Table S6 from Reconstructing Pleistocene Australian herbivore megafauna diet using calcium and strontium isotopes

Isotopes in fossil tooth enamel provide robust tools for reconstructing food webs, which have been understudied in Australian megafauna. To delineate the isotopic composition of primary consumers and understand dietary behaviour at the base of the food web, we investigate calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) isotope compositions of Pleistocene marsupial herbivores from Wellington Caves and Bingara (New South Wales, Australia). Strontium isotopes suggest small home ranges across giant and smaller marsupial herbivores. Calcium isotopes in Pleistocene marsupial herbivores cover the same range as those in modern wombats and placental herbivores. Early forming teeth are depleted in heavy Ca isotopes compared to late-forming teeth of a given individual, suggesting a weaning signal. Distinct Ca compositions between taxa can be interpreted as dietary niches. Some niches conform to previous dietary reconstructions of taxa while others show niche differentiation across Australian herbivores. Combined with the small roaming ranges suggested by Sr isotopes, the Ca isotope niche diversity suggests rich ecosystems, supporting a diversity of taxa with various diets in a small area.