A comprehensive study of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes for Cathaica
pulveratrix and Metodontia yantaiensis land snails over last two glacial
cycles at Beiyao site, central China: implications for paleovegetation
and climate seasonality
Abstract
Modern investigations have shown that oxygen and carbon isotopes of land
snail shells are useful indicators of climate and vegetation in
monsoonal region. However, stable isotope study on snail fossil shells
in strata has been seldom done, and the reliability of those indicators
needs further verification. Moreover, intra-shell stable isotope
analysis of individual snail is rather scarce, and seasonal variation of
the glacial-interglacial monsoonal climate remains unclear. In this
context, we performed δ18O and δ13C analyses on fossil shells of
cold-aridiphilous Cathaica pulveratrix and sub-humidiphilous Metodontia
yantaiensis from the loess section over the last two glacial cycles at
Beiyao site in southern Chinese Loess Plateau. The δ18O of fossil shells
reflected monsoonal rainfall amount and more rainfall during MIS3 and
MIS7. Meanwhile, the δ13C of fossil shells indicated relative abundance
of C3/C4 plants and more C4 biomass during MIS3 and MIS7. The δ18O and
δ13C of the two species from the same horizon are significantly
different, reflecting differences in their growing season and/or
physiological habits. Intra-shell variations of stable isotopes showed
that climatic seasonality was relatively strong during the glacial
periods whereas seasonality became weakened during the interglacials.
Our findings provide an environmental background for explaining past
human activities at the Beiyao site. The investigation of stone
artifacts showed that ancient human activities were relatively strong
during MIS3 and MIS7. During these stages, the warm and humid climate
with smaller seasonal contrast was favorable for the regional expansion
of human activities.