Elsevier, Journal of Arid Environments, (134), p. 33-48
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.06.013
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Rock hyrax middens are important palaeoenvironmental archives in southern Africa. Carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements on middens (hyraceum) are key components of climate reconstructions, but their interpretations require refinement. Although d 15 N in hyraceum often correlates with independent proxies for palaeo-aridity, the impacts of dietary and physiological controls on hyraceum d 15 N remain to be resolved. We analyse d 13 C and d 15 N in plant foliage, hyrax faecal pellets and hyraceum from 21 sites across southern Africa. Faeces are generally depleted in 13 C (d 13 C typically