Response to comment on the paleoenvironment of ardipithecus ramidus

Abstract

Cerling et al. contest our interpretation of the woodland habitat preference of Ardipithecus ramidus. However, their reconstruction of a predominantly open grassy environment with riparian woodlands is inconsistent with the totality of the fossil, geological, and geochemical evidence. In the Middle Awash, Ar. ramidus fossils are confined to the western portion of the sampled Pliocene landscape where the species is associated with woodland to grassy woodland habitat indicators.