Mysterious disappearance of megafauna: why humans may share the blame

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Coincidentally, or perhaps not, these also happened at the same time as early humans settled those areas, but was that the cause?

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Dr. Jenna Crowe-Riddell

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During the Quaternary extinction event, many Pleistocene megafaunas became extinct, drastically altering ecosystems worldwide.

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The extinction event was not total. A small population of mammoths was still present on Wrangel Island 4,500 years ago.

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Mysterious disappearance of megafauna: why humans may share the blame

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BY CHRISTOPHER McFADDEN

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There have been six megafaunal extinctions since the Late Pleistocene.

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The most recent of these fell between 18,000–11,000 years ago in South America, 30,000–14,000 in North America, and 50,000–32,000 years ago in Australia.

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, these also happened at the same time as early humans settled those areas, but was that the cause?

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Dr. Jenna Crowe-Riddell

More accurately called the Pleistocene megafauna, they were a group of enormous animals that inhabited Earth throughout the Pleistocene period.

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During the Quaternary extinction event, many Pleistocene megafaunas became extinct, drastically altering ecosystems worldwide.

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We are not entirely sure, but megafauna worldwide likely became extinct due to ecological and environmental reasons. Whatever the cause, we do have a good idea of the timing.

The extinction event was not total. A small population of mammoths was still present on Wrangel Island 4,500 years ago.

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