@article{fdi:010070056,
  title = {{P}hytoliths indicate significant arboreal cover at {S}ahelanthropus type locality {TM}266 in northern {C}had and a decrease in later sites},
  author = {{N}ovello, {A}. and {B}arboni, {D}. and {S}ylvestre, {F}lorence and {L}ebatard, {A}. {E}. and {P}ailles, {C}. and {B}ourles, {D}. {L}. and {L}ikius, {A}. and {M}ackaye, {H}. {T}. and {V}ignaud, {P}. and {B}runet, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}e analyzed phytolith and diatom remains preserved at 45 {M}iocene and {P}liocene localities dated between 8 and 1 {M}a in northern {C}had (16-17 degrees {N}). {S}ome of these localities yielded cranial remains, lower jaws, and teeth of the hominin species {A}ustralopithecus bahrelghazali (similar to 3.6 {M}a) and {S}ahelanthropus tchadensis (similar to 7 {M}a). {O}f the 111 sediment samples analyzed, 41 yielded phytoliths, 20 yielded diatoms, and seven yielded both phytoliths and diatoms. {F}reshwater planktonic and tychoplanktonic diatom species, indicative of lacustrine conditions, are dominant (>91%) in the samples. {T}he phytolith assemblages indicate an opening of the vegetation and a general trend toward an expansion of grass-dominated environments during the time spanning the two hominin occurrences in {C}had. {T}he phytoliths suggest the presence of a mosaic environment, including closed forest patches, palm groves, and mixed/grassland formations, between 7.5 and 7 {M}a, the replacement by palm grove-like vegetation at approximately 6.5-5 {M}a, and the presence of exclusive grass-dominated formations after 4.5 {M}a. {T}he type-locality of {S}. tchadensis ({TM}266) was likely similar to modern palm grove formations with an arboreal cover percentage >= 40%. {T}he type locality of {A}. bahrelghazali ({KT}12) was a grass-dominated ecosystem (likely savanna) with an unrated percentage of arboreal cover. {F}urthermore, the grass phytolith data support the existence of a (recurrent) {S}ahelian-like dry climate in northern {C}had since at least 8 {M}a. {T}herefore the local closed vegetation formations in the {D}jurab region at 7.5-7 {M}a were sustained by aquatic systems (such as lakes or related rivers, marshes) rather than by extensive annual precipitation.},
  keywords = {{D}jurab ; {S}ilica ; {G}rass ; {P}aleovegetation ; {P}aleoclimate ; {A}ustralopithecus bahrelghazali ; {TCHAD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {H}uman {E}volution},
  volume = {106},
  numero = {},
  pages = {66--83},
  ISSN = {0047-2484},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.01.009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070056},
}