A study of pollen and fungal spores extracted from the feces of domestic herbivores in China and their implications for human behavior

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2020.0026

Abstract

Abstract:

It has been demonstrated that plant microfossils in the coprolites unearthed from archaeological sites are important materials for reconstructing past ecologies and environments as well as human activities. However, the palynological assemblages of animals’ coprolites that reflects human behavior of feeding and grazing are still poorly understood. Here we present the results of a study of the major pollen and fungal spore types found in the feces of six common domestic herbivores in China: goat (Capra aegagrus), sheep (Ovis aries), cattle (Bos taurus), camel (Camelus sp.), yak (Bos grunniens), and horse (Equus caballus). A study of surface soil samples in proximity to a sheepfold was also conducted to evaluate the influence of factors affecting the transmission of coprophilous fungal spores. The pollen characteristics of the feces include overall low taxonomic abundance and a high proportion of just a few pollen types, such as those of the Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae, which are affected by human activities. The main fungal spore types detected in domestic herbivore feces include the genera Sporormiella, Sodaria, Pleospora, Coniochaeta, Thecaphora and Dictyosporium. The distribution of fungal spores is apparently affected by the range of the animals, making it possible to use coprophilous spores (e.g., Sporormiella) to reconstruct the pastoral and animal breeding activities of ancient humans.

Key words: goat, sheep, fungal spores, Sporormiella, paleoecology

CLC Number:

Q914.81

ZHANG Yaping, ZHAO Keliang, ZHOU Xinying, YANG Qingjiang, JIA Weiming, LI Xiaoqiang. A study of pollen and fungal spores extracted from the feces of domestic herbivores in China and their implications for human behavior[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2021, 40(05): 879-887.

Figures/Tables 5

References 47

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编号	样品类型	地区	采样时间	纬度	经度	海拔(m)	植被类型
D1	山羊	辽宁	2019.5	39°23'50.26"N	121°40'1.84"E	12	暖温带落叶阔叶林
D2	山羊	陕西	2019.6	37°37'54.64"N	108°59'53.22"E	1294	黄土丘陵灌木草原
D3	绵羊	新疆	2018.11	38°10'15.33"N	85°25'38.37"E	1186	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D4	黄牛	新疆	2018.11	38°8'48.63"N	85°29'57.06"E	1181	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D5	骆驼	新疆	2018.11	38°13'54.17"N	85°29'11.07"E	1154	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D6	绵羊	西藏	2019.8	31°41′19.71″N	88°47′43.3″E	4548	高寒草原
D7	牦牛	西藏	2019.8	31°41′19.71″N	88°47′43.3″E	4550	高寒草原
D8	马	西藏	2019.8	32°02′17″N	89°09′08″E	4570	高寒草原
D9	绵羊	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.76″N	112°25′10.31″E	1058	荒漠草原
S1	羊圈表土	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.76″N	112°25′10.31″E	1058	荒漠草原
S2	羊圈表土10 m	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.89″N	112°25′11.93″E	1058	荒漠草原
S3	羊圈表土100 m	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′19.51″N	112°25′16.04″E	1058	荒漠草原

编号	样品类型	地区	采样时间	纬度	经度	海拔(m)	植被类型
D1	山羊	辽宁	2019.5	39°23'50.26"N	121°40'1.84"E	12	暖温带落叶阔叶林
D2	山羊	陕西	2019.6	37°37'54.64"N	108°59'53.22"E	1294	黄土丘陵灌木草原
D3	绵羊	新疆	2018.11	38°10'15.33"N	85°25'38.37"E	1186	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D4	黄牛	新疆	2018.11	38°8'48.63"N	85°29'57.06"E	1181	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D5	骆驼	新疆	2018.11	38°13'54.17"N	85°29'11.07"E	1154	红砂稀疏荒漠植被
D6	绵羊	西藏	2019.8	31°41′19.71″N	88°47′43.3″E	4548	高寒草原
D7	牦牛	西藏	2019.8	31°41′19.71″N	88°47′43.3″E	4550	高寒草原
D8	马	西藏	2019.8	32°02′17″N	89°09′08″E	4570	高寒草原
D9	绵羊	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.76″N	112°25′10.31″E	1058	荒漠草原
S1	羊圈表土	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.76″N	112°25′10.31″E	1058	荒漠草原
S2	羊圈表土10 m	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′18.89″N	112°25′11.93″E	1058	荒漠草原
S3	羊圈表土100 m	内蒙	2019.1	42°48′19.51″N	112°25′16.04″E	1058	荒漠草原