993-1994. Beijing: Peking University Press. 254-258 |
| [11] | Clemens S C, Prell W L, Sun Y et al., 2008. Southern Hemisphere forcing of Pliocene δ18O and the evolution of Indo‐Asian monsoons. Paleoceanography, 23: PA4210 |
| [12] | Collins G H, Kovach S D, Hinkes M T, 2005. Home range and movements of female brown bears in southwestern Alaska. Ursus, 16: 181-189 |
| [13] | de Lumley H, Khatib S, Mestour B et al., 2008. étude du paléomagnétisme du site de l'homme de Yunxian. In: de Lumley H, Li T Y eds. Le site de l'homme de Yunxian, Quyuanhekou, Quingqu, Yunxian, province du Hubei. Paris: CNRS éditions. 185-236 |
| [14] | Deng T, 2009. Late Cenozoic environmental change in the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China) as indicated by mammalian cenograms. Vert PalAsiat, 47(4): 282-298 |
| [15] | Deng T, 2012. A skull of Hipparion (Proboscidipparion) sinense (Perissodactyla, Equidae) from Longdan, Dongxiang of northwestern China—addition to the Early Pleistocene Longdan mammalian fauna (3). Vert PalAsiat, 50(1): 74-84 |
| [16] | Deng T, Qiu Z X, Wang B Y et al., 2013. Late Cenozoic biostratigraphy of the Linxia Basin, northwestern China. In: Wang X M, Flynn L J, Fortelius M eds. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 243-273 |
| [17] | Ding Z L, Rutter N W, Sun J M et al., 2000. Re-arrangement of atmospheric circulation at about 2.6 Ma over northern China: evidence from grain size records of loess-palaeosol and red clay sequences. Quat Sci Rev, 19: 547-558 |
| [18] | Dong W, Zhang Y Q, 2022. Biochronologic sequences of the Pleistocene mammalian faunas in China and correlations with numeric dating. Quat Sci, 42: 1227-1246 |
| [19] | Dong W, Jin C Z, Xu Q Q et al., 2000. A comprehensive analysis on the mammalian fauna associated with Homo erectus in China. Acta Anthrop Sin, 19(supp): 246-256 |
| [20] | Dong W, Fu R Y, Huang W W, 2010. Age and paleoenvironment of Xiaogushan fauna at Haicheng, Liaoning Province. Chinese Sci Bull, 55: 2704-2708 |
| [21] | Dong W, Zhang L M, Liu W H, 2017. New material of the Early Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Chutoulang, Chifeng, eastern Nei Mongol, China and binary faunal similarity analyses. Vert PalAsiat, 55(3): 257-275 |
| [22] | Dong W, Liu W H, Bai W P, 2020. Cladistic approach on chronological relationship of the Pleistocene mammalian faunas from China. Vert PalAsiat, 58(1): 67-81 |
| [23] | Dykoski C A, Edwards R L, Cheng H et al., 2005. A high-resolution, absolute-dated Holocene and deglacial Asian monsoon record from Dongge Cave, China. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 233: 71-86 |
| [24] | Echassoux A, Moigne A M, Moullé P é et al., 2008. Les faunes de grands mammifères du site de l'homme de Yunxian, Quyuanhekou, Quingqu, Yunxian, Province du Hubei, République Populaire de Chine. In: de Lumley H, Li T Y eds. Le site de l'homme de Yunxian, Quyuanhekou, Quingqu, Yunxian, province du Hubei. Paris: CNRS éditions. 253-364 |
| [25] | Fu H, Shi F, Liu W et al., 2024. Tracing the centennial variation of East Asian Summer Monsoon. Glob Planet Change, 238: 104464 |
| [26] | Ge J Y, Deng C L, Wang Y et al., 2020. Climate-influenced cave deposition and human occupation during the Pleistocene in Zhiren Cave, southwest China. Quat Int, 559: 14-23 |
| [27] | Girard T L, Bork E W, Nielsen S E et al., 2013. Seasonal variation in habitat selection by free-ranging feral horses within Alberta’s forest reserve. Rangeland Ecol Manag, 66: 428-437 |
| [28] | Grebner D L, Bettinger P, Siry J P et al., 2022. Forest dynamics. In: Grebner D L, Bettinger P, Siry J P et al. eds. Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources, 2nd ed. London: Academic Press. 253-263 |
| [29] | Guérin C, Faure M, Argant A et al., 2004. The Late Pliocene site of Saint-Vallier (Drome, France): synthesis of biostratigraphic and palaeoecological conclusions. Geobios, 37: S349-S360 |
| [30] | Han D F, 1987. Artiodactyla fossils from Liucheng Gigantopithecus cave in Guangxi. In: Memoirs of Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Academia Sinica, Vol 18. Beijing: Science Press. 135-205 |
| [31] | Han D F, Xu C H, 1989. Quaternary mammalian faunas in Southern China and discussion on the living environment of early humankind. In: Wu R K, Wu X Z, Zhang S S eds. Early Humankind in China. Beijing: Science Press. 338-391 |
| [32] | Han F, Sun C K, Bahain J J et al., 2016. Coupled ESR and U-series dating of fossil teeth from Yiyuan hominin site, northern China. Quat Int, 400: 195-201 |
| [33] | Heilongjiang Relics Administration Committee, Harbin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Northeast Team of Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, 1987. Yanjiagang-A late Paleolithic campsite in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House. 1-133 |
| [34] | Hu C K, Qi T, 1978. Gongwangling Pleistocene Mammalian Fauna of Lantian, Shaanxi. Beijing: Science Press. 1-64 |
| [35] | Huang W B, Fang Q R, 1991. Wushan Hominid site. Beijing: China Ocean Press. 1-230 |
| [36] | Huang W B, Wei G B, Chen S K et al., 2012. Homo erectus hexianensis. Beijing: Science Press. 1-151 |
| [37] | Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1959. Pleistocene Mammalian Fossils from the Northeastern Provinces. Beijing: Science Press. 1-82 |
| [38] | International Commission on Stratigraphy, 2024. Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years. Available online: https://stratigraphy.org/ICSchart/QuaternaryChart1.jpg (accessed on 20/8/2024) |
| [39] | Ji H X, 1999. Mammalian fauna from Yunxian Man Site. In: Xu Q Q, Xie F, Wang J eds. International Symposium for the Celebration of Chinese Academician Jia Lanpo’s 90th Birthday: New Advance of Archaeology in Prehistory. Beijing: Science Press. 258-264 |
| [40] | Jin C Z, Liu J Y, 2009. Paleolithic Site: the Renzidong Cave, Fanchang, Anhui Province. Beijing: Science Press. 1-439 |
| [41] | Jin C Z, Pan W S, Zhang Y Q et al., 2009a. The Homo sapiens Cave hominin site of Mulan Mountain, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo, Guangxi with emphasis on its age. Chinese Sci Bull, 54: 3848-3856 |
| [42] | Jin C Z, Qin D G, Pan W S et al., 2009b. A newly discovered Gigantopithecus fauna from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China. Chinese Sci Bull, 54: 788-797 |
| [43] | Li G Q, Deng Y Q, Ren H Y et al., 2024. Chronology and paleoclimatic context of hominin occupations in the Fenhe River Basin of northern China during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. Quat Sci Rev, 326: 108499 |
| [44] | Li Y X, Ji H X, 1981. Environmental change in Peking Man’s site. Vert PalAsiat, 19(4): 337-347 |
| [45] | Li Z Y, Dong W, 2007. Mammalian fauna from the Lingjing Paleolithic site in Xuchang, Henan Province. Acta Anthrop Sin, 26(4): 345-360 |
| [46] | Li Z Y, Wu X J, Zhou L P et al., 2017. Late Pleistocene archaic human crania from Xuchang, China. Science, 355: 969-972 |
| [47] | Lin Y P, Pan Y R, Lu Q W, 1978. Early Pleistocene mammal fauna in Yuanmou, Yunnan. In: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology ed. Essays on Paleoanthropology. Beijing: Science Press. 101-120 |
| [48] | Liu G H, Fu B J, Fang J Y, 2000. Carbon dynamics of Chinese forests and its contribution to global carbon balance. Acta Ecol Sin, 20(5): 732-740. |
| [49] | Liu T S, Wang Q, 2000. Story of monsoon—A new environmental hypothesis of origination of hominid: a preliminary account. Acta Anthrop Sin, 19(supp): 1-7 |
| [50] | Liu T S, Ding Z L, Rutter N, 1999. Comparison of Milankovitch periods between continental loess and deep sea records over the last 2.5 Ma. Quat Sci Rev, 18: 1205-1212 |
| [51] | Liu W, Martinón-Torres M, Cai Y J et al., 2015. The earliest unequivocally modern humans in southern China. Nature, 526: 696-699 |
| [52] | Lü Z E, Huang Y P, Li P S et al., 1989. Yiyuan fossil Man. Acta Anthrop Sin, 8(4): 301-313 |
| [53] | Pei W C, 1940. The Upper cave fauna of Choukoutien. Palaeont Sin, New Ser C, 10: 1-101 |
| [54] | Pei W C, 1958. Mammalian fossils from Locality 103 and other localities of the same Sammenian age in Tingtsun area, Hsiangfenhsien, Shansi Province. Acta Palaeotologica Sin, 6(4): 359-374 |
| [55] | Pei W C, 1962. Quaternary mammals from the Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave and other caves of Kwangsi. Vert PalAsiat, 6(3): 211-218 |
| [56] | Pei W Z, 1987. Carnivora, Proboscidea and Rodentia from Liucheng Gigantopithecus Cave and other caves in Guangxi. Mem Inst Vert Paleont Paleoanthrop, Acad Sin, 18: 1-119 |
| [57] | Prayoon U, Suksavate W, Chaiyes A et al., 2024. Home range and habitat utilization of gaur (Bos gaurus) in transition zone between protected forest and human-dominated landscape, Eastern Thailand. Glob Ecol Conserv, 50: e02811 |
| [58] | Proisy C, Féret J B, Lauret N, 2016. Mangrove Forest Dynamics Using Very High Spatial Resolution Optical Remote Sensing. In: Baghdadi N, Zribi M eds. Land Surface Remote Sensing in Urban and Coastal Areas. Oxford: Elsevier. 269-295 |
| [59] | Qi G Q, 1975. Quaternary mammalian fossils from Salawusu River District, Nei Mongol. Vert PalAsiat, 13(4): 239-249 |
| [60] | Qi G Q, 1989. Quaternary mammalian faunas and the environment of fossil humans in North China. In: Wu R K, Wu X Z, Zhang S S eds. Early Humankind in China. Beijing: Science Press. 277-337 |
| [61] | Qin J H, Liu P J, Martin A R et al., 2024. Forest carbon storage and sink estimates under different management scenarios in China from 2020 to 2100. Sci Total Environ, 927: 172076 |
| [62] | Qiu Z X, 2000. Nihewan fauna and Q/N boundary in China. Quat Sci, 20: 142-154 |
| [63] | Qiu Z X, Deng T, Wang B Y, 2004. Early Pleistocene Mammalian Fauna from Longdan, Dongxiang, Gansu, China. Beijing: Science Press. 1-198 |
| [64] | Qiu Z L, Xu C H, Zhang W H et al., 1982. A human fossil tooth and fossil mammals from Nanzhao, Henan. Acta Anthrop Sin, 1: 109-117 |
| [65] | Reyna-Hurtado R, Sanvicente-López M, Pérez-Flores J et al., 2016. Insights into the multiannual home range of a Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the Maya Forest. Therya, 7: 271-276 |
| [66] | Rodríguez-Gómez G, Martín-González J A, Espigares M P et al., 2024. From meat availability to hominin and carnivore biomass: a paleosynecological approach to reconstructing predator-prey biomass ratios in the Pleistocene. Quat Sci Rev, 328: 108474 |
| [67] | Spicer R A, Farnsworth A, 2021. Progress and challenges in understanding Asian palaeogeography and monsoon evolution from the perspective of the plant fossil record. J Palaeosci, 70: 213-236 |
| [68] | Sun J Z, Wang Y Z, Jiang P, 1981. A Paleolithic site at Zhoujiayoufang in Yushu County Jilin Province. Vert PalAsiat, 19(3): 281-291 |
| [69] | Sun Y B, Clemens S C, An Z S et al., 2006. Astronomical timescale and palaeoclimatic implication of stacked 3.6-Myr monsoon records from the Chinese Loess Plateau. Quat Sci Rev, 25: 33-48 |
| [70] | Sun Y B, An Z S, Clemens S C et al., 2010. Seven million years of wind and precipitation variability on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 297: 525-535 |
| [71] | Szemethy L, Heltai M, Mátrai K et al., 1998. Home ranges and habitat selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on a lowland area. Gibier Faune Sauvage, 15: 607-616 |
| [72] | Teilhard de Chardin P, Piveteau J, 1930. Les mammifères fossiles de Nihowan (Chine). Ann Paléont, 19: 1-134 |
| [73] | Tong H W, Li H, Xie J Y, 2008. Revisions of some taxa of the Salawusu fauna from Sjara-Osso-Gol area, Nei Mongol, China. Quat Sci, 28: 1106-1113 |
| [74] | Tong H W, Hu N, Han F, 2011a. A preliminary report on the excavations at the Early Pleistocene fossil site of Shanshenmiaozui in Nihewan Basin, Hebei, China. Quat Sci, 31: 643-653 |
| [75] | Tong H W, Tang Y J, Yuan B Y, 2011b. Biostratigraphy division of vertebrate fossils. In: Yuan B Y, Xia Z K, Niu P S eds. Nihewan Rift and Ancient Human. Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 47-60 |
| [76] | Tong H W, Chen X, Wang X M, 2015. On the skull of Bubalus youngi of Late Pleistocene from the plain area of Beijing, China. Quat Sci, 35(3): 561-572 |
| [77] | Wang W, Tian F, Mo J Y, 2007. Recovery of Gigantopithecus blacki fossils from the Mohui Cave in the Bubing Basin, Guangxi, south China. Acta Anthrop Sin, 26(4): 329-343 |
| [78] | Wang Y J, Wu J Y, Xu H K, 2002. Dating of stratigraphic sequence and age of fossils. In: Wu R K, Li X X, Wu X Z et al. eds. Homo erectus from Nanjing. Nanjing: Jiangsu Science and Technology Publishing House. 194-201 |
| [79] | Wei Z Y, Yang D S, Yin K P et al., 1986. The Upper Paleolithic Site of Yanjiagang, Harbin. Northern Cultural Relics, 6: 8-15 |
| [80] | Wu C Y, 1979. The regionalization of Chinese Flora. Acta Bot Yunnan, 1: 1-22 |
| [81] | Wu R K, Li X X, Wu X Z et al., 2002. Homo erectus from Nanjing. Nanjing: Jiangsu Science and Technology Publishing House. 1-316 |
| [82] | Wu X J, Pei S W, Cai Y J et al., 2019. Archaic human remains from Hualongdong, China, and Middle Pleistocene human continuity and variation. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 116: 9820-9824 |
| [83] | Wu X Z, Pei S W, Wu X J et al., 2009. A preliminary study of the Bailong Cave paleoanthropological Site in Yunxi County, Hubei Province. Acta Anthrop Sin, 28(1): 1-15 |
| [84] | Xiao J L, An Z S, 1999. Three large shifts in East Asian monsoon circulation indicated by loess-paleosol sequences in China and late Cenozoic deposits in Japan. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl Palaeoecol, 154: 179-189 |
| [85] | Xu C H, 1978. The excavation of Homo erectus site at Meipu, Yunxian, Hubei. In: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology ed. Essays on Paleoanthropology. Beijing: Science Press. 175-179 |
| [86] | Xu Q Q, Dong W, Liu J Y, 1999. Peking Man’s environment and industry. Quat Sci, 19: 165-169 |
| [87] | Xue X X, Li C L, Deng T et al., 1999. The characters, geology age and the ecological environment of Longyadong Cave fauna, Luonan, Shaanxi. Vert PalAsiat, 37(4): 309-325 |
| [88] | Yamamoto T, Tamatani H, Tanaka J et al., 2012. Annual and seasonal home range characteristics of female Asiatic black bears in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Ursus, 23: 218-225 |
| [89] | Yin G M, Huang W W, 2004. Luminescence age of the Fanjiagou Bay site at the Salawusu site. Acta Anthrop Sin, 23(supp): 272-276 |
| [90] | You Y Z, Zhang W S, 1989. An Early Pleistocene mammalian fauna at Dongcun, Chifeng District, Nei Mongol. Quat Sci, 3: 48-55 |
| [91] | Young C C, 1932. On the Artiodactyla from the Sinanthropus site at Choukoutien. Palaeont Sin Ser C, 8: 1-100 |
| [92] | Zdansky O, 1928. Die S?ugetiere der Quart?rfauna von Chou-K'ou-tien. Palaeont Sin Ser C, 5: 1-146 |
| [93] | Zhang L, Shen G J, Fu R Y et al., 2007. Preliminary U-series dating of Miaohoushan hominid site in Benxi, Liaoning province Preliminary results of uranium series dating at the Miaohoushan site in Benxi, Liaoning. Southeast Culture, 197: 54-57 |
| [94] | Zhang S, Li Z Y, Zhang Y et al., 2009. Mortality profiles of the large herbivores from the Lingjing Xuchang Man Site, Henan Province and the early emergence of the modern human behaviors in East Asia. Chinese Sci Bull, 54: 3857-3863 |
| [95] | Zhang Z Q, 2001. Fossil mammals of Early Pleistocene from Ningyang, Shangdong Province. Vert PalAsiat, 39(2): 139-150 |
| [96] | Zhang W S, 1989. The discovery and stratigraphic bearing of the mammalian fauna in Dongliang, Chutoulang, Chifeng City. J Hebei Coll Geol, 12: 69-80 |
| [97] | Zhang Z H, Wei H B, Xu Z H, 1986. Fossil animals. In: Liaoning Province Museum, Benxi City Museum eds. Miaohoushan: A Site of Early Paleolithic in Benxi County, Liaoning. Beijing: Culture Relics Press. 35-66 |
| [98] | Zheng S H, 2004. Jianshi Hominid Site. Beijing: Science Press. 1-412 |
| [99] | Zhou X X, Sun Y F, Wang Z Y, 1990. Study of Gulongshan Cave Site at Dalian City. Beijing: Scientific and Technological Press. 1-94 |
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |