US EditionAncient Megafauna Extinctions Still Shape Animal Food Webs Today
Researchers found ancient extinctions left the Americas with thinner food webs and Africa with richer predator-prey networks.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Madrid. Between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago, many of the world’s largest mammals disappeared and now a new study by Michigan State University reveals how their extinction radically transformed the trophic networks of species that still exist today, and why the changes were more pronounced in some parts of the world than in others, particularly in America.
Extinction of Giant Animals 10,000 Years Ago Still Affects Ecosystems Today
Life restoration of a woolly mammoth at Royal BC Museum. Credit: Thomas Quine / CC BY 2.0 Between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago, Earth lost many of its giant animals that once dominated ecosystems across continents. Saber-toothed cats hunted with long, curved fangs. Massive ground sloths grew as large as elephants. Woolly mammoths roamed cold regions, with tusks stretching more than 12 feet. In Australia, wombat-like giants weighed up to three ton…
We often imagine the present nature as a perfectly balanced system, where every predator and every prey has its place. Yet, ecologists have just demonstrated that our ecosystems are actually vast fields of ruins, amputated with a fundamental link. The massive disappearance of the giant animals of Prehistory has left a gaping hole [...]
When giant beasts disappeared, nature changed forever—and we still see it today
Around 50,000 to 10,000 years ago, the Earth lost many of its largest animals. These were not just slightly bigger versions of today’s wildlife, but true giants. There were saber-toothed cats with long, knife-like teeth, massive sloths as large as elephants, woolly mammoths with huge curved tusks, and even wombats the size of small cars. […] The post When giant beasts disappeared, nature changed forever—and we still see it today appeared first o…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
